I recently upgraded from a GTX 1060 3GB to an RX 9060 XT 16GB, but my system still has a Ryzen 5 1600 and a 1TB hard drive. With a limited budget, which upgrade should I prioritize first? I'm trying to figure out whether the older CPU or the HDD is more likely to hold the rest of the system back.
3 Answers
The better choice depends on how you use the computer. If you mainly play one game and want higher or steadier frame rates, upgrading the CPU makes more sense. If you frequently switch between tasks, play large open-world games, or want the whole system to feel more responsive, an SSD will provide the biggest everyday improvement.
Both upgrades would help, but an SSD is usually the biggest quality-of-life improvement for the money. After that, consider a newer processor such as a Ryzen 5 5600 if your motherboard supports it; it should pair much better with the new graphics card than the Ryzen 5 1600.
Replace the HDD with an SSD first. It will make Windows, applications, loading screens, and general multitasking feel much faster, and you may be able to find a reasonably priced used drive if its health is good.
That seems to be the general recommendation, so I’ll probably start there. SSD prices have gotten surprisingly expensive lately, though.
I’ve heard the Ryzen 5 5600 is a good option too. The 3600X isn’t really available where I live, so I’ll compare prices and check motherboard compatibility.