I recently bought a new GPU, the MSI GeForce RTX 3060, while it was on sale, and I'm excited to install it! However, my case has poor airflow, so I'm planning to replace that. Is there anything else I should consider replacing before I install the GPU?
Everything else in my system is about five years old, except for the RAM, which I upgraded a couple of months ago. My CPU is an AMD Ryzen 3 3100, and I'm currently using the original motherboard, an ASRock A520M/ac. If there are any other parts I should look at replacing or if I should wait to get additional components, I'm open to advice. I'd appreciate any suggestions, especially since I'm not very experienced with these upgrades. Here are my specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3100 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor
- Motherboard: ASRock A520M/ac Micro ATX AM4
- Memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600
- New Video Card: MSI GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
- Power Supply: Corsair SF750 (2018) 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply
Thanks for the help!
2 Answers
For pure gaming, I recommend the Ryzen 5 5600. If you do a lot of multitasking, the Ryzen 7 5700X would be a great choice since it has two extra cores. Both are low TDP upgrades that pair well with the RTX 3060 on your motherboard.
The only significant upgrade you might consider is the CPU. A 5600 upgrade would be a solid choice, but if you can stretch your budget a bit, the Ryzen 7 5700 is even better for multitasking. Unfortunately, the 5000 series is the best fit for your motherboard, but it would make a noticeable difference in performance.
My son uses the same CPU and is looking to upgrade for Christmas. We’re eyeing the 5600 to help with his CPU-heavy games, so I get the need for speed!