I'm looking to upgrade my gaming PC, but I only have basic hardware knowledge and I'm not sure which component should come first. My current system has a Ryzen 5 3350G, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 6GB GTX 1660, a 512GB SSD, and a 450W Corsair power supply. I get around 100 FPS in F1 25 and Fortnite using low-to-medium settings, although I occasionally experience frame drops. Performance in CS:GO is less consistent. I mainly want smoother gameplay and better performance without replacing parts unnecessarily. Should I upgrade the CPU, GPU, power supply, or something else first?
3 Answers
For a balanced budget upgrade, pair a Ryzen 5 5600 with a used graphics card such as an RTX 3060 or RX 6600. That should make 1080p gaming much smoother. Before buying a new CPU, confirm the motherboard model and BIOS support, since compatibility depends on the board rather than just the socket.
If you plan to move to 1440p, the graphics card becomes more important. Cards around the RX 6700 XT, RX 7600 XT, or RTX 4070 class would be stronger choices, but they may justify replacing the power supply first. A quality 650W–750W 80 Plus Gold unit would give you more headroom for future upgrades. For your current GTX 1660, the 450W unit is generally adequate if it’s a reliable model and in good condition.
The Ryzen 5 3350G is probably the biggest limitation, especially in games where you’re seeing inconsistent frame rates. A Ryzen 5 5500 or 5600 would be a substantial upgrade and should work with your existing DDR4 platform, although you’ll need to check your motherboard model and possibly update the BIOS. Your GTX 1660 is still reasonable for 1080p, so I’d upgrade the CPU first unless you’re specifically aiming for higher graphics settings or 1440p resolution.
A used RX 6600 is also a good low-power GPU upgrade if you find one at a sensible price. It offers better performance than the GTX 1660 without putting as much strain on a 450W power supply.