Hey everyone! I haven't upgraded my PC in a while, but I think it's time for an upgrade. I'm currently running a 1060 3GB GPU and would love to move to something newer. I have a budget of up to $500 and I'm hoping to find a GPU that will last as long as my 1060 did. I mainly want to upgrade the GPU, but I'm open to upgrading other components if necessary. Just for some context, here's my current setup:
- Processor: Ryzen 5 2600X with stock cooler
- Motherboard: ASRock AB350 Pro4
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- PSU: Corsair CX750
Let me know if you need any more information. Thanks for your help!
5 Answers
Definitely consider upgrading your CPU as well since it's lagging behind. I suggest the Ryzen 5 5600, and remember to update the BIOS after that. This way, you’ll have around $350 for a new GPU. The RX 6900 XT is a fantastic option, but if you wait and save a bit more, go for the 3080—it’s about 10-15% faster but requires more power.
A lot of great options out there! For close to $499, look at these:
- AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti (16GB)
- Used NVIDIA RTX 3080
Do keep your board's capabilities in mind since you can upgrade the BIOS and add some newer parts without starting from scratch.
With your $500 budget, the RX 6800 XT is a solid choice at about $350. If you're willing to invest a bit more, a Ryzen 5600X could be upgraded at under $100, plus you could get a better cooler for your CPU. Selling your old parts might help recoup some costs, but remember that upgrading your PSU may require more work since you'd need to redo cable management.
If you're not opposed to used cards, you could grab a used RTX 3080 around $350. Just keep in mind, it tends to get hotter and is more power-hungry compared to the 6900 XT, but the performance gain is noticeable.
Also, watch out for bottlenecks at 1080p with your existing CPU, especially when playing demanding games!
If you're looking to upgrade, I'd recommend the RX 6900 XT with 16GB, around $350. You could also use the leftover budget to grab a Ryzen 5700X for a little boost. The only other card below $500 that's worth mentioning is the 5060 Ti, which offers about a 10% performance increase over your current setup.
Totally agree! Just keep in mind that with the 6900 XT, your current CPU might limit its performance in some titles.
Upgrading the RAM to 32GB could also be a worthwhile investment for future-proofing your setup!