I built this PC around early 2014, and it has become noticeably sluggish. Games such as Counter-Strike 2 frequently crash, and the system doesn't meet the requirements for upgrading to Windows 11. The current hardware is an Intel Core i5-4670, ASRock H87 Performance motherboard, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, an ASUS GTX 1650 OC 4GB graphics card, a 250GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD, and a Seasonic X-650W power supply. The graphics card replaced a Radeon R9 280X that failed about two years ago. Is it worth upgrading specific parts to keep this computer going, or would I be better off building or buying a completely new system?
4 Answers
The main upgrade path would be replacing the CPU, motherboard, and RAM together. The 8GB of memory is especially limiting, and the old processor can contribute to stuttering and crashes. However, because the motherboard limits you to an outdated platform, putting money into compatible parts may not be worthwhile. Build around a newer platform first, then upgrade the graphics card later if the GTX 1650 isn’t fast enough.
At this point, a new build is probably the better choice. The processor, motherboard, and DDR3 platform are all quite old, so meaningful upgrades would require replacing several core components at once.
If your budget allows, I’d start from scratch and carry over only the parts that are still useful. The GTX 1650 can be reused temporarily, but the old motherboard and processor are near the end of their practical upgrade life. A fresh system will also make Windows 11 compatibility much easier.
You could reuse some parts in a new build. The GTX 1650 may still be useful for lighter gaming, and the Seasonic power supply is a solid unit if it’s still healthy and has the connectors you need. The SSD could also be reused as secondary storage, though its age and small capacity make a newer SSD a good idea for the operating system. I wouldn’t spend much upgrading the existing platform beyond possibly adding RAM or replacing the boot drive.

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