I'm looking to upgrade my PC while keeping an eye on future-proofing, particularly for gaming at 1080p and 144Hz. My current specs are: Ryzen 5 5500, B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC, 64GB DDR4-3600 C16 RAM, MSI GTX 1060 6GB, and a Corsair TX650M. I use this setup for both gaming and music production with REAPER. Lately, I've noticed it struggling with newer games, only hitting around 45-60fps, and I'd love to boost this performance. I'm considering either the Ryzen 5700X3D or the 5900X for CPU upgrades since both can handle 144Hz gaming pretty well. However, I have a budget constraint of around £300-350 for the CPU and am also eyeing a new GPU. I'm aware of potential VRAM limitations in the future, so I'm thinking of a 7700XT or waiting for the release of the 9060. What would you suggest for the best upgrades?
3 Answers
Since gaming seems to be your priority, I’d say go for the 5700X3D. It’s a solid choice for gaming performance, and it should help improve your frame rates. If you’re also into music production, the 5900X could be beneficial, but for gaming alone, the 5700X3D should suffice. I’ve seen good results with it!
Yeah, I get that music production isn’t as critical right now since your current setup works fine for it. Just keep in mind that while the 5700X3D shines for gaming, it might still help with your overall production efficiency!
I’d actually suggest upgrading your GPU first. The 5500 is decent, but you’ll get a bigger performance boost with a new midrange GPU. Look into the RTX 3060 or RX 7600XT – they both have good VRAM and should elevate your gaming experience significantly without breaking your budget.
Thanks for the tip! I’ve heard mixed reviews about the lifespan of the 3060, though. What do you think about the 4060 that’s around the same price?
The 7600XT sounds promising! Just confirm that AMD has sorted out their driver issues because that could impact your experience.
Future-proofing on a budget can be tough. Considering your limitations, I'd opt to upgrade your GPU first and wait to do a complete upgrade to a DDR5 setup in the future. Your Ryzen 5500 should still hold up fine for a while at 1080p.
If you’re considering GPUs, the 6800XT is a strong competitor. It performs well and might be found for a decent price on the used market. Just remember it requires a bit more power, so make sure your PSU can handle it!