I'm planning to move to another country within the next year or two, so I don't want to build an entirely new PC yet. I've only upgraded the RAM and storage since 2018, and my current graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB. I'd like a noticeable performance boost while keeping the rest of the system. My CPU is an Intel Core i7-8700K, and I'm using a Corsair CX650 power supply. I don't have a strict budget, but I'd prefer something reasonably priced rather than an extreme high-end card. What upgrade would make sense, and are there any compatibility or bottleneck concerns?
4 Answers
Your Corsair CX650 is an important limitation. It should be suitable for many midrange cards, but I’d avoid pairing it with a very power-hungry flagship GPU unless you also replace the PSU. For a temporary system, choosing a reasonably efficient card with a manufacturer-recommended 650W supply would be the safer route.
A high-end card such as an RTX 4080 would provide a huge improvement, but it’s probably excessive for a temporary upgrade with an 8700K and a 650W PSU. You’d likely need a stronger power supply, and the processor could hold it back in some games. A balanced midrange-to-upper-midrange card makes more sense until you build the next PC.
The best choice depends heavily on your monitor resolution, refresh rate, games, and local prices. At 1080p, you may get better value from something below the 4070 or 7800 XT, while 1440p makes those cards more worthwhile. Also check whether your case has enough room and whether the power supply has the required PCIe cables.
The 8700K is still usable for a graphics-card upgrade, especially at 1440p, although it may limit very high frame rates in newer CPU-heavy games. A card in the RTX 4070-class or Radeon RX 7800 XT range would be a substantial step up from the GTX 1060 without necessarily requiring a full system rebuild. Check the card’s physical dimensions and power connectors before buying.
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