I've had this PC for several years and want to upgrade it for newer games, especially online titles. I'm concerned about buying incompatible parts or spending money in the wrong places. My current hardware is an Intel Core i5-6500 at 3.2 GHz, 16 GB of probably DDR4 memory, a 112 GB Samsung 840 SSD used mainly for the operating system, a 1.8 TB Seagate hard drive where most games are installed, a GTX 1060 3 GB graphics card, and a Netgear A6100 USB Wi-Fi adapter. The Wi-Fi connection is unreliable, sometimes requiring me to unplug and reconnect the adapter, and downloads are slow. I also haven't been able to play online games consistently because of connection problems. Should I upgrade individual components or build a new PC? My maximum budget is around $2,000, although I'd prefer to spend less if possible.
2 Answers
Most of the system is several generations old, so a complete rebuild would make more sense than trying to upgrade the existing platform piece by piece. The old CPU and motherboard would limit modern graphics cards, and the 3 GB graphics card is especially restrictive for newer games. A modern gaming build could use a current six-core gaming CPU, 32 GB of DDR5-6000 memory, a mid-to-high-end graphics card with at least 12–16 GB of VRAM, a quality 750–850 W power supply, and a new motherboard and case. You can reuse the large hard drive for bulk storage, but a modern NVMe SSD would make game loading and general Windows use much faster. A build in the $1,500–$1,800 range should fit the budget without needing to spend the full $2,000.
For the connection problem, replacing the Wi-Fi adapter may help, but first check whether the issue is the adapter, signal strength, drivers, or the router itself. A wired Ethernet connection is the best option for online gaming if you can run a cable. Otherwise, use a newer PCIe Wi-Fi card with external antennas rather than a small USB adapter, and make sure it supports modern Wi-Fi standards. If every device on the network has poor speeds, the problem is probably the router or internet service rather than the PC. Also, installing games on an SSD instead of the old hard drive will improve loading times, but it will not directly fix lag or disconnects.
You don’t necessarily need the most expensive graphics card. Dropping to a slightly lower model can save money while still providing excellent performance, especially if you play at 1080p or 1440p.