Hey everyone! It's been a while since I last upgraded my PC, and I think it's finally time to do so. I'm currently running a 1060 3GB GPU and I'm looking to upgrade to something newer within a budget of around $500. I'd love to get a new GPU that can last me a good number of years like my current one has. While I'd prefer to just upgrade the GPU, I'm open to other necessary upgrades as well. For context, here are my current specs:
- Processor: Ryzen 5 2600X with stock cooler
- Motherboard: ASRock AB350 Pro4
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- PSU: Corsair CX750
I don't primarily game on my PC, so I'm not looking to build a completely new setup. Any recommendations would be really appreciated! Let me know if you need more details.
5 Answers
Your CPU might bottleneck at 1080p, so I'd also suggest:
- AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT for ~$499
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti (16GB) for ~$499
- Used NVIDIA RTX 3080 for ~$450.
Just make sure your motherboard's BIOS is updated for compatibility with newer components!
If you want something with a little more power, look at a used RTX 3080 for around $350. It's definitely faster, though keep in mind it runs hotter and is more power-hungry.
I suggest going for the RX 9060 XT 16GB, which runs about $350. You could use the remaining $150 to upgrade your CPU to a Ryzen 5700X. Just keep in mind that your current CPU might hold back a high-end GPU like this in many games, even at 1440p.
Definitely consider upgrading your CPU as well—go for a Ryzen 5 5600 and make sure to update your BIOS. That would leave you with a budget of about $350 for the GPU, and I'd recommend the RX 9060 XT 16GB, not the 8GB version.
With your setup and $500 in mind, you could consider the RX 6800 XT for around $350, and then get a Ryzen 5600X CPU for about $100. There’s also a 32GB DDR4 RAM upgrade for around $50. You should be able to recoup some cost by selling your old parts. Upgrading your power supply would be beneficial too, but that’s more work with cable management.
Absolutely! The CPU upgrade is key here. No point investing in a high-end GPU if the CPU can't keep up.