I'm planning to upgrade my PC one component at a time, but I haven't settled on a budget yet. I'd like advice on what would make the biggest difference first. My current system has an RX 5500 XT graphics card, a Ryzen 7 3800XT processor, 16 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, a 1 TB hard drive, an ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus motherboard, and a 750W power supply. My main use case and target resolution may affect the recommendation, so I'm open to suggestions based on gaming performance and upgrade value.
3 Answers
The graphics card is probably the best first upgrade, especially if your RX 5500 XT is the 4 GB model. Your CPU and power supply are still capable, so a stronger GPU should provide the most noticeable improvement in games. The exact choice depends on your resolution, games, and budget.
After the GPU, decide whether you want to keep upgrading on the current AM4 platform or eventually move to AM5. If you stay with your motherboard, a Ryzen 7 5800X3D can be a strong gaming upgrade, but it may be expensive for an older platform. RAM could also move to 32 GB later if you notice memory usage getting close to 16 GB.
Look at something in the range of an RX 6800, RX 7800 XT, or a comparable newer card. Even a used RX 5700 XT could be a meaningful improvement for relatively little money, though check its condition and power requirements before buying.
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