I have a Ryzen 5 2600 and a GTX 1060 6GB. I'd like to play modern games, including newer Unreal Engine 5 titles, at 1080p and 60 fps or better. Low settings are fine as long as the game still looks clear.
My budget is flexible up to around $1,000, but cheaper is better. Would a GPU upgrade be enough? The case also has one exhaust fan and no intake fans.
I'd start by looking at a GPU upgrade rather than replacing the whole PC. The GTX 1060 is the most obvious place to gain graphics performance, and you can see how the Ryzen 5 2600 holds up before spending more.
Check benchmarks for the specific games you want to play at 1080p. A 60 fps target on low settings is more forgiving than high settings or 144 fps, but performance will still vary a lot by game. Also check that your power supply has the capacity and connectors for whichever card you choose, and that the card fits your case.
If smoother frame rates are the priority, leave room in the budget for a CPU too. A Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 5700X is worth considering for an AM4 upgrade alongside a newer GPU. The 5800X3D is another option if you find one at a price that makes sense.
Check your motherboard's CPU support list and BIOS requirements before buying. You may need to update the BIOS with the current CPU installed. I'd compare the total cost of the CPU, any needed cooler, and the graphics card rather than spending the whole budget on one part.
Don't forget to check how much RAM you have before ordering. If it's tight for the games you play, adding more could be worthwhile. Matching the specifications of the existing kit is a sensible starting point, although mixing kits isn't guaranteed to work at their rated settings.
I'd also check the case for a front intake fan mount. One exhaust fan with no intake is worth looking at, especially before putting a more powerful graphics card in there. Check temperatures under load and make sure any new fan fits the case.
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z509~switchpin_6:
Would that matter more if I wanted to aim for 144 fps at medium settings instead of 60 fps?
w.417~ferrule_6:
Yes, a faster CPU can matter more at that target, though the GPU and the game still matter too. Check benchmarks for each game rather than assuming 144 fps across the board.