Hey there! I'm trying to upgrade my old PC, which barely holds up these days. The only decent part I have is a GTX 1050 Ti. I'm currently playing games like Warframe, and honestly, I don't mind not having everything set to max—just want something that can run modern games on medium settings without breaking the bank.
Here's what I'm working with: an i5-6400, an Asus B150M motherboard, and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. I'm looking for recommendations on a CPU and motherboard that will work well with my GTX 1050 Ti but also allow for future upgrades to a better GPU.
Could you break down options for low, medium, and high budgets for CPU, motherboard, and RAM? I'd really appreciate it if you could explain things simply, as I'm not too tech-savvy with PC parts. Thanks a lot!
6 Answers
Definitely lean towards AMD for a budget build. Stick with Ryzen 2000 to 5000 series CPUs—motherboards like B450 or B550 will support them all. For RAM, aim for 3200MHz or 3600MHz with at least 16GB. If you're considering a GPU upgrade later on, the GTX 1660 is a good mid-range option to look for. Happy gaming!
Don't underestimate checking out used marketplaces! A lot of decent builds pop up for sale—people often upgrade and let go of their old components. Just make sure to see it in action before buying!
It sounds like you’re looking for something pretty affordable! For around $200, you can snag an Intel Core i3-13100F with an H610 motherboard and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. If you can increase your budget to about $400, a Ryzen 5 7600 with a B650 motherboard will give you much better performance and allow for future upgrades. Buying used parts could also save you some cash!
Awesome breakdown! I've found some second-hand parts online that worked perfectly—definitely worth checking out!
If budget is an issue, the MSI A520M-A Pro paired with an AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is a solid match for your GTX 1050 Ti. You'll get the essentials like 2 RAM slots and an SSD slot—all for around $70–80. RAM is cheap, so don't forget to pick up 16GB for a smoother experience. This setup will give you room to upgrade later for a stronger GPU!
Great suggestion! It’s a bit overwhelming with all the options, but you made it easy to understand.
Just remember, it's all about compatibility! Be sure to check that everything works together before making big purchases. You got this!
For a budget-friendly setup, you could go with a Ryzen 5 5600 paired with a B450 or B550 motherboard, along with 16GB or even 32GB of DDR4 RAM at 3600MHz. If you want a newer option, consider the Ryzen 7 7500F and a B650 motherboard for better future-proofing. These will let you upgrade to most GPUs down the line without any issues. This way, you can run those modern games smoothly!
Just a note, the B550 motherboard works with Ryzen 5000 series CPUs; just make sure to install the latest BIOS for full compatibility!
Yeah, I’ve had mixed success with used parts, but I’ll definitely keep looking just in case!