I recently got a free HP Pavilion desktop that comes with two nice monitors. The only difference I see from a similar model is that it has one 8 GB stick of RAM. I'm thinking about getting a graphics card and an additional RAM stick since I want to start playing Cities Skylines 2 and find some good RTS games. I'm not looking for top-tier video performance; I just want the game to run smoothly as my city expands.
So far, I found a RAM stick that matches what's already installed: DDR4 8GB 2933Mhz, non-ECC, Unbuffered. I also have my eye on the RTX 5060 Ti 8G graphics card. My goal is to keep the total cost under $600. Since I'm a bit out of the loop on the current PC market, I'd appreciate any validation of my choices or directions on what I should do next.
4 Answers
It's a good call to buy 8 GB more of RAM to start. Once you try playing Cities Skylines 2, keep an eye on your GPU and CPU usage. For a budget GPU, consider something like the 3050, but remember that you might run into power supply issues since it likely doesn’t have the wattage or the right connectors for higher-end GPUs.
One thing to keep in mind with prebuilt PCs like yours is that they often don’t have the necessary power cords for a dedicated GPU, and the power supplies can be proprietary. You might need to take a look inside your case to check for any extra cords coming from the power supply. Snap some pics and share them; that could really help in assessing your options.
Honestly, I think you should double-check the power supply. It probably won't have enough wattage or the right connectors for a GPU. Those prebuilt systems can be tricky about compatibility, which might require more than just a simple upgrade.
You might want to consider getting 16 GB of RAM instead. The 5060 Ti should handle most games at 1080p medium settings just fine, especially if you're using a 60Hz monitor. But don’t rush into buying RAM until you see how your system performs with your games; it might not be necessary right away.
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