A friend gave me an older gaming PC that has gradually become my main desktop. It works fine for everyday use, but tests for an upcoming 4K short-film project in Premiere Pro showed that the system is starting to struggle. I originally planned to increase the memory from 16GB to 64GB, but I'm unsure whether RAM alone would solve the performance issues. My budget is around $500, although I can wait and save more if a larger upgrade makes more sense. The current system has an Intel Core i5-8600K, 16GB of RAM, a 500GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, a 1TB hard drive, and a GTX 1060 6GB. What upgrades would provide the biggest improvement, and should I upgrade this platform or start saving for a new PC?
3 Answers
The most practical first step is a platform upgrade: CPU, motherboard, and memory. The GTX 1060 may be usable for basic editing and playback, so I’d prioritize the processor rather than immediately buying a new GPU. Move to at least 32GB of RAM, and consider 64GB only if your projects are complex enough to justify it. Also check the power supply before installing newer components, since an aging or low-wattage unit may need replacement.
I would avoid investing heavily in the old platform and use it while saving for a new system. You’ll probably need a new CPU, motherboard, and more memory eventually, followed by a graphics card, power supply, and possibly a case. The existing drives can likely be reused. If you need an immediate GPU upgrade, a current midrange card could help, but a graphics card alone won’t address the older CPU’s limitations in 4K editing. A stronger card can also move into a future build later.
This is a fairly demanding workload, and the i5-8600K is likely to be the biggest limitation. A new CPU and motherboard would make more sense than putting 64GB of RAM into the current platform. An Intel processor with integrated graphics can be useful in Premiere because its media engine may help with video decoding and encoding, so avoid models ending in “F.” Start with at least 32GB of DDR4 memory; 64GB is helpful for larger projects, but it would consume most of the budget for a smaller performance gain. A budget CPU, board, and additional memory upgrade could fit just over $500, though it may be worth comparing newer platforms before buying.
A reasonable example would be a 14-core Intel i5, a compatible DDR4 motherboard, a capable air cooler, and 32GB of memory for roughly $500. That would leave the existing graphics card and storage in place for now.
That approach is sensible because upgrading nearly every major component separately can cost more than replacing the core system at once. The storage is the part most likely to remain useful.