My Acer Nitro N50-640's power supply stopped working a few days ago. It currently has an Intel Core i5-12400F, GTX 1650 4GB, 12GB of DDR4 memory, and a 1TB SSD. Since the system is getting older, I'm considering building a new PC while reusing any worthwhile parts to stay within my roughly $1,000 CAD budget. I mainly play games such as The Finals and Dead by Daylight. This would be my first build, so I'd appreciate advice on which components are safe and practical to keep, what should be replaced, and what parts I should prioritize buying.
3 Answers
Be careful with the Acer’s proprietary parts. Prebuilt systems sometimes use nonstandard power-supply connectors, cases, or motherboards, so don’t assume the old PSU or motherboard will work in a normal custom build. Replace the failed PSU with a reputable standard ATX model rather than trying to reuse it. The 12GB of RAM may also be an unusual combination, so check whether it’s 8GB plus 4GB and consider replacing it with a matched 16GB DDR4 kit.
The i5-12400F and 1TB SSD are probably the most useful parts to carry over. The processor is still perfectly capable for gaming, so you could save money by buying a compatible LGA1700 motherboard and reusing it. The GTX 1650 is much weaker, though, so I’d put most of the budget toward a newer graphics card. You can also reuse the SSD if it’s healthy and large enough for your games.
For a $1,000 CAD budget, you may not need a completely new computer. A sensible upgrade path would be a reliable 550–650W power supply, 16GB of matched DDR4 memory, and the strongest graphics card you can reasonably afford after checking local prices. Keep the 12400F and SSD if they’re working properly. For The Finals, the graphics card upgrade should make a much bigger difference than replacing the CPU.
That makes sense. I’ll check the RAM layout and connectors before ordering anything, especially since I don’t want to buy parts that won’t fit the Acer case.