I've got a secondary gaming PC that my wife uses, and I play MMOs on it, so it gets quite a bit of action. I built this together from a 2018 CyberPower PC and a clearance model from Walmart. Here's what I have: a B350 Tomahawk motherboard, Ryzen 5 5600G, GTX 1660 Super, 16GB of 2400MT DDR4 RAM, a 500GB M.2 SSD (Gen 3), a 1TB hard drive, and I'm running the stock cooler for the Ryzen 5 1400 with a 650W PSU.
I'm facing two major issues: first, it takes me 20-30 minutes to boot up, and I suspect it's because I'm using a lower-end B350 board with a Zen 3 CPU. Second, my CPU runs really hot—idling at around 70 degrees and hitting mid-80s during use, which can lead to thermal throttling. I definitely need a new CPU cooler.
I'm considering upgrading the motherboard, GPU, and possibly getting faster RAM. Any thoughts on what I should prioritize? Ideally, I'd like to keep the GPU upgrade under $200, preferably around $100-$150. For context, my main gaming rig has an R7 7700 and an RTX 4080, so I won't be upgrading that.
4 Answers
Upgrading the CPU cooler is a must if your temps are hitting the 80s. That can lead to throttling, as you mentioned. On the GPU front, a GTX 1660 Super is a solid choice for budget builds. But considering your need for value, keep an eye out for deals on new or slightly used models within your budget—definitely aim for something under $200!
That boot time is definitely not normal! It shouldn't take anywhere near that long to POST or load Windows. You might want to check if the OS is on your SSD or the hard drive; if it's on the HDD, that could be part of the problem since you said it started acting up after swapping the CPU. Also, it sounds like your motherboard may struggle with the 5000 series CPU. Just something to consider when making your upgrades!
Yeah, I’d definitely look into upgrading that motherboard if it’s not handling your CPU well. It might solve the boot time issues and overall performance.
You might want to look at faster RAM as well. It could help improve overall performance, especially since your current RAM is on the lower end speed-wise. Maybe jump up to 3000MT or higher if your budget allows!
Before swapping out major parts like the motherboard, make sure to update the BIOS if you haven’t already. The beta BIOS could be causing some boot issues with your 5600G. Just a thought!
Totally agree! A better cooler can make a huge difference, and since you're gaming, it’s worth making sure your GPU can keep up without overloading your system.