I'm upgrading a PC with an Intel i7-3770, ASUS H61M-K motherboard, 16 GB of DDR3-1333 memory, a GT 730 2 GB DDR3, a 450 W power supply, and a 240 GB SSD. I use a 1080p monitor and mainly want to play CS2, Forza Horizon, Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V, Call of Duty, and other demanding games. I'm considering a GTX 1660 Super, GTX 1650, or RTX 3050 6 GB, but I'm open to other options. Which graphics card makes the most sense for this system, and what limitations should I expect from the older processor?
3 Answers
For a graphics-card-only upgrade, I’d lean toward the GTX 1660 Super. It’s much faster than the GTX 1650 and is still fairly efficient, drawing around 125 W. A 450 W supply is generally adequate as long as it’s a decent-quality unit with the required PCIe power connector. Your i7-3770 will limit performance in some CPU-heavy games, but the 1660 Super should provide a noticeable improvement over the GT 730.
The bigger issue is the aging platform. The processor may bottleneck any of these cards in games such as CS2 and Call of Duty, while newer open-world games may also be limited by the old CPU and memory platform. If possible, save for a full system rebuild around a newer AM4 or similar platform. If you need an immediate upgrade, choose a reasonably priced 1660 Super or comparable AMD card and treat it as a temporary step.
The RTX 3050 could work as the final upgrade for this platform, especially if you want newer features and an 8 GB model. However, the 6 GB version is less appealing, and it usually isn’t a major performance upgrade over a 1660 Super. Check the exact card’s power requirements and make sure your power supply is reliable.
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