I'm hoping to get some advice on upgrading my current PC setup. My GTX 1080 graphics card is running really hot, around 85-88°C during intense gaming, even after a fresh repaste and cleaning. I'm also facing issues with SSD space, but that's a common issue.
I use a dual monitor setup with one 144Hz and one 120Hz, both at 1080p, and my goal is to maintain 144fps for games like Valorant, Overwatch, Warframe, HellDivers2, and Modded Minecraft. However, despite lowering graphics settings, I'm finding it hard to hit that frame rate.
Given the current market situation, I'm wondering if it's better to upgrade my components step by step or if I need to commit to a completely new build. I've considered getting a new graphics card, but I'm unsure if that would necessitate other upgrades as well. My budget for the graphics card is around 600 CAD.
Here are my current specs:
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z370P D3-CF
- CPU: i7-8700k
- CPU Cooler: Noctua Air Cooler
- Graphics Card: GIGABYTE GTX 1080
- RAM: 32GB 3200mhz
- Storage: 256GB SATA SSD (Boot) and 2TB HDD plus 500GB NVMe SSD (Games)
- Case: Thermaltake View 37
- Power Supply: 650W
2 Answers
If you're aiming for a budget-friendly upgrade, consider a B760 motherboard and an i5 13400F. You can find those for around $100 and $110 respectively. Pair that with an RTX 5060 Ti for about $500, and it'll give your setup a nice boost while reusing most of your existing parts. You might want a new CPU cooler too since you’ll be running more demanding specs.
You'll definitely need a new motherboard if you decide to upgrade your CPU, especially if you're considering something like the latest Intel or AMD chips, which only work with DDR5 RAM. But you can still reuse your DDR4 RAM if you stick with a compatible CPU. So be aware of that when planning your upgrade.
$500 for a 5060 Ti? Where are you finding that deal? I’ve seen prices fluctuating a lot lately.