I received a CyberPowerPC prebuilt around 2020 and am trying to figure out which parts need upgrading. Games such as Valorant and Minecraft have given me problems, and The Sims 4 can take around 40 minutes to load. After wiping and reinstalling Windows recently, the computer still feels slow and sometimes buffers.
My current parts seem to include an Intel Core i5-9600KF, an NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030, three DDR4 RAM sticks totaling roughly 32–36GB, and a CyberPowerPC motherboard with an Ultra M.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 slot. I do not know the exact motherboard or power-supply models. I originally thought I had an AMD processor, but I would prefer AMD if replacing the platform makes sense.
My main goal is to play The Sims 4 with lots of custom content and mods, good graphics, and shorter loading times. I would also like to run Valorant and Minecraft reliably. I am considering used parts to save money, but I am worried about buying something faulty or being scammed. What should I identify first, and which upgrades would make the biggest difference?
5 Answers
Used parts can be good value, but identify your power supply before choosing a graphics card. Avoid unknown or damaged PSUs, and do not use a card that needs more power than the supply can safely provide. Since the PC has reportedly fallen and the cable covering near the graphics card is damaged, stop using it if wires are exposed or connectors are loose. A knowledgeable friend or reputable local repair shop should inspect it before you buy secondhand components.
A GT 1030 is an entry-level graphics card and is probably the biggest gaming limitation here. The i5-9600KF should still be capable of running games like Valorant and The Sims 4, so the system may not need a complete rebuild immediately. A modern dedicated graphics card would likely make a much larger difference than replacing the CPU first, assuming the power supply and case can support it.
The extremely long Sims loading time may be caused by a slow or failing storage drive, a large mods or custom-content folder, background software, or a damaged installation. Check whether Windows and the game are installed on an SSD rather than a hard drive, look at the drive’s health, and temporarily move the custom-content folder to test the game without it. Also update the NVIDIA driver and check Task Manager while the game loads.
Three RAM sticks are not ideal, and a 6GB desktop memory stick is extremely unlikely. You may have one 16GB stick and two 8GB sticks, or another combination. Check the memory tabs in CPU-Z to confirm the size and speed of each module. For this use, 16–32GB of properly matched RAM is generally enough; buying 50GB will not improve Sims 4 loading by itself.
The RAM modules are LED Avexir Core Series sticks, but I still need to check their exact capacities. I had assumed that having around 36GB would automatically make the games load faster.
Before buying anything, identify the exact parts. CPU-Z can show the processor, motherboard, and memory configuration, while GPU-Z can identify the graphics card. The power-supply model is usually printed on a label on its side, so a clear photo of the inside of the case would help too. The M.2 label only describes a PCIe Gen3 slot for an NVMe SSD; it is not the graphics card.
I checked with GPU-Z and found that the graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030. CPU-Z also says the processor is an Intel Core i5-9600KF. I am still trying to identify the motherboard and power supply.
Valorant should normally run on hardware from that period, so an error about incompatibility could also involve an outdated driver, Windows settings, or the game’s security requirements. It is worth checking those before assuming the whole PC is obsolete.