Which PC component should I upgrade first for higher FPS?
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MellowPine47
I'm fairly new to PC upgrades and would like advice on what to replace first for better performance in CS2, League of Legends, and possibly some battle royale games. My current system is an AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB DDR4-3200 memory, an MSI B450M Mortar Titanium motherboard, and a GTX 1660. I currently get roughly 140–170 FPS depending on the game, with most settings turned down to low. In-game monitoring usually shows the GPU at around 80–85% usage and the CPU at 40–50%. I'm not sure whether that points to a CPU or GPU limitation, and I don't have a fixed budget yet because hardware prices seem high. Which upgrade would provide the biggest improvement?
Answers
The best value path is probably upgrading in stages. Start with a Ryzen 5 5600 if you can find one around the $100–130 range, since it works with your existing motherboard after a BIOS update. A 5600X3D-class chip would be stronger where available, but the GTX 1660 may limit the benefit. For a major improvement, pair the CPU upgrade with a faster GPU when your budget allows; otherwise, buying only the CPU may not change much in GPU-heavy games.
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I’d prioritize the graphics card if you want the largest general gaming upgrade. GPU usage in the 80–85% range doesn’t automatically mean the CPU is the bottleneck; it can also vary by game, settings, resolution, and frame-rate limit. Look for a good deal on a newer used or discounted GPU, then consider a Ryzen 5 5600 later if your frame rates are still CPU-limited.
PixelHarbor6: The monitor’s resolution and refresh rate would help determine the right GPU tier. A card for 1080p at 144 Hz is a different choice from one intended for higher resolution or refresh rates.
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For these games, the CPU may be holding you back, especially if you’re aiming for very high and consistent FPS. A Ryzen 5 5600 would be a sensible upgrade for a B450 system and should offer a noticeable improvement over the 3600. That said, the GTX 1660 is also an older card, so don’t expect a massive visual-performance boost until the GPU is upgraded too.
MellowPine47: I usually run everything on low, so I’m mainly trying to improve competitive-game FPS and consistency rather than graphics quality.
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MellowPine47: I don’t have a firm budget yet. I’m mostly trying to figure out which upgrade is worth saving for instead of replacing parts randomly.