I'm seeking some guidance on how to upgrade my PC, which I built around 7 to 8 years ago. I'm not very knowledgeable about building or diagnostics, so any advice would be greatly appreciated! I originally bought my PC from Microcenter during my college days. Here's what I have:
- Intel 11th gen i7-11700K @ 3.60GHz
- 8 GB GeForce RTX 3070
- Z490-A PRO motherboard
- 32 GB RAM (speed 2667 MT/s)
- 932GB HDD (about 800GB is used)
I primarily play games and have noticed I'm running low on storage since I often have to delete files to manage space. I also experience memory crashes occasionally when multitasking. I suspect I might need more RAM, but I'm not sure what's appropriate to get. Any thoughts on upgrades or specific components I should focus on? Thanks!
3 Answers
Absolutely start with an SSD. I can't believe anyone still runs just an HDD in 2026! It makes a world of difference. Unless you’re opening tons of tabs or running heavy applications, RAM shouldn't be your main concern.
You really should prioritize getting an SSD! It can make your entire system feel faster. 32GB of RAM should be sufficient for most gaming and general tasks. If you’re still having memory crashes, it might be an issue with something else in your setup. The parts you have are still decent for gaming. Do you have a budget for these upgrades?
You mentioned storage issues, should I just transfer games to the SSD? What do you recommend keeping on the HDD?
You definitely want to get an SSD! Upgrading from a mechanical hard drive to an SSD will significantly enhance your system's speed and performance. As for your RAM, 32GB is plenty for most users, so the crashes might be a sign of something else going on rather than just a lack of memory. You're set with an Intel i7-11700K and RTX 3070, especially for gaming at 1080p. If you're looking to upgrade the GPU, you'd need a solid budget since anything of significant improvement can get pricey; just keep that in mind!
Got it! I've heard SSDs make a huge difference, but I might not be able to spring for a new GPU right now. Any suggestions for a decent upgrade that won't break the bank?
Haha, I know, right? Thanks for the heads-up!