I'm in the United States and have been using this PC for about four years. It was originally built by someone else, and I later added storage. Recently, games have started lagging or kicking me out, and the computer has been overheating. I'm looking for budget-friendly upgrades that will work with my current system, ideally spending around $300–$500 per component. I already suspect the CPU may need an upgrade, and I may also need a larger case if future parts won't fit.
Current hardware:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 at 3.6 GHz
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4, 2×8 GB at 2400 MHz
- GPU: NVIDIA Quadro P1000 with 4 GB VRAM
- Integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630
- Storage: 1 TB HGST hard drive and 500 GB WD Blue SN570 SSD
- Operating system: 64-bit Windows
What should I replace first, and which upgrades are compatible with the rest of this system?
3 Answers
Depending on local deals, a complete replacement may be worth considering because the current CPU, motherboard, RAM speed, and Quadro graphics card are all from an older generation. If you have access to a major computer retailer, CPU-and-motherboard bundle deals can make a new build fit the budget more easily. You may be able to carry over the hard drive, SSD, and possibly the DDR4 memory, but inspect the power supply and case before reusing them.
The i7-7700 platform is quite old, and replacing the CPU would also require a compatible motherboard. A new CPU and motherboard together may give you a better long-term upgrade path than trying to improve this platform piecemeal. The DDR4 memory might be reusable, depending on the motherboard and the new platform, but verify compatibility first.
That said, address the overheating before buying parts. Clean dust from the heatsinks and fans, confirm that all fans are spinning, check CPU and GPU temperatures under load, and consider replacing old thermal paste. Overheating can cause throttling, crashes, and game disconnects even before any upgrade is made.
The graphics card is probably the biggest gaming limitation. A modern Radeon RX 9060 XT would be a strong option, preferably the 16 GB model, with a GeForce RTX 5060 as another possibility. Before upgrading, check your power supply, available case space, and required power connectors.
Also make sure Windows and your games are installed on the SSD, not the hard drive. Keep plenty of free space on the SSD—around 20% is a reasonable target. If that is not possible with 500 GB, adding a 1 TB SSD may help with loading and general responsiveness. Your 2×8 GB RAM setup can be reused, although 2400 MHz is relatively slow.
My RAM is 2×8 GB running at 2400 MHz. I’ll check the SSD space and look into those graphics cards.
I paid about $700 for the computer in 2022, so I’m trying to decide whether upgrading it still makes sense or whether I should start over.