Question Advice on upgrades please :)

[GiddzBFC]

Hey All,

Not posted on here in a long time! After finally joining the PC master race. I managed to get a cheap pre-built from a friend but I am looking to upgrade some parts and wondered if any of you lovely people could give me a heads up.

I got the below very cheap off a friend basically brand new and just want some ideas on upgrades. (Before someone says get a better PC I can't do that right now haha)

PCSPECIALIST Icon 211 Gaming PC - AMD Ryzen 5, RTX 3050, 1 TB SSD

Graphics card
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
- 8 GB GDDR6
RAM
- 16 GB DDR4 (3600 MHz)
- 128 GB maximum installable RAM
Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500 Processor
- Hexa-core
- 3.6 GHz / 4.2 GHz
- 19 MB cache
Storage
1 TB SSD
Motherboard
ASUS PRIME A520M-A II/CSM

It has an additional 16gb RAM so 32gb in total. But I am looking to upgrade the GPU to a RX6600 would this be a good pairing with my CPU and would the PSU (550W) be sufficient for that card or would I need to upgrade that also?

TIA

Joe

 

[Lafong]

What are your specific complaints about it right now? What doesn't it do well enough?

What is your primary purpose for it?

 

[GiddzBFC]

What are your specific complaints about it right now? What doesn't it do well enough?

What is your primary purpose for it?

No complaints really just wouldn't mind abit better FPS on the games I play, just general upgrade tbh? Mainly gaming and lite CAD use. And more if that pairing of CPU and GPU is compatible and a good pairing or better than what I currently have as the 6600 GPU says PCIe4.0 but my MOBO is PCIe3.0. And if the PSU would be sufficient?

 

[geofelt]

Some games are graphics limited like fast action shooters.
Others are cpu core speed limited like strategy, sims, and mmo.
Multiplayer tends to like many threads.

Try this simple test:
Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
This makes the graphics card loaf a bit.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

 

[GiddzBFC]

Some games are graphics limited like fast action shooters.
Others are cpu core speed limited like strategy, sims, and mmo.
Multiplayer tends to like many threads.

Try this simple test:
Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
This makes the graphics card loaf a bit.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

It was more just to get an idea of general upgrades for this build if any? Before someone says new rig 🤣 but thanks for that tip I'll try it out.

 

[Eximo]

RTX 3050 8GB is a decent entry level card. RX6600 8GB competes favorably with the RTX 3060.

I don't think it would be a major improvement. I would look at maybe the RX7600 or perhaps the Intel B580 at this point.

 

[SkyNetRising]

would the PSU (550W) be sufficient for that card or would I need to upgrade that also?

What specific PSU model are you using?
Read model info from info label printed on PSU.
Post a photo, if possible.
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

 

[beyondlogic]

Hey All,

Not posted on here in a long time! After finally joining the PC master race. I managed to get a cheap pre-built from a friend but I am looking to upgrade some parts and wondered if any of you lovely people could give me a heads up.

I got the below very cheap off a friend basically brand new and just want some ideas on upgrades. (Before someone says get a better PC I can't do that right now haha)

PCSPECIALIST Icon 211 Gaming PC - AMD Ryzen 5, RTX 3050, 1 TB SSD

Graphics card
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
- 8 GB GDDR6
RAM
- 16 GB DDR4 (3600 MHz)
- 128 GB maximum installable RAM
Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500 Processor
- Hexa-core
- 3.6 GHz / 4.2 GHz
- 19 MB cache
Storage
1 TB SSD
Motherboard
ASUS PRIME A520M-A II/CSM

It has an additional 16gb RAM so 32gb in total. But I am looking to upgrade the GPU to a RX6600 would this be a good pairing with my CPU and would the PSU (550W) be sufficient for that card or would I need to upgrade that also?

TIA

Joe

motherboard would be the limiting factor but its a bigger pain as that would most likely a new windows copy and a new motherboard b550 not cheap the other upgrades can be done in steps.

cheapest upgrade.

32gb 8gb x4 cl16

improves some games hogwarts legacy etc. windows can eat up to 7gb of ram with just chrome open.

most games will eat alot of system memory.]

recomendation below make sure to update bios to latest version.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078MGCL42?tag=pcp0f-21&linkCode=ogi&th=1


cpu upgrade. ( not crucial but will help this is kind of the last i would upgrade the gpu would come first.)
5700x3d.


power supply cv 550w its ok for the 3050 anything higher is a nope.

reasons

1.better quality and more headroom and by headroom you never want to be near the max of a power supply due to 1 damaging components due to lack of power or complete computer failure to turn on.
2. more energy efficient as higher quality psu tend to use less electric from the wall when converting from ac to dc.
3. this is just general knowledge to myself and other experienced users but the max rating of your psu isn't continuous usage the pc will only use what it needs.

e.g your current pc probly pulls around 150w while just browsing and gaming probly closer to 260w. 300w max.

psu recomendation below.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BK54TKB9?tag=pcp0f-21&linkCode=ogi&th=1



power efficient ( I'm assuming your in the uk electric prices are a royal pain).
recommending only x 16 full bus width cards because pci gen 3x8 vs 4x8 can effect performance vs 3x16 and 4 x16 is less noticable.

gpu recommendations ( all will need the psu above and must remove the current drivers for old gpu before installing new or the pc wont play nice)

best 4070 super

https://www.ebuyer.com/2269996-asus-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-super-graphics-card-for-gaming-12gb-dual-rtx4070s-o12g-evo?wgu=267255_206719_17345745380075_430f122284&wgexpiry=1766110537&utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=97907&utm_campaign=PCPartPicker, LLC_206719


second best. 4070

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/msi-...-pci-express-graphics-card-gra-msi-03202.html


value but still great value these cards are rather large so measure your case first. they are quite efficient though.

rx 6800

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/xfx...UcPl94UWhVVXJSWUssrgPrRQn7fsQ3pBoCkgEQAvD_BwE

​

Lower down.

XFX AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT​

https://www.ebuyer.com/1897184-xfx-...dster-qick-319-graphics-card-for-rx-675xyjfdp


finally storage for games.

2TB Crucial BX500 2.5" SATA III SSD - CT2000BX500SSD1

Huge 2TB storage capacity With Super Fast performance due to it's SATA III interface and super Quick 540Mbps read speed ., Mfg Code: CT2000BX500SSD1

www.cclonline.com

cant see the drive in windows here is how you fix that.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/OynCWQtF_CU?feature=shared



also recomend for the nvme current installed on your pc. as i noticed from the picture that the hard drive has no heatsink which is stupid of the manufacturer.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/cooler-heatsink-single-double-modules/dp/B08YRSZPH8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=6IGP5FYWF81I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uKA4XiLxLkRLax4qk4eXzPqPBtdwrUVoskc6n9xUpzJqCPM9xPcfQouO7GQjGVLvu-YobGyaATzfvIdMHvngIj-MGkeCjwxDSHpO5iGTajDA21jMoDVnJfD9PlU9WBxvvQ6UQqWUOGrKfrmxDguPNfED9IDvdzxfXnQ4abd7anVIJu2eAmVOAlYZTXUZmWUwOAL7KmlWC9Zn1Lvtveg23JFSzGzor1dTh4BSIV5owSI.hZWaqfmGMGEXA1RO4HTjBkYS49WPLGlGfMvijAUEyoc&dib_tag=se&keywords=nvme+heatsink+be+quiet&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1734576344&sprefix=nvme+heatsink+be+quiet,aps,105&sr=8-3&th=1

any questions drop a pm if first time upgrading a pc i can drop some guides.