I'm new to PC building and would appreciate advice on which parts are limiting my system and what order I should upgrade them in. The computer was built about five years ago, while the monitor is from last year. My current parts are a 24-inch Samsung S3 1080p monitor, Intel Core i5-9400, Gigabyte B365M DS3H motherboard without Wi-Fi, 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory, a 1TB SATA SSD, a 240GB SATA SSD for Windows, a 2TB WD Red hard drive for photos and other files, an MSI GTX 1050 Ti 4GB, and a non-modular 650W Bronze-rated power supply. I'm running 64-bit Windows 10. GPU prices may increase soon where I live, and I'm considering an RTX 5050 for about $330, RTX 5060 for $380, RTX 5060 Ti 8GB for $430, or RTX 5060 Ti 16GB for around $580. I have roughly $1,000 available overall. Should I upgrade the graphics card first, and would any of these cards work properly with my current processor, motherboard, memory, and power supply? Should I also replace the power supply or move to a newer CPU platform?
4 Answers
Used RTX 3070 or 3070 Ti cards can be good values if they are substantially cheaper than a new equivalent, but inspect them carefully. Ask whether the card was used for mining, check temperatures and fan noise, test it under load, confirm that all display outputs work, and avoid listings with no return option. At the prices mentioned, a used 3070 Ti for $320 does not seem especially attractive compared with a new, more efficient card unless it is in excellent condition.
The graphics card is by far the biggest limitation, especially for gaming at 1080p. I’d prioritize the GPU first rather than replacing the CPU immediately. A newer card will work in your current motherboard through the PCIe slot, although the i5-9400 may limit performance in some CPU-heavy games. The RTX 5060 or 5060 Ti 8GB looks like a more sensible match for a 1080p monitor than spending $580 on the 16GB model. Keep the existing 16GB of RAM for now unless you regularly run demanding programs or see memory usage maxing out.
Before installing a new GPU, check the exact make and model of the power supply. “650W Bronze” alone isn’t enough to judge its quality, and an older low-quality unit may be worth replacing. A reputable 650W–750W unit from a current series would be a safer purchase. Also make sure the case has enough room and that the required GPU power connector is available.
I would not spend the full budget on a Ryzen 7 5700X and B550 motherboard as a partial upgrade. That platform is older, and the listed motherboard price seems high. If the i5-9400 is still delivering acceptable frame rates, upgrade the GPU and power supply first. When the CPU becomes the clear bottleneck, move to a newer platform with a modern processor, motherboard, and DDR5 memory rather than buying an expensive end-of-life setup.
So the practical order would be GPU first, verify or replace the power supply, and only then consider a full CPU, motherboard, and memory platform upgrade if performance still feels limited?
The 16GB model can still be installed in the current system, but extra VRAM does not automatically make it faster. At 1080p, the money may be better spent on a stronger overall upgrade later.