Hey everyone! I'm currently having trouble running Minecraft shaders smoothly and I'm considering upgrading my GPU. I've got an NSX Tomcat prebuilt system with a Ryzen 5 5500 CPU, MSI A520Pro motherboard, 16GB DDR4 3200 RAM, and an MSI RTX 3050 6GB graphics card, all powered by a 550W PSU. At 1080p while using the Better Minecraft Forge Modpack with Ultra shaders, I typically get around 40-50 FPS, but sometimes it drops to single digits, making the gameplay pretty choppy. I'm aiming for a noticeable performance boost with a GPU upgrade while ensuring compatibility with my current setup. My budget is about $330, and I'm looking at either the 3060 12GB or the 9060 XT 16GB. I'd love some advice on which GPU to choose or if I should focus on upgrading other components like RAM or the CPU instead. I'm relatively new to building PCs, so sorry if I've missed anything!
5 Answers
The 9060 XT 16GB is a solid upgrade for your budget! I can't speak much about Minecraft performance, especially with ray-traced shaders, but if NVIDIA tends to perform better in Minecraft, you might want to consider saving a bit more for the 5060 Ti instead. It could give you a better bang for your buck!
Thank you for the advice, everyone!
When it comes to GPU compatibility, the main thing to watch is the power supply. But if needed, you can always upgrade the PSU too.
Just a heads up, your CPU might bottleneck the GPU. Minecraft can be pretty CPU-intensive, so keep that in mind.
Definitely go with the 9060 XT! It's newer, comes with a warranty, and is generally faster than the 3060.

Thanks man, I appreciate it!