What Should I Upgrade First in This Older PC for Steam Gaming?
Asked by
MellowCedar47
My boss gave me an older PC that I want to turn into a Steam gaming machine, since official hardware options are limited where I live. I'm still learning about PC upgrades and would appreciate advice on what to prioritize.
The current system has a GeForce GTX 1080, an Intel Core i7-8700K, 32 GB of DDR4-2400 memory, a 750-watt Corsair power supply, and an ASRock motherboard with an unknown model number. I added a 512 GB M.2 drive and a 256 GB SATA SSD, and I'm not planning to upgrade the storage right now.
I'm in Norway with a budget of roughly €500, although I can upgrade gradually. I would prefer to stay on DDR4 for the time being. Someone offered me a used Core i7-14700K for €230, but I'm unsure whether it would make sense because my current motherboard probably cannot support it. I also have 240 mm and 360 mm AIO coolers available if a future CPU upgrade needs stronger cooling. Should I prioritize the graphics card, processor, or platform first?
Answers
If you want to keep using DDR4, an AMD AM4 system could be an option, especially with a used Ryzen 5000-series processor and a suitable motherboard. A Ryzen 5600X or a similar chip would be more realistic than a 5800X3D if prices are high in your area. You could then pair it with a used Radeon RX 6700 XT, which offers a noticeable improvement over the GTX 1080 and has 12 GB of VRAM.
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The graphics card should be your first upgrade. The i7-8700K is still capable for gaming, while the GTX 1080 is the older part most likely to limit performance. Put the budget toward the best GPU you can find, ideally used, and you can carry it over to a newer platform later. A card with more than 8 GB of VRAM would give you better longevity.
MellowCedar47: That makes sense. I’ll start checking the used GPU market and focus on finding something with more VRAM.
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Do not buy the i7-14700K for this system. It uses a completely different socket and would require a new motherboard, and pairing it with slow DDR4-2400 memory would also leave some performance on the table. It would effectively become a much larger platform upgrade rather than a simple CPU swap.
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Before replacing the processor, check the exact ASRock motherboard model and its BIOS support. Depending on the board, a ninth-generation Intel chip might be the highest possible upgrade, but the cost-to-performance gain may not be worth it compared with putting the money into the GPU. Also verify the power supply model and condition before installing a much more powerful graphics card.
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MellowCedar47: The 5800X3D is unusually expensive here, and I haven’t found any used ones. There are some RX 6700 XT cards listed for around €275–€300, so I’ll see whether I can negotiate a better price.