I'm refreshing an older gaming PC in Hungary and would appreciate advice on how to prioritize the upgrades. I play at 1440p on a 180Hz monitor and have roughly $200, or the local equivalent, to spend.
My current system is an Intel Core i5-10600KF, RTX 3060 Ti Ghost, 16GB (2x8GB) Kingston DDR4-3200, Gigabyte B560M H motherboard, and a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE cooler, which is 155mm tall.
I'd like a case with good mesh airflow and ARGB fans, a reliable 650W power supply rated Tier C or better, and eventually a decent 1TB NVMe SSD. I'm shopping from Hungarian retailers such as Alza, Aqua, PCX, and iPon.
The budget probably won't cover all three components. My current PSU is a 500W Chieftec Value model. Is it safe and sensible to keep using it with the i5-10600KF and RTX 3060 Ti for now, or should I prioritize replacing it? Would it be better to buy the case and PSU first, then get the SSD later?
Also, would upgrading to 32GB with a 2x16GB DDR4 kit be worthwhile on this platform, or should I keep the current 16GB and save for a future CPU, motherboard, and RAM upgrade?
3 Answers
The first thing to check is the exact Chieftec model, not just its wattage. A good 500W unit may run this system, but the Value series is generally a budget line and the RTX 3060 Ti can produce transient power spikes. If the PSU is old, has unknown internals, or lacks the right PCIe power connectors, replacing it with a quality 650W unit is the safer choice. You don’t need more than 650W for this build.
Your current 16GB is still usable, so RAM doesn’t have to be the next upgrade unless you’re seeing memory usage near 100%, stuttering, or running several heavy applications while gaming. If you do need more memory, 2x16GB DDR4-3200 is the cost-effective option and should work well with this system. A platform upgrade only makes sense once the 10600KF is limiting your frame rates; replacing the CPU, motherboard, and RAM together will cost much more than adding memory now.
A new platform is mainly worth considering when the CPU is holding back the RTX 3060 Ti at your target settings. Otherwise, keeping the current motherboard and adding RAM later gives better value.
Trying to fit a case, power supply, and 1TB NVMe drive into about $200 is probably unrealistic at current Hungarian prices. A sensible combination would be a reasonably priced mesh case and a quality 650W PSU, then add the SSD later. Examples worth checking include the Corsair RM650e or ADATA XPG Core Reactor II VE 650W, paired with an affordable airflow-focused case that supports your 155mm cooler. Double-check the cooler clearance before ordering.
The PSU still works, but I wasn’t sure whether 500W was enough for this CPU and GPU combination. I’m leaning toward replacing it before buying the SSD.