Hey everyone,
I built my PC back in 2016, and it's definitely showing its age. Instead of purchasing a complete new prebuilt system, I'm thinking about upgrading in stages so I can manage the costs better and reuse as much as I can from my current setup.
Here are my specs:
* Intel i5-6600K
* ASUS Z170 Motherboard
* 16GB DDR4 2133MHz RAM
* GTX 980 Ti GPU
* 120GB SATA SSD + 2TB HDD
* Fractal Define R5 case
* Corsair 750W Gold PSU
* PCS FrostFlow 100 Series CPU cooler and case fans
I'd love to hear your thoughts on how to approach the upgrades. My goal is a mid-range machine that can handle modern gaming at 1080p or 1440p without breaking the bank. I want to make sure I can upgrade parts easily over time.
Here are the specific questions I have:
* Is the combination of Ryzen 5 9600X and RX 9060 XT better than going with Intel Ultra 5 and RTX 5060?
* What are the best value motherboards in the $200-$300 range?
* Is the MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi a solid choice, or are there better alternatives?
* Should I start with 16GB DDR5 now and upgrade later, or go for 32GB upfront?
* Can I continue using my 10-year-old Corsair Gold PSU with newer hardware, or should I set aside a budget for a new one?
I haven't kept up with hardware trends for a while and want to avoid overspending. Any advice on parts, combinations, or adjustments to my plan would be appreciated!
2 Answers
If you're planning to spend over €500 on new components, I strongly recommend getting a new PSU when you upgrade your CPU or GPU. It's fairly cheap considering the risk—a low-quality old PSU can potentially damage your system.
Also, if your goal isn’t extreme modern performance, consider sticking with a decent AM4 CPU and DDR4 for now. You could find good deals on mobo/CPU/RAM combos on the secondhand market.
Honestly, with your current setup being quite outdated, you’d be better off considering a prebuilt machine. Your CPU/mobo combo is a dead end, and a lot of your parts are no longer viable for a current system. You can reuse the case, maybe the PSU if it's still good, but everything else might hold you back.
Prebuilts are typically not the best value, but when you factor in the time and hassle of piecing together a setup from older parts, it might be the way to go if you want a solid experience quickly.
I have to disagree. Prebuilts are often more expensive than building your own. Since you have parts to reuse, it’s worth considering those options instead.