I'm planning a long-overdue PC upgrade with a budget of about $2,000. My current options are a Radeon 9060 XT 16GB paired with 32GB of DDR5 memory and 2TB of storage, or stepping down to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage so I can afford the more powerful Radeon 9070. I'm leaning toward the 9070 because the performance difference seems substantial, and I could add more RAM and storage later. My current computer has 1.5TB of storage and 16GB of DDR4, neither of which has been a major problem. I'd appreciate advice on which option makes more sense for a new build.
2 Answers
I’d prioritize the stronger GPU. RAM and storage are usually straightforward upgrades later, while replacing the graphics card is much more expensive. Start with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage if that’s what keeps the 9070 within budget, then add another RAM kit or a second SSD when you need them.
You may be able to reuse the drives from your current PC, assuming they’re SSDs. That would let you put more of the budget toward the GPU without being stuck with only 1TB. I’d avoid carrying over an old hard drive as a main game drive, though, since the loading times will be noticeably worse.
I considered reusing the drives, but I’d prefer to sell the current PC as a complete system so I can get a little more for it. The entire new build is coming in close to my $2,000 limit, so I’m trying not to go over budget.