I'm trying to decide whether to upgrade certain parts of my PC or if I should just invest in a whole new build since my current setup feels outdated. Here are the details of my system:
- Motherboard: Asus Prime Z270-P
- CPU: Intel i5-7500 @ 3.40GHz
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
- RAM: 16GB
I know my motherboard is pretty old and I'm facing lag spikes while playing modded Minecraft, which is frustrating. Regular games don't run well either. With a tight budget, I'd like to know if it's worth upgrading my components or if it's better to save for an entirely new PC. Any advice would be appreciated!
5 Answers
I get where you're coming from, but sticking to just upgrades might not cut it. I would recommend a new build altogether. Plus, you could donate your old parts to someone just starting with gaming, like a kid who wants to play Minecraft.
Honestly, upgrading your current setup might not be the best move. The motherboard is quite dated, and even if you upgrade the GPU or CPU, you're still going to hit bottlenecks. I think you'd be better off saving for a full new build.
Your biggest limitation seems to be the GPU. Pull up your GPU utilization while you're gaming, especially during those lag spikes. It could give you a clearer picture of what's causing the issue. If you're looking for an affordable upgrade, consider a used RX 6600 – it should help with Minecraft performance without breaking the bank.
If you're set on upgrading instead of going for a whole new build, I'd recommend focusing on the GPU first to get some decent gains. But make sure your expectations are realistic; modern AAA games might still be a stretch for your overall setup.
Consider that you might want to upgrade your motherboard and CPU in the future, so if you upgrade the GPU now, make sure it's compatible with new components. You could even look into quirky options like an X99 motherboard and CPU combo from AliExpress for a performance boost without spending too much.
I recently upgraded from a 2070 Super to a 7900 XT, and the difference was huge! If you can stretch your budget for a decent GPU, it's definitely worth it.