I bought a Lenovo Ideacentre Y900-34ISZ back in 2016, and it has served me well mainly for casual gaming. I've played games like Overwatch, Skyrim, and Monster Hunter World without any major issues. Recently, I upgraded my RAM from 8GB to 32GB, but now I'm facing the reality that my system needs significant upgrades. New games are demanding better graphics, and with Windows 10 support on the horizon and Windows 11 on the cusp of release, I'm pondering if I should upgrade my CPU, motherboard, and graphics card or just build a whole new machine. Any suggestions on whether it's more cost-effective to upgrade parts or invest in a new build?
4 Answers
A complete new build might be the best way to go. The airflow in your current case is likely not great for newer hardware. You can still salvage your DDR4 RAM and storage, and selling the old parts could help fund your new setup. What kind of budget are you working with?
Your current setup might actually use standard-sized parts! If you're looking to keep costs down, you could definitely reuse your DDR4 memory. What's your budget? I think you could do a solid upgrade—like a new CPU and motherboard—while also looking at a graphics card later.
Since your PC is 10 years old, upgrading multiple core components can get expensive and tricky. If you're not sentimentally attached to your current setup, a new build often provides better performance for your budget and makes future upgrades easier and less hassle-free regarding compatibility.
Honestly, I'd replace most components. You might be able to keep your RAM, SSD, case, and power supply. It really depends on what you want to achieve with the new build and your spending comfort.
I still have the two 16GB DDR4 sticks I upgraded to, so that's good. I'm not aiming for high-end gaming; just looking to keep it reasonable. I think I could handle a full upgrade for under $1000 if I plan it right.