Hey everyone! Last night, my old GPU went kaput; it was a GTX 960 I bought back in 2016 and had been using it for about nine years. Here's the current setup I've got:
1. **CPU:** AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (upgraded in 2021, planning to keep this)
2. **Motherboard:** Gigabyte B450M S2H V2 (PCIe 3.0, AM4 socket, also upgraded in 2021 and want to keep)
3. **RAM:** HyperX Fury DDR4 16GB (upgraded in 2021, keeping it)
4. **Storage:** WD Blue 1TB HDD
5. **PSU:** Cooler Master Thunder 500W
6. **GPU:** GTX 960 (dead now)
7. **Monitor:** Benq GW2780 27 inch
Since the Ryzen 5 3600 doesn't have an integrated GPU, I'm in a bit of a bind and can't work right now. I'm looking for advice on what graphics card to buy or whether I need to upgrade other components too. I mostly play Counter Strike 2, and I've got a few specific questions:
- Should I go for an NVIDIA or AMD graphics card?
- If I choose NVIDIA, should I opt for the 3000/4000 series or save money with a used 1050 Ti or something like that?
- If I plan to play AAA games, what other components should I consider upgrading to support a new GPU?
- Does pairing an AMD GPU with my AMD CPU have any advantages? If so, which AMD graphics card would you recommend?
I'm looking for the best balance between performance and cost here. Thanks in advance for your help!
2 Answers
If you're considering a bit more power, the 5600 with a 9060XT 16GB is a fantastic combo for high settings in the latest AAA games at 1080p. Plus, you can keep your motherboard, RAM, and PSU for now.
It really comes down to your budget, but you might also want to think about getting an SSD and adding another 16GB of RAM eventually for extra performance!
For your current setup, a used Nvidia 3060 or an AMD 6600XT would be a solid upgrade for your monitor. You'll get great performance for games like CS2 without breaking the bank.
Yeah, but keep in mind the price difference between those two cards—it can be significant!
Are you suggesting I upgrade to the 5600 along with the 9060XT? I'm not really keen on changing my CPU. Also, will a 500W PSU work with the 9060XT 16GB?