I'm looking for some guidance on upgrading my gaming PC, as I've mostly only dealt with RAM upgrades and I'm not very experienced. I have an ASUS ROG that I bought during the pandemic for gaming, and here are my current specs: Intel i5-10400, GTX 1660 Super, 32GB DDR4 RAM, B450 motherboard, and a 650 Watt power supply.
I'm considering upgrading my GPU to either a 5060 Ti or a 5070 before prices go up. I believe I might have to upgrade my CPU too for optimal performance, which would mean getting a new motherboard, and then DDR5 RAM as well. Is my understanding correct, or am I missing something? I appreciate any advice you can give!
4 Answers
What resolution are you gaming at? Your CPU might limit a 5070 at high-refresh-rate 1080p, but you’ll be fine if you stick to 1440p. And your power supply should handle a 5070 without issues if it's a decent one. Don’t forget that sometimes the biggest upgrade is a better monitor!
You don't necessarily need to upgrade your CPU. The jump to DDR5 RAM is definitely worth it. Also, I’d recommend looking at the 9070 XT instead of the 5070—it offers better value and performance. I snagged one at Micro Center for about $521, open boxed, and it's been a fantastic upgrade!
If you want to snag a new GPU to beat the price hike, go for it! You can optimize your system later if needed. Trust me, you'll see a significant performance boost from upgrading from a 1660 Super to any 50-series card. I went from a 3070 to a 5070 Ti with a 5600x, and even though there was some CPU bottlenecking, I noticed huge FPS gains!
That really helps clear things up. I was debating between upgrading my current setup or getting a new prebuilt system if it ends up being more cost-effective.
Aim for the best GPU you can get within your budget, ideally avoiding the 5060 Ti if you have future plans for 1440p gaming. Your i5-10400 may slightly hold things back, but it's still pretty capable. Think of it like running a race with a super-fast runner who’s just got a little extra weight—still plenty of speed!
I have a TUF 32" curved monitor, 1920x1080 at 165Hz, so I guess I’ll be gaming in 1080p.