I have an HP EliteDesk 800 G5 with the following specs:
- i5-9500
- 16 GB RAM (2x8 GB at 2666 MHz)
- 1 TB SSD.
I'm considering upgrading it to play some games and run a language model (LLM). My main focus is on playing games like Cyberpunk 2077 with decent graphics, but I'm a beginner and plan to use a projector, so super high FPS isn't necessary. I want to know if spending around $500 makes sense for upgrades like more RAM, a GPU, and possibly a new case. What should I prioritize to get the best performance boost without overspending?
1 Answer
With your budget, you can still make some improvements. I suggest looking for a second-hand GPU like the GeForce 3060 12GB, which should run you around $200. You’ll need a better power supply too, which can add around $110 to your costs. Upgrading the RAM to 32GB would be ideal, and an NVMe drive could help with performance as well. Overall, for about $300-$350, you could see a significant boost, but remember it’s still an older system.
Just to clarify, you might want to keep your power supply’s wattage in mind. If you go for the 3060, the 500W PSU is definitely a good option.