I'm planning to build a new desktop because my current motherboard has reached the limit of the processors it supports. I'd like to know which parts are still worth carrying over and whether the old system has a practical second life if I replace most of it. The current components are a GeForce RTX 2080 Super, Corsair TX850M 850W power supply, 32GB of G.Skill Ripjaws X DDR3, an ASUS Z97-Pro Gamer motherboard, and an Intel Core i7-4790K. I use a 1440p monitor and want the new build to be a meaningful upgrade, so I'm also considering whether to keep or replace the RTX 2080 Super.
2 Answers
For a 1440p system, the 2080 Super can still do a decent job, especially if you’re comfortable adjusting settings or using upscaling. Keeping it lets you put more of the budget into a new CPU, motherboard, and DDR4 or DDR5 memory, then replace the GPU when you actually need more performance. Just verify the power supply’s age, condition, and available connectors before reusing it.
The RTX 2080 Super is still useful for 1440p gaming, so you could carry it into the new build and upgrade the graphics card later if performance isn’t enough. The power supply may also be reusable if it’s in good condition and the exact model is still considered reliable. Any SSDs, hard drives, case, and possibly the CPU cooler could transfer as well. The DDR3 memory, motherboard, and i7-4790K generally aren’t worth moving into a modern platform, although they could be sold together or donated as an older working system.
That makes sense. I was thinking of replacing the graphics card immediately, but keeping the 2080 Super for a while would make the overall upgrade less expensive and still be a clear improvement over the old platform.