I built this mini-ITX gaming PC with my brother in 2021 and would like to upgrade it, but I'm not sure where to begin. I have about $650 available for one or more upgrades. My main priority is replacing the RTX 2060 with a GPU in the $400–$450 range, though I'm open to upgrading the CPU if that would make more sense.
I mostly play less demanding games, with occasional more demanding titles. Ideally, I'd like those lighter games to run smoothly at high settings instead of struggling. My current system is:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-10500
- GPU: GeForce RTX 2060
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- PSU: Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold
- Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX Z490-I Gaming
- Case: Cooler Master MasterBox NR200
What would be the best upgrade path, especially given the small-form-factor case?
3 Answers
Make sure you check the card’s physical length, thickness, and power connector placement before buying. The NR200 supports a reasonable range of GPUs, but some larger models may be awkward or simply not fit. A compact RTX 5060 or a suitably sized RX 9060 XT would be safer choices; higher-end cards may require more careful measurements.
The graphics card is the obvious first upgrade. Your i5-10500 should still be adequate for the games you described, so I’d put most of the budget toward the GPU rather than replacing the CPU and motherboard. A new RX 9060 XT with 16GB of VRAM could fit the budget, while a used RTX 3080 may offer strong performance if you’re comfortable buying used.
A stronger GPU would provide the biggest improvement, but a higher-end option such as an RTX 5070 could also be considered if you find one that fits and can stretch the budget. Adding another 16GB of DDR4 later would help with newer games and multitasking, but I wouldn’t prioritize a CPU upgrade yet. The current processor is on an older platform, so replacing it would likely mean changing the motherboard too.
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