Hey everyone! I'm not very knowledgeable about hardware since I'm more of a software person, but I really want to upgrade my RAM and graphics card because I've been diving into some more intense PC gaming. Right now, I have 16GB of RAM in my build, but I also have an extra 8GB from my old PC that I'm thinking about adding. Currently, my GPU is a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, which has been holding up okay, but it's definitely showing its age. I'm considering upgrading to an RTX 3060, but I'm nervous about compatibility with my motherboard and other components. Here are my specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X 6 Core
Motherboard: x470 Gaming Plus MAX
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD and 5 x 500GB HDD
PSU: Integrator MX 600W - SNBIM60AKC1080911
Also, here's a picture of my setup: https://imgur.com/a/kCiyuSC
1 Answer
Definitely check your PSU first! The model number you have will tell you what kind of GPU you can support. While you have your PC open, make sure you see at least one PCIe 8-pin connector (it usually splits into 6+2) for the RTX 3060. But don't worry about motherboard compatibility, that's fine! For RAM, I’d suggest selling your 16GB and getting a new 2x16GB kit of 3200 CL16 instead of mixing in your old 8GB. Mixing RAM can lead to performance issues.
Thanks for the advice! I added the PSU info to my post. I checked inside and there seems to be spots for 3 RAM cards. Can’t I just use that? I’ll try to add some pictures to the post.