Hey everyone! I recently got a gaming PC for my teenage son, who loves playing games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Minecraft. Although the PC runs these games, it feels pretty sluggish, which can be frustrating. I'm looking for some budget-friendly upgrade options to improve its performance a bit. Here are the specs: 12GB RAM at 2133 MHz, Intel Core i3-8100 CPU @ 3.60GHz, 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and a 932GB HDD. I suspect the HDD might be the main culprit behind the slowness, but I'm not sure what other components could be upgraded. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Consider upgrading the graphics card to a GTX 1080 or 2070, and definitely switch the HDD to an SSD or even an NVMe drive for better speeds.
Swapping out the HDD for an SSD will really boost the responsiveness of the system. However, keep in mind that this PC was entry-level when it came out, so it might not be worth investing too heavily in upgrades.
Honestly, you might be better off considering a new PC. This one is about a decade old and has pretty low-end parts. It might be time to save up for something more powerful.
Upgrading to an SSD will definitely make everyday tasks feel a lot faster. Just know that this PC is pretty old and may not meet current gaming standards.
How much are you looking to spend on upgrades? Also, are you based in the US?
Thanks for your reply! I’m actually based in New Zealand. I’d like to keep the budget under a couple of hundred bucks, but I’m open to making a longer-term plan.
I had a feeling that might be the case. If there are any small upgrades to help it out in the meantime, that would be great, but I understand that we might need to look for a new PC eventually. Might have to encourage my son to find a job!