My current PC is struggling more than it used to in Cyberpunk 2077, Fortnite, and Minecraft. I also recently bought a Quest 3, but when I play PCVR games through Steam Link, the computer sometimes overheats and shuts down.
Current build:
- Ryzen 5 4600G
- RTX 4060
- 20GB DDR4 using three sticks
- 1TB hard drive
- 1TB SATA SSD
I'm considering upgrading to 32GB of DDR4 using a 2x16GB kit, an RTX 5070, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. I'll also replace the case and improve airflow. I'm in the UK and have roughly £1,000 to spend. I'm also considering replacing my current 600–650W power supply with a good-quality 850W unit.
Would this be a sensible upgrade for regular gaming and especially PCVR, or should I prioritize the CPU, PSU, cooling, or graphics card differently?
3 Answers
Investigate the shutdown before upgrading anything. A computer that suddenly powers off during PCVR is more likely hitting a PSU protection limit or a serious cooling problem than simply needing a better case. Check CPU and GPU temperatures, make sure the cooler and fans are working, clean out dust, and identify the exact PSU model. If it is an older or low-quality 600–650W unit, replacing it with a reputable 750–850W model is a sensible first step.
Three RAM sticks are also not ideal on a dual-channel platform. A matched 2x16GB kit is cleaner and gives you 32GB, although the extra capacity itself probably will not transform gaming performance. The NVMe drive will improve loading and general responsiveness, but not frame rates.
For this budget, I’d prioritize a known-good PSU, proper airflow, and a matched 32GB memory kit. Then choose the CPU and GPU based on what remains. The 5600 is good value, but the 5700X3D is more worthwhile for high-refresh gaming and CPU-heavy VR if the price difference is manageable and your motherboard has BIOS support.
You could also compare the RTX 5070 with an RX 9070 XT in your local prices. The Radeon card may offer stronger raster performance and more VRAM, though NVIDIA can still be preferable if you rely on specific features or compatibility. Either way, confirm your case airflow, motherboard BIOS support, PSU quality, and GPU clearance before ordering.
The 4600G is likely to hold back a much faster graphics card in CPU-heavy games and some PCVR titles. If your motherboard supports it, a Ryzen 5 5600 is a reasonable budget upgrade, while a 5700X3D is the stronger gaming choice if you can fit it into the budget. The 4600G’s PCIe 3.0 support is not automatically a deal-breaker for a newer GPU, but the older CPU and its smaller cache are more important performance limitations.
A 5070 would still be a substantial step up from the 4060, but try not to spend the entire budget on the GPU while leaving the overheating and CPU issues unresolved.
Would you choose a 5600 with a higher-end GPU, or spend more on the 5700X3D and use a slightly cheaper graphics card? I’m mainly interested in stable PCVR performance.
So the PSU and cooling should come before the graphics card? I was planning on getting an 850W unit, but I’ll check the exact model and temperatures first.