I'm trying to plan a cost-conscious upgrade for my current PC. Windows 11 isn't officially supported on my system, and I'd like to reuse as many existing parts as possible while improving performance for Fortnite, Once Human, indie games, Roblox, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Palia, and eventually GTA 6 on a 1080p 165Hz monitor. My current parts are an Intel Core i7-7700K, an aftermarket Cooler Master air cooler with four copper heat pipes, an ASUS Prime Z270-A motherboard, 16GB of G.Skill Ripjaws V DDR4-2400 memory, a 2TB Samsung 990 SSD, a GTX 1070 8GB, a Skyline 06 ATX case, and a Corsair CX750M 750W power supply. I'm not sure whether I need to replace the motherboard, CPU, and RAM together, or whether I can upgrade more gradually. My budget isn't fixed yet, so I'd like recommendations for worthwhile parts and a sensible upgrade path that will remain useful for several years.
3 Answers
You can install Windows 11 with an unofficial workaround by creating an installation USB with a tool such as Rufus and using the official Windows 11 ISO. That bypasses the TPM and supported-CPU checks, but it’s not the same as having officially supported hardware and may cause compatibility or update limitations. If a game or anti-cheat system requires genuine TPM 2.0 support, the workaround may not help. Treat this as a temporary option rather than the reason to choose particular upgrade parts.
Your current system is still usable for 1080p gaming, so you don’t necessarily need to replace the motherboard immediately. For a meaningful gaming upgrade, prioritize the GPU first, then move to a newer CPU and platform when you can afford it. The 16GB of RAM is still workable, but 32GB would be a better target for newer games. Your case, SSD, and probably the 750W power supply can likely be reused, assuming the PSU is healthy and the replacement GPU’s power requirements are suitable.
For a full platform upgrade, plan on replacing the CPU, motherboard, and RAM together. Don’t spend much on another processor for the Z270 board, since the upgrade options are limited and the platform is already several generations old.
If your goal is to be ready for demanding future games, saving for a new platform is more sensible than investing heavily in the old one. The 7700K and GTX 1070 are the biggest limitations, especially the 8GB of VRAM. Keep the SSD, case, and possibly the power supply, then replace the CPU, motherboard, RAM, and graphics card as your budget allows. A 32GB memory kit and a modern midrange GPU would be good targets, but the exact models should be chosen based on prices when you’re ready to buy.
That helps, but I’m not familiar with the current CPU and GPU options. Which models would be sensible choices for long-term value rather than just buying another low-end upgrade?