My gaming PC is about 11 years old, and I'm trying to decide whether it makes sense to upgrade individual components or replace the whole system. It currently has an Intel Core i7-4790K, ASUS Maximus VII Hero motherboard with the Z97/LGA1150 platform, an EVGA GTX 970, 16GB of DDR3 memory, a Corsair RM750e 750W power supply, and a 500GB Samsung 860 EVO SATA SSD. I'm in the United States and have roughly $1,000 to spend, although I can't stretch the budget very far. My main goal is to play Marvel Rivals, Crimson Desert, Battlefield 6, and other modern or upcoming AAA games at high or ultra settings with good frame rates—not merely run them at low settings. Should I reuse any existing components, or would I be better off building an entirely new platform? I'd especially appreciate advice on the CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, SSD, and whether the 750W power supply is safe to reuse.
4 Answers
You could temporarily install a stronger used or new GPU in the current system and see a large improvement over the GTX 970, but the old CPU will eventually hold it back, especially in newer CPU-heavy games. That only makes sense if you plan to replace the rest of the platform soon. Otherwise, save the money for a complete rebuild. The SSD can still be reused as extra storage, although a modern NVMe drive would be a better primary drive.
The practical route is a new platform and a new graphics card. There really isn’t a worthwhile CPU upgrade for LGA1150, and DDR3 parts are outdated and poor value. You can probably reuse the 750W power supply and SATA SSD if the power supply is still in good condition and not actually 11 years old. A modern CPU, motherboard, DDR5 memory, and GPU will make a much bigger difference. If there’s a local retailer offering CPU/motherboard/RAM bundles, those can help the budget considerably.
With a firm $1,000 limit, a well-priced prebuilt may offer better value than buying every component separately. Look for something with a modern Core i5 or equivalent, 32GB of RAM if possible, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a graphics card around the RTX 5060 class or better. A 16GB system can work, but 32GB is preferable for newer games and multitasking. Be sure to check the power supply, motherboard, cooling, and upgrade options rather than judging the system by the GPU alone.
Would an RTX 5060 be a reasonable choice for the games I want to play? I’m not very familiar with how current GPUs compare, so I’m trying to avoid buying something that will immediately feel outdated.
A complete new build is the better long-term choice. Aim for a current platform with a socket that still has upgrade options, 32GB of memory, and a fast 1TB NVMe drive. An $800–$1,000 parts list can provide a solid starting point, though ultra settings in the newest AAA games may require compromises or upscaling at higher resolutions. Prioritize the GPU, since it has the greatest effect on gaming performance.
A GTX 3060-class card can still work surprisingly well with a 4790K for less demanding games, but it won’t turn the old system into a modern high-end machine. For the newest releases, a new CPU platform will matter just as much as the GPU.