I built my first gaming PC during the 2020 lockdown, mainly to play WoW Classic. It has served me well, but the WoW: Forever beta is exposing its limits. At 1920×1080 with 100% render scale, I get roughly 50 FPS on graphics preset 3 and about 19 FPS on preset 8, with especially noticeable drops in demanding areas.
I would like to use the improved models, water effects, and higher-quality settings while maintaining smooth performance in raids, cities, and other CPU-heavy locations. My budget is approximately €700–800, and I live in Denmark, where component prices may differ from US or UK pricing.
My current system is a Ryzen 5 3600, Radeon RX 570 8GB, ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard, 16GB DDR4-3200, Kingston A400 480GB SATA SSD, Thermaltake Smart RGB 500W PSU, and a 1080p/144Hz FreeSync monitor. The motherboard BIOS is from 2019.
I am comfortable installing components and updating the BIOS. Since WoW is essentially the only game I play, stable performance in it matters more to me than maximizing performance in every modern AAA game. Which component should I prioritize, and would it be better to upgrade the existing AM4 platform or start saving for a new PC? I would also like advice about the PSU, upgrading to 32GB of RAM, and the performance I could realistically expect at presets 8–10.
4 Answers
The 500W Thermaltake Smart RGB unit may be adequate for a moderately efficient mid-range GPU, but its age and quality matter. If it is approaching five years old or more, replacing it with a reputable 600–650W model would be sensible, especially for a higher-power card. A new PSU is cheap insurance when upgrading the graphics card.
The RX 570 is likely the biggest limitation when increasing the graphics preset, so I would prioritize the GPU. A used RX 6700 XT or a comparable current mid-range card would be a substantial upgrade. If buying new, something like an RX 9060 XT 16GB or RX 9070 GRE could work, depending on local prices.
Your Ryzen 5 3600 is still usable, but WoW benefits from strong CPU performance in raids and crowded cities. Updating the motherboard BIOS first would let you install an AM4 gaming upgrade such as a Ryzen 7 5800X3D, 5700X3D, or a less expensive Ryzen 5 5600X. The 5800X3D is the strongest option, but it may not be the best use of the budget if the GPU is still the main bottleneck.
I would start with the GPU, aiming for an RX 9060 XT or RX 9070 GRE if buying new, or an RX 6700 XT on the used market. Those cards should make high graphics settings much more practical at 1080p.
For the CPU, an AM4 upgrade is sensible rather than replacing the whole computer. The 5800X3D is the top gaming option, while a 5700X3D or 5600X can offer better value. Flash the latest compatible BIOS before changing processors.
Moving to 32GB using one matched 2×16GB DDR4 kit would also be preferable. Adding another random 16GB kit may work, but mismatched memory can require lower speeds or manual troubleshooting.
You probably do not need an X3D processor solely for this game. A Ryzen 7 5700X or 5800X should be enough, leaving more money for a stronger GPU, a replacement power supply, or a better CPU cooler. The GPU upgrade is likely to have the most visible effect when moving from preset 3 to presets 8–10.
That makes sense. I was considering an X3D chip because the new version appears much more demanding than my current WoW setup, but it may be better to balance the CPU and GPU instead.
Thanks, that helps. If I had to put most of the budget into one component, would you still choose the GPU over the CPU, especially since the new version seems considerably more demanding than current Classic WoW?