I'm a dad looking to upgrade my gaming setup because I've been having to lower the graphics settings on most games to keep them running smoothly. Currently, I have a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12600KF CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce 3060 TI GPU. I already have good monitors, but I want to improve the rest of my system. I have a limited budget, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
I'm totally new to this! Besides the GPU, would it make sense to look at increasing the RAM to 32 GB? I read that it could help improve performance, but I'm not sure if it's a good move considering the prices right now.
Since you mentioned you've been lowering settings, your GPU is likely the main bottleneck right now. If your gaming monitor supports higher resolutions or refresh rates, then a GPU upgrade is especially important. Your power supply seems solid, but double-check its specs before you upgrade.
I would recommend just upgrading the GPU for now. I have the same CPU and a 4070, and it runs everything smoothly. Your 16 GB of RAM is probably okay for the next couple of years, but prices can be high at the moment if you're looking to upgrade it.
Upgrading your GPU would definitely give you the most noticeable boost in gaming performance. Just make sure to consider what your budget is and while you're at it, check if your power supply can handle the new card! If you're looking around $400-500, you might want to check out options like the 5060 Ti or the 9060 XT.

Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload