I'm looking to upgrade my kid's old computer I built around a decade ago for his birthday, so he can enjoy games like Marvel Rivals without any issues. The current specs include an i5-6600 3.3 GHz CPU, a GTX 1060 SC GPU, 16 GB of DDR4 2133 RAM, and an ASRock H110M-ITX/ac motherboard powered by a Corsair SF450 power supply. The system already has SSDs, so storage isn't a bottleneck. I'm thinking about getting a better processor and graphics card. I found a used i7-7700k for $80 and an i7-7700 for $55. After realizing that a 3070 GPU uses too much power, I'm considering low-power options like a used 4060 or RX 6600, both around $220. I'm also contemplating bumping up to 32 GB of RAM for about $120 if I go for a processor upgrade. What do you think?
3 Answers
The i7-7700 is probably your best bet since the H110 motherboard is locked and won't allow for overclocking, which means the 'K' variant wouldn't make full use of its capabilities. Just a heads up: the i7-7700 is better than the i5-6600, and should work well without running into major issues. The graphics card choice is also smart; I’d recommend the 4060 as it offers good power efficiency for that PSU you have.
Honestly, the i7-7700K is just about 10-15% faster than the non-K version even without overclocking, so if you're okay with spending a bit more, it might be worth it. That said, upgrading to the RTX 4060 seems like a solid plan as it won't draw too much power and will give your kid a great performance boost. Adding another 16 GB of RAM could help with multitasking, but honestly, 16 GB should handle most games just fine right now.
Updating the BIOS and switching to an i7-7700 sounds like a good plan. The RTX 4060 is definitely the way to go since it fits well with that PSU. In the grand scheme, these upgrades will make a noticeable difference in performance while keeping things balanced and efficient. Just remember, this build is still on the older side, so managing expectations is key!
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