I built this PC with my brother in 2016 and it has worked reliably ever since, but the GTX 1080 has finally died. The rest of the system still seems to function normally, though I'm unsure whether it makes sense to install a modern graphics card in hardware that is nearly ten years old.
I mainly want to play competitive shooters such as Battlefield, Apex Legends, and Wardogs. I don't need high-end rendering or maximum settings, and the GTX 1080 felt perfectly adequate for my needs before it failed. I'd like to spend as little as necessary for a smooth competitive gaming experience, but I'm willing to replace more components—or build a new system—if my current hardware would significantly hold things back or is becoming unreliable.
My current specifications are:
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080, now dead
Motherboard: MSI Z370M Mortar
PSU: Seasonic M12II Bronze EVO
RAM: 16 GB DDR4-2133, 2x8 GB
Storage: Samsung 860 EVO 500 GB SATA SSD
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Lite 5
Would something like a used RTX 3060 Ti be a sensible replacement, or should I upgrade other parts at the same time?
3 Answers
The 8700K is still a capable gaming CPU, especially if you’re playing at 1440p or targeting high refresh rates with reasonable settings. I’d avoid replacing the whole computer solely because the GPU failed. A 3060 Ti, RTX 4060, RX 6700 XT, or a similar modern midrange card would be a sensible match. Just make sure the card fits the case and that your PSU has the necessary connectors. Your 2133MHz memory is slower than ideal, but replacing it won’t transform performance unless you’re already CPU-limited.
If you buy an Intel Arc card, update the motherboard BIOS and enable UEFI, Above 4G Decoding, and Resizable BAR. Arc cards can perform well for the money, but they’re more dependent on those settings and driver support than an NVIDIA or AMD card. For the simplest replacement, I’d choose a conventional card instead. Also consider replacing the 500GB SATA SSD eventually; capacity is likely to become a bigger annoyance than its speed.
A used RTX 3060 Ti would be a reasonable drop-in replacement and should pair well enough with the 8700K for the games you listed. You probably don’t need a completely new system just because the platform is older. Before buying, check the power requirements and the condition of your PSU, since that unit is also getting quite old. A newer 600–750W quality PSU would be worthwhile if the current one has seen years of heavy use. You could also upgrade to 32GB of RAM and add a larger SSD later, but neither is essential for getting back into gaming.
My budget is effectively uncapped, but I’d prefer to spend only what is necessary. I’m considering a $239.99 RTX 3060 Ti, although I use this computer roughly 14 hours a day for work and gaming, so I’m open to a full rebuild if the newer hardware would make a meaningful everyday difference.