Hey folks! I'm planning on building a new PC primarily for gaming and creative work because my current setup is starting to feel slow with rendering and editing tasks. I want to save some cash by reusing as many components as I can. Here's a quick rundown:
My main uses will be for 3D modeling and rendering in Blender, graphic design and photo editing with Photoshop and Affinity Designer, game development in Unity, and gaming (mostly at moderate settings).
Here are my current specs:
- CPU: Intel i7-7700K
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX Z270E GAMING (LGA 1151, DDR4)
- GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (4x8GB, DDR4)
- Storage: Samsung 980 SSD 1TB
- PSU: Corsair TX750W (750W, 80+ Bronze)
- Case: Corsair Graphite Series 760T (Full Tower)
I'm also looking to upgrade storage, as some of my older HDDs have been failing. I'm about to dive into this big upgrade and would love your advice on:
1. What components are worth keeping?
2. What CPU and motherboard combo should I upgrade to for better performance?
3. Is my GTX 1080 still good enough, or should I upgrade?
4. Is my PSU still good, or do I need a new one?
5. Should I make the jump to Windows 11?
6. Any suggestions for SSDs for large video and project files?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
1 Answer
You can definitely reuse your SSD since it's fast enough for most tasks. However, if you're planning to future-proof your build, consider moving to DDR5 RAM since DDR4 is becoming outdated. For a CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is fantastic if your budget allows it, as it’ll keep you competitive for several years. You can keep your GTX 1080 for now, but if you really want better performance in Blender, an upgrade to something like an RTX 4070 or 4080 would be noticeable. Your PSU might need an upgrade too; if it’s around the same age as your build, it's definitely worth looking into for efficiency and stability. Finally, I'd suggest upgrading to Windows 11 to stay secure and current.
No worries about the knowledge gap! DDR5 is indeed quite different – it operates in pairs. The RTX 4070 is popular for a reason, and yes, prices go up for current gen GPUs. If you're on a budget, consider something like a Ryzen 7 9700X; it should last a good while for your needs.