I'm not very experienced with PC upgrades—I've only replaced a power supply and graphics card before—and I'm trying to improve an older system without spending on a completely new high-end build.
My current parts are an Intel i5-8400, 16GB of DDR4-2133 memory, an RTX 4060 8GB, an Acer Aspire TC-885G motherboard (revision V1.1), a Corsair CX650 power supply, and the original Acer Aspire TC-885/TC-885G case.
The i5-8400 seems to be limiting performance in some games, but I'm unsure which processors the Acer motherboard and BIOS actually support. Since the platform uses an older socket, I'm considering either buying a used compatible CPU or replacing the motherboard, CPU, and RAM while reusing the RTX 4060 and power supply.
Which option would offer the best value? Would a used i7-8700, i7-9700, or similar chip be worthwhile, or would it make more sense to buy a new motherboard, processor, RAM, and possibly case? I'm in Canada and usually need to order parts online, so I'm looking for an economical upgrade path rather than a premium new build.
4 Answers
If you move to a modern platform, plan on replacing the motherboard, processor, and memory together. You can likely reuse the RTX 4060 and CX650, assuming the power supply is in good condition and the new case or board uses standard connectors. The original Acer case may be inconvenient or incompatible because OEM systems sometimes use unusual front-panel wiring, mounting points, or limited CPU-cooler and graphics-card clearance. Buying a basic standard ATX or micro-ATX case with the new parts would make the installation easier.
The cheapest sensible route is probably a used CPU for your existing platform, provided the Acer BIOS supports it. An i7-8700 or i7-9700 could improve minimum frame rates and multitasking over the 6-core/6-thread i5-8400, but check the exact motherboard model and required BIOS version before buying. Used 8th- and 9th-generation chips can also be surprisingly expensive, so compare the price against a newer motherboard, CPU, and RAM bundle.
An i7-8700K or i7-9700K is only attractive if you find one cheaply, and your Acer motherboard probably won’t let you overclock anyway. The 9700K is also an 8-core/8-thread chip, not 8-core/16-thread. A non-K i7-8700 or i7-9700 may be a safer choice, but confirm Acer’s compatibility list and BIOS support first. If those used CPUs cost close to a current entry-level platform, save the money and replace the board, CPU, and RAM instead.
Don’t assume the CPU is definitely the problem without checking performance. Monitor GPU usage, CPU usage, temperatures, and frame times while playing the games that give you trouble. If the GPU is near full usage, a CPU upgrade may not change much. If one or more CPU cores are pegged while the GPU is underused, then a platform upgrade or a reasonably priced used i7 makes more sense.
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