I'm planning to upgrade my PC but I'm not very familiar with hardware and would appreciate a sensible upgrade order. I'd like to improve performance gradually rather than replace everything at once. My current system has 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core i7-7700K, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super 8GB, an ASUS Prime H270-Pro motherboard, and about 4.7TB of total storage, including a 1.2TB SSD used for Windows and other main applications. The graphics card already fits tightly in the case, so I may need to consider the case and cooling when planning future upgrades.
4 Answers
For the easiest upgrade right now, move from 16GB to 32GB of RAM. It won’t transform every game’s frame rate, but it can make a noticeable difference with newer games, multitasking, and reducing stutter. Make sure the additional kit matches your current memory’s type and speed, or replace the RAM with a matched 32GB kit.
A good upgrade order would be: first the CPU and motherboard, with RAM included if the new platform requires it; then the graphics card; and finally extras such as more RAM, a better CPU cooler, case fans, or a roomier case. The current 7700K can limit the RTX 2070 Super in some games, so upgrading the platform before the GPU makes sense.
The biggest long-term improvement would be moving to a newer CPU and motherboard platform. The i7-7700K is still usable, but newer processors would give the RTX 2070 Super more room to perform. A later-generation AM4 system or a newer AM5 build would both be reasonable options, depending on your budget and local pricing.
I’m in Australia, so I’ll need to compare what platforms and bundles are actually available here.
You can keep using the RTX 2070 Super with a newer system for now. A graphics card upgrade is worth considering later, but check your power supply first. PCIe generations are generally backward compatible, so a newer GPU can work in an older PCIe slot, although the older CPU and platform may still limit performance in some situations.
The graphics card is already a very tight fit in my case, so I’ll also need to check GPU dimensions and airflow before choosing a future card.