I'm thinking about upgrading my PC, but I'm not very familiar with hardware and could use some guidance. My current system has an Intel Core i5-8500 running at 3.0 GHz, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 with 8 GB of VRAM, and Intel UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics. I'd like to play demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield smoothly, but my budget is fairly limited. What should I upgrade first, and are there any affordable parts or upgrade paths worth considering? It's also an SI-built prebuilt system rather than a fully custom build, as far as I know.
3 Answers
Before buying anything, check the exact model of the prebuilt, its power supply wattage and connectors, available space, and whether the motherboard supports a newer CPU. Those details determine which upgrades are actually compatible. For gaming, the RTX 3050 is probably the first major limitation, but a stronger graphics card may require a better power supply and could be held back somewhat by the i5-8500.
Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield are demanding, so “no problems” may not be realistic with inexpensive upgrades. The RTX 3050 can handle 1080p with reduced settings and upscaling, but Starfield may still be limited by the older six-core processor. If the system has a weak or proprietary power supply, a complete platform upgrade may make more sense than trying to install a high-end GPU.
With a limited budget, don’t replace random parts one at a time. Start by checking whether you have at least 16 GB of RAM, preferably in two sticks, and make sure the games are installed on an SSD. Those upgrades can improve stuttering and loading. After that, save for the best graphics card your power supply and case can safely support.
It’s an SI-built system, although I’m not sure of the exact model yet. I’ll check the case and power-supply information before ordering anything.