I'm feeling like my PC, which I got 7 years ago, is really starting to show its age. I've only swapped out the video card once and added an extra SSD since I bought it. I use this machine daily for video editing with DaVinci Studio and I occasionally game (I'm not too picky about framerates, just casual gaming). I also want to dip my toes into game development using Unity, which requires managing a lot of NPC characters, but nothing too fancy. Here's what I've got:
- Motherboard: ASUS PRIME B360M-A
- Processor: Intel Core i7 8700 (6 Cores, 12 Threads)
- Cooler: BE QUIET! Shadow Rock 2 (plus a few others in the case)
- RAM: CRUCIAL BALLISTIX Sport 16GB DDR4 2400Mhz
- Power Supply: 600W BE QUIET! Pure Power 11 Gold
- Graphics Card: PALIT NVidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
- Storage: 512GB Intel 660p M.2 NVMe and an additional 1TB SSD
I'm wondering if upgrading the RAM alone would help, or should I consider a more significant overhaul, replacing some core components? My motherboard only supports DDR4 2666MHz and 9th generation Intel processors. I want to be smart about costs; if $100 on RAM will boost performance, I'd go for it, but if a $1000 investment on a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM is essential for a real upgrade, I'm open to that too. I'd also like any advice since I'm based in Germany, and I know prices can vary!
1 Answer
First, figure out what your PC is really struggling with. From what you mentioned, it sounds like you're having a tough time with video editing due to the RAM limitations. Upgrading to at least 32GB of RAM would definitely help your editing process, especially with DaVinci Studio’s demand for memory. If you've been noticing slowness, it's probably time to seriously consider that upgrade. But keep in mind, while RAM is a solid option, long-term performance might call for a whole new motherboard and processor too.
There's also the matter that Intel chips can lock you in since they frequently change their socket types, which makes future upgrades tricky.
Absolutely, RAM is a good starting point, but if you’re looking ahead, you might want to prepare for a more comprehensive upgrade down the line. AMD's systems tend to be more upgrade-friendly, so that's something worth considering.