I'm looking to upgrade my home computer that I've had for nearly 10 years. It's been great for both gaming and school, but I feel it's time to enhance its performance to keep up with modern software. Currently, I have 16GB of RAM, an AMD FX-9370 eight-core processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 GPU with 2.05TB of storage. I've added a new cooling tower and increased storage in the past, but I now want to know where I should focus my upgrades first. Any advice on improvements or upgrades would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
If you can squeeze it in the budget, consider adding a 2TB M.2 drive for faster storage. Just avoid getting too caught up in brand names; the speed advertised often isn't what you'll need. Also, hold onto your RAM if it's DDR4 or DDR5 – upgrading RAM is expensive right now. You’ll definitely want a minimum of 32GB in today's gaming environment, especially if you're multitasking.
First off, have you thought about your budget for upgrades? If you want to keep it around £300, I’d recommend focusing on upgrading your storage to an SSD. This boost in performance will make your entire system feel more responsive. You might bump into limits with your current setup since you're using older hardware, but switching to an SSD could be a game changer!
Your setup is starting to show its age, especially with the FX-9370 processor. Upgrading to an SSD is a top choice for better responsiveness. However, be aware that since you're using an AM3+ platform, you'll likely be limited to traditional 2.5 inch SATA SSDs rather than newer M.2 options. Eventually, you may want to upgrade your entire system for optimal performance, as sticking with your current platform isn't advisable anymore.
While it's possible to just upgrade some parts, it might be best to build a new PC altogether. You could reuse your storage drive and maybe your case, but be cautious because older cases might not support better airflow needed for modern components. Plus, your old PSU is probably due for a replacement too. If you decide on building new, you can use your GTX 970 for a while until you save more for a better GPU later on.

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