I'm in the UK and built my PC in 2021 with a Ryzen 5 3600, GTX 1050 Ti, 16GB of RAM, an EVGA 600 GD 600W 80+ power supply, and a 144Hz monitor. The 1050 Ti has been fine for competitive shooters and even managed around 40–50 FPS in Elden Ring, but I've recently started playing Cyberpunk and other demanding AAA games. I'd like to move away from low settings and reach at least 60 FPS in newer games, while also getting around 144 FPS at medium or high settings in competitive shooters. Ideally, I want the upgrade to last several years, with a budget of roughly £400. I'm open to buying used and would appreciate recommendations, advice on whether my CPU or power supply should also be upgraded, and tips for judging whether a GPU is fairly priced.
2 Answers
A newer 16GB card such as the RX 9060 XT would be worth looking at if you find a good deal, but around £460 is above your current budget. Since used hardware is acceptable, compare that price against used 6800 XT, 3080, and similar cards rather than paying a large premium for a new model. Also check the specific power connectors and recommended PSU wattage before committing, because a 3080 or 6900 XT can put considerably more demand on a 600W supply.
For a used upgrade, an RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT would be a strong match for this budget if you can find one in good condition. An RX 6900 XT is also worth considering if the price is right. Your Ryzen 5 3600 may hold back very high frame rates in competitive games, so moving to a Ryzen 5 5600 or 5600X later would be a sensible AM4 upgrade. Check local listings to see the normal price range, ask for recent benchmark footage, and make sure the card is tested under load before buying. A 5–10 minute FurMark run can at least reveal obvious temperature or stability problems.
The 9060 XT is roughly £460 where I am, so it’s a bit beyond budget. I’m completely fine with buying used if that gets me better performance.