I built my PC in 2019 with an MSI B450 Gaming Plus Max motherboard, Ryzen 5 3600X, 16GB (2x8GB) Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3000, and an RTX 2070 SUPER. Modern games such as WARDOGS are beginning to push the system harder, and I would like to bring it closer to a stable 60 FPS at High settings. I am based in the Netherlands and would ideally like a good balance of price, performance, and longevity for the next four or five years.
One suggested upgrade was replacing the CPU with a Ryzen 7 5700X for around €160–€190 and the GPU with either an RTX 5060 Ti 16GB for roughly €450–€480 or an RX 7700 XT for about €410–€450. That would put the total cost around €500–€670. Is this a sensible upgrade path, or are there better options? Can I keep the B450 motherboard and 16GB of RAM, and is there anything else I should upgrade? My power supply is a be quiet! Straight Power 11 650W.
4 Answers
For the graphics card, a used RX 7800 XT with 16GB is often a strong value option and would be a clear step up from the 2070 SUPER. If you want new hardware and plan to keep the card for several years, it may be better to save for a higher-tier RX 9070 rather than spending €500–€700 on a relatively intermediate upgrade. The RX 7700 XT or RTX 5060 Ti can work, but the value depends heavily on local pricing and the games you play.
The motherboard does not need replacing for these upgrades. Sixteen gigabytes of RAM is still usable, especially for a 60 FPS target, but 32GB would provide more headroom in newer games and reduce the chance of stuttering from background applications. If you keep the current memory, enable the rated profile in the BIOS and consider replacing it later if a particular game shows memory pressure.
The 650W Straight Power 11 is a good-quality unit and should generally be suitable for a card such as the RX 9070, provided it is in good condition. Check the specific card manufacturer's recommendation and use the proper power cables. A more demanding model such as an RX 9070 XT may call for a 750W supply, so that could require a PSU upgrade.
You can keep the B450 board. Before removing the 3600X, update it to the latest stable BIOS that supports the Ryzen 5000 series. A Ryzen 7 5700X is a sensible drop-in upgrade, although a cheaper Ryzen 5 5600 can also be good value if gaming is the main priority. I would be cautious about buying a CPU from an unfamiliar marketplace unless the seller and warranty are trustworthy.
That makes sense. I will update the BIOS first and compare the cost of a 5600 versus a 5700X from a reputable retailer.