My 4–5-year-old gaming PC is starting to struggle with newer games and updates. It currently has an Intel i5-12400F, GTX 1660 Super, 16GB DDR4 RAM, a Cooler Master 650W Bronze power supply, an ASUS Prime B660M-A D4 motherboard, and a compact micro-ATX case that only supports a graphics card with a two-slot thickness. I mostly play open-world and semi-open-world games, so I'm leaning toward upgrading the GPU first. I'm also interested in gradually moving toward 1440p gaming. My budget is about $400–$520, but RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RX 9060 XT prices are unusually high in my area, so I'd prefer alternatives unless a standard RTX 5060 or 8GB RX 9060 XT is the best option. Which upgrade would make the biggest difference?
3 Answers
Once the GPU is upgraded, move to 32GB of RAM. Sixteen gigabytes can cause stuttering in newer open-world games, especially with background programs running, but it shouldn’t be the first upgrade when the 1660 Super is holding back performance. A used RX 6700 XT is another option if you can find one at a good price, although cards that perform noticeably better may be close enough in price to a new RX 9060 XT that buying new could make more sense.
The GPU is clearly the main limitation here. Your i5-12400F should be fine for 1080p and can handle a reasonably powerful GPU without causing a serious bottleneck. Spend as much of the budget as possible on the best graphics card that fits your case. An AMD card may offer better gaming performance per dollar unless you specifically need NVIDIA features or professional software. Since you’re aiming for 1440p eventually, prioritizing the GPU makes sense.
I’m using a 1TB NVMe drive for Windows and games, and I’d like to build toward 1440p gradually, starting with the graphics card.
At the prices you listed, a standard RTX 5060 for around $430 or an 8GB RX 9060 XT for roughly $415–$420 could be worth considering. Between them, compare actual reviews for the games you play, but either would be a substantial improvement over the GTX 1660 Super. Just make sure the card is no thicker than two slots and fits the length limits of your small case.
I’m not counting on selling the 1660 Super to fund the upgrade. I’d rather keep it as a backup in case the new card has warranty or reliability problems.