Hey everyone! I've just finished repairing my old PC and I'm ready to start upgrading some parts to keep it from becoming outdated again. Here's what I currently have:
- Motherboard: Asrock AB350M Pro 4
- GPU: Galax GTX 1060 6GB
- CPU: Ryzen 5 1400 at 3.2GHz
- RAM: 16 GB (two 8GB DDR4 sticks)
- PSU: Corsair TX550M (I upgraded this from a faulty one to 650W)
- Case: Fractal Design Focus G Mini
- Storage: 1 SSD (M.2) and 2 HDDs
My plan is to upgrade my GPU first and then my CPU in a couple of months, possibly followed by the motherboard later. I haven't decided on the motherboard or CPU yet, but I'm leaning towards sticking with Ryzen for the CPU.
Here are my GPU options based on what's available and within my budget:
- Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7800 XT Gaming OC 16G ($799 AUD)
- Asus Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti O16G ($819 AUD)
- Asus Dual Radeon RX 7800 XT OC 16G ($759 AUD)
- Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7700 XT 12G ($699 AUD)
- MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16G ($840 AUD)
My main questions are:
- Which GPU would be the best choice for me? I'm okay paying a bit more if it's worth it, but I want to stay around the same price range. My GTX 1060 is still performing decently, so I'm looking for something comparable.
- Is there a significant difference between AMD and Nvidia right now? Is Nvidia's frame generation feature worth considering?
- Do you think my upgrade plan is solid? Will there be compatibility issues with my current setup? I know the CPU might bottleneck initially, but I'm okay with that for a couple of months.
Thanks for any help you can provide!
3 Answers
Your idea of upgrading the GPU first sounds good. Just keep in mind that upgrading to a new generation might require you to eventually upgrade the motherboard and RAM too. If you’re looking at an AM5 setup, that’ll offer longer-term compatibility since AM4 isn’t getting any new releases. I’d definitely recommend going for the RX 7800 XT if you can fit it into your budget, it’s a great card for the price and will serve you well. But keep in mind, if you go with an Nvidia card, you might benefit more in terms of software support, especially for gaming and some creative work.
Upgrading your GPU is definitely the right move now, but I’d advise you to plan for a full platform change soon. You don’t want to sink money into AM4 at this point since you’ll be boxed in. And yes, Nvidia does have advantages with certain games and productivity apps, especially with features like frame generation. But if you're primarily gaming, weigh your options carefully and choose what offers the best performance for your budget. Good luck!
I kind of agree with the last commenter. Your current setup is at a point where honestly, upgrading just the GPU may not yield the best results long-term. If you’re going to upgrade the CPU later, you might as well do the motherboard at the same time to avoid compatibility issues. Also, check out how well the RX 7800 XT compares to the RTX options in your area—Nvidia has solid support for new games, but AMD is catching up pretty fast! You’re on the right track with upgrading the GPU first, just be ready for more upgrades sooner than later.
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