I'm trying to reach a reliable 1440p gaming experience without wasting money on a completely new build. My current system is an HP TG01 with a proprietary motherboard and case, so swapping to a standard ATX case or making major power and motherboard changes may be difficult. The system has a Ryzen 5 5500G, Radeon RX 6600 XT, 16GB of RAM in a 2x8GB configuration, and a 750W power supply. The case is a small-form-factor design with roughly 12 inches of internal depth, which rules out many larger graphics cards. I'm considering a GPU upgrade, possibly a new Radeon 9060 XT with 16GB of VRAM or a used RTX 3080, RX 6800-series card, RX 7700 XT, or RX 7800 XT. I'm also wondering whether a CPU upgrade to something like a Ryzen 5 5600X or an X3D processor is realistic with the proprietary motherboard. I'm not in a rush and could wait for major holiday sales, but I care more about getting the best overall value than spending the absolute minimum. What would be the smartest upgrade strategy?
4 Answers
A used RX 7700 XT or RX 7800 XT could also be a strong upgrade, while a new 16GB 9060 XT is the safer choice if you want a warranty. Since this is an OEM small-form-factor system, the usual performance recommendations are only half the answer: measure the available GPU clearance and check whether the HP motherboard and power cabling support the replacement. If compatible cards are too large or awkward, putting the money toward a new standard-format build may be less frustrating than repeatedly working around the TG01’s limitations.
Building from scratch gives you the cleanest long-term upgrade path, and the current HP system could later be reused as a server or storage machine. However, there’s no need to replace everything immediately if a short, compatible GPU upgrade gets you the 1440p performance you want. I’d check holiday pricing, compare new warranty-backed cards with used options, and only replace the whole system if the case and proprietary motherboard prevent a worthwhile GPU upgrade.
Your 5500G isn’t ideal, but the RX 6600 XT is likely the larger gaming limitation at 1440p. A used RTX 3080 can offer a substantial performance jump if you find one in good condition for around the mid-$300 range, and the 750W PSU is generally enough. Used RX 6800 or 6800 XT cards are also worth considering because their extra VRAM is useful at 1440p. Just be careful with card length, cooler thickness, power connectors, and the condition of any used card before purchasing.
The graphics card should be the first priority. A 16GB Radeon 9060 XT would be a sensible new-card option for 1440p, assuming you can find a model that physically fits the TG01 case and works with its power connectors. After that, upgrading from 16GB to 32GB of RAM would help with newer games and general smoothness. A CPU upgrade could also help, but compatibility is the big question with that proprietary motherboard. If the BIOS supports it, a Ryzen 5 5600X, Ryzen 7 5700X, or compatible X3D chip would be an improvement, but I’d verify HP’s supported CPU list before buying.
That helps. I currently have 16GB of RAM, and the 16GB 9060 XT looks like a good price point. I’m not sure a CPU swap is practical because of the proprietary motherboard, so I’ll check compatibility before considering one.
I’d avoid buying an 8GB card specifically for a new 1440p setup. The 10GB on a standard RTX 3080 is more comfortable, while the RX 6800-series cards offer even more VRAM. The newer 16GB 9060 XT is easier to buy new, but compare its price and actual performance against used higher-tier cards.