Hey everyone! I'm planning to upgrade my gaming setup and I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether I should upgrade my CPU or my GPU first. Right now, I have a Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, a GTX 1650 GPU, and 16GB of RAM (2x8 3200MHz). My upgrade options are leaning towards a Ryzen 7 5700X3D and/or an RX 6700XT. I mostly play competitive FPS games like CS:GO and Valorant at 1080p, but I also dabble in games like Darktide and Helldivers, plus I do some video editing. With limited funds, which upgrade would give me the best bang for my buck?
3 Answers
If I were you, I'd consider upgrading your CPU to a 5700X3D for its long-term value, especially considering the AM4 platform is reaching its end. It's a future-proof move since the CPU will last years whereas GPUs can always be swapped. But, at 1080p, a good GPU is more urgent, so maybe do both gradually?
Honestly, I'd say go for the GPU upgrade first. The Ryzen 3600 is still pretty solid for 1080p gaming, but the GTX 1650 really struggles with some of the newer titles. Upgrading to a better GPU will make a noticeable difference in your gaming experience.
I recommend the GPU too. The 3600 should pair just fine with the RX 6700XT. I've matched my 3060 Ti with the 3600, and it worked great, so that upgrade should give you a serious boost without worrying too much about bottlenecking.
Good point! You can get a good deal on used CPUs too. Just check performance benchmarks to maximize your upgrade!