What affordable upgrades would make the biggest difference in this PC?
Asked by
MellowPine42
I'm looking for relatively low- to moderate-cost upgrades for my current gaming PC without spending a huge amount, especially with hardware prices being high. The system runs Windows 10 and has an MSI B350M Gaming PRO motherboard, Ryzen 5 1600, 32 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1660 Ti. I'm gaming at 1080p on a Dell SE2717H monitor limited to 60 Hz. Which components should I upgrade first, and what parts would offer the best value?
Answers
If you have access to a good local hardware retailer, an AM4 bundle with a Ryzen 5 5600X3D, a newer B550 motherboard, and DDR4 memory could be worthwhile for roughly $300. You could sell whichever RAM kit you donโt need. For the graphics card, the best choice depends on your budget: a used RX 6700 XT is a good sub-$300 option, while a newer 16 GB card around the $450โ$500 range would provide more longevity. A used RTX 3070 Ti is another possibility, though buying used requires checking the cardโs condition.
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Because your monitor is only 1080p at 60 Hz, you donโt necessarily need an expensive GPU upgrade right away. A Ryzen 5 5500 would still be a meaningful improvement over the 1600 if itโs very inexpensive, but a Ryzen 5 5600 is the better target. The GTX 1660 Ti should remain adequate for 60 FPS gaming in many titles, so Iโd upgrade the CPU first and consider a graphics card later if you move to a high-refresh-rate monitor or start playing more demanding games.
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A used Ryzen 5 5600 or 5600X would be a strong first upgrade for around $100 or so. Your B350 board may support it, but check MSIโs CPU support list and update to the required BIOS while the Ryzen 5 1600 is still installed. After that, a used RX 6700 XT with 12 GB of VRAM would be a noticeable graphics upgrade if you can find one around $250โ$300. Those two changes would make the system feel substantially newer.
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MellowPine42: That makes sense. Iโll check BIOS compatibility and focus on the CPU before spending heavily on a graphics card.