My PC was built in 2016 and still uses an i5-6600K, a GTX 1070, and an unknown-age power supply. The original GTX 980 Ti failed a few years ago, and the system has felt increasingly limited since around 2020. I can finally start upgrading, but I'll need to do it gradually because component prices are high.
I'm considering moving to an AM5 processor and motherboard first, buying one DDR5 stick initially, then adding a second stick later, followed by a newer graphics card and possibly a power supply and case. I mainly use a 1080p 144 Hz monitor, so I'm more interested in making the whole system feel faster and smoother than immediately maximizing gaming performance. Is this a sensible order, or would it be better to prioritize different parts?
4 Answers
I’d lean toward upgrading the platform first and keeping the GTX 1070 for a while. An AM5 CPU, motherboard, and a matched two-stick DDR5 kit will give you a much better foundation and an upgrade path for later. Since you play at 1080p and aren’t urgently chasing higher graphics performance, the 1070 may be adequate until you can afford a worthwhile GPU upgrade.
Buy the DDR5 as a matched kit rather than starting with one stick and adding another later. Mixing separate kits can cause compatibility or stability problems, especially if you’re running memory at its rated speed. A CPU, motherboard, and two-stick memory bundle may also be cheaper than buying everything individually.
Treat the power supply as part of the first upgrade if it has been running for around ten years. PSU age matters, and a modern GPU is not something I’d connect to an ancient unit unless it’s a high-quality model in excellent condition. After the main upgrades, check the health and capacity of your current SSD; an NVMe drive could be a worthwhile next step for overall system responsiveness.
The GPU-first approach makes sense if gaming performance is the main issue, since that usually produces the biggest frame-rate improvement. However, in your situation the platform upgrade is also reasonable because the 6600K is very old and the new motherboard and CPU will improve general responsiveness. Whichever upgrade you do first, make sure the old power supply is replaced before installing an expensive new graphics card.
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