I bought this working PC locally for $100 and want to use it as a low-cost learning machine. The system has an Intel Core i5-4570, a GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 with a 64-bit memory bus, 16GB of dual-channel DDR3 running at about 810 MHz, and a Periphio Portal case. I'm comfortable disassembling, cleaning, and rebuilding electronics, but I'm still learning which PC upgrades are worthwhile. Was this a fair price, what should I check before spending money, and what upgrades could this platform realistically support? I'm especially interested in inexpensive changes that would improve gaming, while avoiding upgrades that would be wasted on such an old system. I'd also like to know how far this computer could reasonably go before it makes more sense to build or buy a newer one.
5 Answers
For this motherboard, the usual worthwhile CPU ceiling is an i7-4790 or i7-4770, assuming the BIOS supports it. You already have a useful amount of RAM at 16GB, so increasing DDR3 memory probably won’t help unless you’re running out of capacity. A used i7 could reduce CPU bottlenecks, but it’s only worth considering if you find one very cheaply. Confirm the exact motherboard and power supply before buying anything.
I wouldn’t replace the case, motherboard, RAM, or power supply just for the sake of upgrading this particular machine. Those parts are tied to an obsolete platform, and spending money on them is better saved for a future build. If you want to learn, practice cable management, reinstall the operating system, monitor temperatures, and upgrade one inexpensive part at a time. Once you need modern games, start over with a newer CPU, motherboard, RAM, and GPU rather than trying to push this system indefinitely.
The GT 1030 is the biggest gaming limitation. If you find a very cheap used RX 570, RX 580, GTX 970, or GTX 1650 Super, those could provide a noticeable improvement, but only if the power supply can handle the card. Don’t pay modern prices for one, and avoid putting much more than the system’s value into the upgrade. It should be fine for indie games, esports, older AAA titles, and many games around the 2020 era at 1080p low settings.
As a working machine, $100 is defensible, especially if it includes a decent power supply and storage. It isn’t a modern gaming PC, though, and the LGA1150/DDR3 platform is effectively at the end of its upgrade path. I’d use it as-is for learning and older or lighter games rather than investing heavily in it.
The first thing to check is whether it has an SSD. If it only uses a hard drive, an inexpensive SATA SSD will make Windows and general use feel dramatically faster, even though it won’t add much gaming performance. Also check the power supply model, temperatures, storage health, and whether the case has reasonable airflow before buying parts.
That was my thinking too. I mainly wanted an inexpensive system I could learn on without risking a newer, more expensive build. I’ll probably keep it mostly stock and save for a newer platform later.