I live in Quebec, Canada, and want to upgrade or rebuild my old desktop so it can handle modern games—especially simulation games, RPGs such as Baldur's Gate 3, and city builders like Manor Lords—at medium to high settings without severe frame-rate drops. My budget is approximately $300–$500 CAD, and I have little PC-building experience but would like to learn.
Current system:
- CPU: AMD FX-8300, 8 cores at 3.33 GHz
- Memory: 32 GB DDR3 desktop RAM
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 4 GB
- Storage: 120 GB Fujitsu drive, 1 TB Toshiba HDD, and 240 GB PNY SSD
- Power supply: Delta Electronics DPS-500AB A, 500 W
- Case: ASUS M51BC desktop case
I was considering replacing the motherboard with an ASRock B650M Pro RS WiFi, the CPU with a Ryzen 5 8600G, and the memory with 32 GB (2x16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30, while keeping the GTX 960 temporarily and upgrading the graphics card later. Is that a sensible plan, or would I be better off buying a different used or new PC?
3 Answers
The used market is probably your best chance. Look for an AM4 motherboard-and-CPU bundle around $100–$150 CAD, then add used DDR4 memory—roughly $100 for 16 GB or closer to $200 for 32 GB, depending on availability. For graphics, cards such as the GTX 1060, GTX 1070, GTX 1660, or GTX 1660 Super can sometimes be found for about $150 or more. An RX 580 may cost around $100 and is faster than the GTX 960, though avoid the cut-down 2048SP versions. A Vega 56 can be faster still, but it uses considerably more power. Check the exact card requirements carefully because the existing 500 W power supply may not be suitable, and the proprietary case and power connections could also limit compatibility.
The motherboard, processor, and memory are reasonable parts individually, but they would consume most or all of your budget before addressing the graphics card. The GTX 960 is the main limitation for modern games, and an 8600G’s integrated graphics would not be a meaningful upgrade over it. You should either save for a complete new system or consider carefully chosen used parts rather than starting an expensive AM5 build around the existing GPU.
With only $300–$500 CAD, I would avoid putting money into a full new platform right now. One option is to find a used GTX 1070 Ti for around $100 CAD or less and add a 1 TB SSD; both parts could be reused in a future build, and the graphics card should retain some resale value. Otherwise, keep using this machine and save until you can afford a more substantial upgrade.
Waiting is probably the safest option. Even used parts make it difficult to build a worthwhile complete system within the upper end of that budget.
So would buying a completely new PC be the better choice? What specifications should I look for?