I'm looking for advice on how to upgrade my PC. I currently have an AMD Ryzen 7 3800X with 8 cores and an AMD Wraith Prism cooler. This week, I'm upgrading from a GTX 1060 to a Gigabyte Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC. I also have 16GB of HyperX DDR4 RAM running at 2400MHz and a 1TB SSD. My motherboard is a ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING, and I use a BenQ 144Hz 1440p monitor. I've noticed that my CPU reaches 90°C when playing games like Marvel Rivals. The thermal paste has been on for 5 years now, and I only have one intake fan and one output fan. I have space for an additional 5 fans (three on top and three in front). I'm on a medium budget. Should I prioritize cooling upgrades or other components?
3 Answers
For your upgrades, consider moving to some DDR4 RAM at 3600MHz with low CL, aiming for at least 32GB. Check if your motherboard can support a newer CPU like the 5700X3D; that will provide a significant performance boost. Also, what SSD are you using? If it's an old model, an M.2 would hugely improve loading times!
Yes, reaching 90°C is concerning—definitely time for a change after five years! Enhancing your case airflow is key; fill those fan slots and configure them properly for optimal intake and exhaust. Regarding RAM, upgrading to a pair of 16GB modules at 3200MHz (overclocking to 3600) would be beneficial. You might also want to look for a lower CAS latency for better performance.
I’d recommend focusing on getting your CPU temperature down first. Replacing the thermal paste is a great start since it's been five years. Also, you should ensure that all your fans, especially the CPU cooler, are clean. Adding those five fans will really help with airflow. I'd suggest setting three in the front as intake, one closest to the front at the top as intake, and the rest as exhaust.
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