I built this PC about five years ago and it is starting to struggle with newer games. The current specs are a Ryzen 5 1600, 16GB of DDR4 memory, a GeForce GTX 1660 Super, an ASRock B450M Pro4 motherboard, a 500GB SSD, and a 2TB hard drive. My monitor runs at 74Hz. I am getting around 45 FPS in Deadlock and have noticed similar performance issues in newer games. I would like to play upcoming titles such as Dawnwalker and Total War 40k if possible. My initial upgrade budget is around $350, while a complete replacement build would be around $800. Would replacing only the CPU and GPU be enough, or would a new system make more sense?
4 Answers
An upgrade should be enough. Since your B450 motherboard supports newer Ryzen processors, a Ryzen 5 5600 would be a major improvement without replacing the whole platform. Put the rest of the budget toward the best GPU you can find, including used RTX 3000- or RX 6000-series cards. Check your BIOS compatibility first.
With only $350, a used Ryzen 5 5600 paired with the strongest reasonably priced used GPU is probably the most balanced route. With an $800 budget, a new build gives you a cleaner upgrade path, but do not assume it will automatically be much faster unless the graphics card is meaningfully better. A used complete system could also offer good value if you inspect it carefully.
The CPU and GPU are the main limitations, so replacing both should be sufficient for your target. However, verify the power supply's wattage, age, and available connectors before buying a stronger graphics card. You may also want to move from 16GB to 32GB eventually, since newer games are increasingly demanding.
For a larger long-term CPU upgrade, look at an X3D chip such as the Ryzen 5 5600X3D or Ryzen 5 5500X3D, depending on local availability and pricing. Pairing one with a modern 16GB graphics card could extend the life of the system considerably, though the graphics card will probably consume most of the budget.
If I can only spend about $350, would you prioritize the CPU or GPU for the best chance of running these games? Or would it be smarter to save for the roughly $800 new build?