I inherited this system and want to upgrade it rather than build a completely new computer. My one firm requirement is replacing the NVIDIA graphics card because I plan to use Linux and would prefer an AMD GPU. I mainly play older games, but I'd like enough performance to run newer releases at 1080p with standard settings. My total budget is around $400–$600, and I'm shopping at Micro Center today.
Current hardware:
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
- MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC motherboard
- 16GB DDR4-3200 CL16 memory
- Samsung 860 Evo 500GB SATA SSD
- EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
- EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3 650W Gold modular PSU
What combination of CPU and Radeon GPU would provide the biggest improvement while keeping the existing platform, power supply, memory, and motherboard?
4 Answers
The B450 board supports Ryzen 5000 processors as long as the BIOS is updated first. For your budget, I’d prioritize a Radeon RX 6600-class card or better, then spend whatever remains on a Ryzen 5 5600. That should handle older games easily and provide reasonable 1080p performance in newer ones without replacing the motherboard or RAM.
One thing to keep in mind is that Linux compatibility can vary by game, especially with multiplayer titles that use anti-cheat software. AMD graphics are generally the easier choice on Linux, but the operating system may still limit which games work properly regardless of the hardware upgrade.
The biggest improvement would come from replacing both the CPU and GPU. A Ryzen 5 5600X3D, if your local store has one around $180, paired with a Radeon RX 9060 XT around $360, would be a very strong 1080p setup for roughly $550. If the 5600X3D is unavailable, a regular Ryzen 5 5600 is still a good value. Update the motherboard BIOS before removing the old CPU or installing a newer AM4 chip.
A less expensive option would be a Ryzen 5 5500 or Ryzen 5 3600 with a Radeon RX 6600 or RX 6650 XT. Either card would be a substantial step up from the GTX 1660 Ti, and the 650W power supply should be sufficient. Avoid the RX 6400 and RX 6500 XT for this system because their limitations make them poor upgrade choices.
Thanks for the suggestions. My budget is $400–$600 total, so I’m hoping to choose a CPU and GPU combination within that range.