I'm looking to upgrade my current PC before giving it to my younger brother. I have a budget of $350, which I might stretch to $400 if there's a significant performance increase. I've just spent quite a bit on my new build (9070XT + 7800X3D), so I want to keep expenses down.
The specs of the PC I'm passing down are:
- GPU: Rx 7600
- CPU: Ryzen 5 3600
- RAM: 16GB
- SSD: Samsung 860 EVO SATA
- PSU: 500 watt
I plan to keep the GPU and RAM because my brother mainly plays less demanding games like Marvel Rivals. I'm considering an AM4 motherboard/cpu and making two significant upgrades: the SSD (which is showing wear with a health of 85%) and the PSU. I think moving to a 650 watt PSU would be a good idea.
Here's my initial upgrade plan:
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5700x [$103]
- SSD: TEAMGROUP MP44 1 TB [$70]
- PSU: Corsair RM650e (2025) [$105]
Total would be $278, leaving me with $72 to spend or more if you've got other suggestions!
3 Answers
1. It really depends; if he starts playing CPU-intensive modern games, then maybe.
2. My calculations put the SSD closer to around $50, not $70, so keep an eye out for that.
3. Upgrading the PSU to just a little more wattage might not be worth it. If it’s been fine at 500 watts, you might not need a new one right away.
He usually sticks to Marvel Rivals, but I suspect he’ll want to try newer games once he gets the PC. Just trying to be cautious.
Honestly, I think you could just keep the PC as is and let your brother upgrade parts later if needed. Unless the SSD is failing, it might not make a noticeable difference right now. What’s the drive health percentage? Also, unless the current PSU is showing issues, I wouldn’t rush to replace it.
The drive health is at 85%, which isn't great, but it’s not too bad either. I thought it was worse—might still be okay for a bit longer.
Totally agree! This setup can last him a couple of years, and it gives a great base for him to learn about upgrades. It’s super generous of you to gift him this!
If you're looking to keep it future-proof, consider swapping in an RX 9060 XT for a decent upgrade. The CPU can always be replaced later for about $50, but that GPU will last him quite a while.
I had my eye on the 9060 XT for my new build, but I want him to learn to upgrade it himself. I'm just trying to help him start off on the right foot, and it sounds like he might be okay for a bit longer!
Sounds like a good approach! Giving him a chance to learn and grow with the PC is a solid plan.
Sounds like 500 watts is working well, so that’s good to know! I’d much rather not spend more than I need to.