I've got an older PC build that I'm planning to upgrade. Here's what I currently have:
- **CPU**: Ryzen 5 1500X
- **Motherboard**: MSI B350 Gaming Plus
- **GPU**: Geforce 750ti
- **RAM**: 16 GB DDR4 2400
- **Power Supply**: 450W
- **SSD**: Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD M.2 2280 - 500GB
- **HDD**: 1TB
- **Case**: Corsair 4000D Airflow Midi Tower
- **Monitor**: Samsung Odyssey G5 S27AG50 (1440p, 165 Hz, 1ms response time, gsync, and freesync)
I'm mainly looking to upgrade the CPU, GPU, and PSU since RAM prices are pretty high right now. I'm also open to upgrading the motherboard if there's a good CPU that requires it, all within a tight budget of $500 to $700.
My main focus is gaming; I'm playing Arc Raiders on my PS5 and want my PC to hit 120+ FPS at 1080p or stable 100+ FPS at 1440p on low-medium settings. I'm also gearing up for GTA 6, hoping to run it at a stable 60 FPS on 1440p when it launches. Anyone have recommendations?
5 Answers
To stay within budget, consider a Ryzen 5 5500 and a Radeon RX 9060 XT. If you have 2x8GB of RAM, that's great, but if you have a single 16GB stick, consider getting another to run in dual channel. Your PCIe Gen 3 motherboard will work well with the 9060 XT. Don't forget to upgrade your BIOS before any installs!
That's a solid breakdown! Remember to back up your SSD and do a fresh install of Windows after your hardware upgrades to avoid driver conflicts. Check out the provided PCPartPicker list for component costs and assemble your build!
I recommend looking into the Ryzen 5 5600X or 5700X for the CPU since they give you a nice performance bump. For GPUs, check out used options like the 6600 XT or 6650 XT. If you want something more powerful, maybe go for the 6700 XT or even a 3060 with 12GB for 1440p. Just be mindful of the power draw when you choose!
Sticking to AM4 is smart for your setup. I previously moved from a Ryzen 5 3600X to a 5700X, and it's made a difference. You can look at getting an X3D chip along with a 9060 XT. Try to stay under your budget while maximizing performance!
I noticed those X3D CPUs are getting harder to find. Have you thought about other CPU options that would pair well with the 9060 XT?
The B350 motherboard can definitely support Ryzen 5000 series CPUs, but you might want to budget wisely. A combo like the Ryzen 5 3600X or 5600X with a 3060 Ti could set you back around $500-$600 if you find a good deal. Keep an eye on power requirements as well!
Totally agree! If you're fine with 1080p, those 8GB GPUs should work well, but for 1440p, you'll want something with more VRAM like the 6700 XT.