I've been getting below-average FPS in my favorite games and want to upgrade my computer, but I'm not sure which component is holding the others back. My current build includes an RX 480 graphics card, and I'm also using a single stick of DDR4 memory. Price isn't a major concern—I mainly want the upgrade that will make the biggest difference. Should I replace the GPU first, upgrade the CPU, add more RAM, or consider replacing multiple parts?
4 Answers
The graphics card is definitely the first thing to replace. A used RTX 3070 would be a much larger upgrade if you want to spend more, though an RX 6600 is the better budget choice. You can consider a Ryzen 5 5600 later if the CPU becomes a limitation, but the RX 480 is the biggest issue right now.
Both the CPU and GPU could eventually be upgraded, but I’d still start with the GPU. Depending on your budget and the games you play, a Ryzen 5 5600 paired with something around an RTX 3060 or better would make a noticeable difference. There’s no need to replace everything at once if the current CPU is still handling your games adequately.
Adding another memory stick may improve your minimum FPS and reduce stuttering because you’d be running in dual-channel mode. I’d do that first if it’s inexpensive, then test your usual games and settings. After that, upgrade the GPU based on whether you’re still seeing the graphics card at full utilization.
The RX 480 is probably the main reason for the low FPS, so I’d upgrade the graphics card first. A used RX 6600 would be a strong value option and should provide a substantial improvement without immediately making the CPU the next major limitation. Adding a second matching DDR4 stick for dual-channel memory would also help, especially with frame-time lows, but it’s a lower priority than replacing the GPU.
If you don’t want to buy an additional stick, you could sell the current one and switch to a 2x8GB kit. That would give you 16GB in dual channel.
I found a used RX 6600 nearby for about $150, so I may go with that. Thanks for the recommendation!