I've been using this PC for quite a while, and I'm its third owner. Modded Minecraft runs at only around 10–20 FPS when I play with friends, so I'd like to upgrade the system. I want to keep my GTX 1080 since it still performs well enough for me; the processor seems to be the main bottleneck. My current parts are an AMD A10-7860K, GTX 1080, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and an MSI A88XM-E35 V2 motherboard. I'm not very experienced with PC upgrades, so I'd appreciate advice on compatible parts and where to look. My budget is roughly $250–$400 at most. I'm located in Poland, so some US-specific stores and deals may not be available.
2 Answers
For the best value, a used Ryzen 5 3600, B450 motherboard, and 2x8GB DDR4 kit could cost around $170–$200 depending on local prices. It would be a major improvement over the A10-7860K and should remove much of the CPU bottleneck. If you want newer parts and can spend closer to $400, a Ryzen 5 5600 platform is the better choice. A newer AM5 system would offer more upgrade potential, but it usually costs more because it requires DDR5 memory and a newer motherboard.
You’ll need to replace the CPU, motherboard, and memory together because your current platform uses an outdated socket and DDR3. A Ryzen 5 5600 with a compatible B550 or B450 motherboard and 16GB of DDR4 memory would be a strong match for the GTX 1080. Try to get a 2x8GB kit rather than a single 16GB stick. If the prices work out, 32GB could also be worthwhile for heavily modded Minecraft.
That sounds like a good direction. I’ll compare the prices for those parts in Poland since the bundle deals available in the US aren’t an option for me. Thanks for the help!
I’ll look at both the used Ryzen 5 3600 option and a new Ryzen 5 5600 build. The newer platform sounds appealing, but I’ll need to see what fits my local prices.