I currently have an i5-8400 paired with an RX 580, and I want to run Fortnite at roughly 220–240 FPS. My total upgrade budget is around $200–$500. What would be the best upgrade for that price range? I'm open to buying used parts if that gives me better performance.
3 Answers
For a balanced upgrade, consider moving to an affordable B550 motherboard with a Ryzen 5 5500, then spend whatever remains on the best used GPU you can find. Upgrading only the graphics card may not reach your target because Fortnite at very high frame rates is often CPU-limited.
With this budget, used hardware is worth considering. A used RTX 3060 or RTX 3070 could be a reasonable pairing, depending on local prices and condition.
If the budget is for the GPU alone, a newer card such as the RX 9060 XT would offer a major improvement over the RX 580. However, the i5-8400 may limit your frame rate in Fortnite, especially if you’re targeting a consistent 220–240 FPS.
That’s the main concern: pairing a much faster GPU with the i5-8400 could create a noticeable CPU bottleneck. Your actual results will depend heavily on resolution, graphics settings, and whether you use Performance Mode.