[SOLVED] Any tips on what should I upgrade the most for my current pc spec?

Sep 16, 2021
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First, here's my current pc spec:

CPU: Ryzen 5 2600 processor
CPU cooler: basic cooler from CPU
GPU: XFX RX 580 8GB
Motherboard: Asus A320M-K
Operating System: Window 10 Pro
SSD: Samsung 860 EVO 150GB
RAM: 16GB HyperX Kingston 2400 MHz DDR4 (8GB x 2)
PSU: Masterwatt Lite 600w 80 Plus

Sorry if the information is a little off.

I want to have better or significant performance in gaming. Which I play csgo, apex legend, and team fortress 2.
I heard my current motherboard wasn't a good choice to start with because of how limited it is, but changing the motherboard would be just too much for me, so I would just leave it as it is. My two thoughts on upgrading pc were upgrading either CPU or GPU. I thinking about CPU because it is just so old and maybe upgrade to a newer version of ryzen CPU series. For any upgrade, I thinking about spending about $400.
I'm still a newbie of pc stuff and want some expert tips on what should I do the most to upgrade my gaming better! Thank you
 
Solution
It’s tough. Those games are predominantly cpu dependent (single core performance) and you have several things working against you. Your motherboard will only allow you to upgrade to a 3000 series which I don’t feel will give enough of an upgrade in single core performance to justify the cost. If you could have gone with 5000 series that would have been a much more beneficial upgrade. Your RAM is slow for Ryzen and that hurts performance. Your motherboard says it only supports up to 3200mhz but with a 2000 series you may get 3200mhz but may also only reach 2933/3000mhz. So while you are loosing cpu performance from the RAM an upgrade here is not going to be a big difference.

As those games are heavily reliant on cpu performance it is...
It’s tough. Those games are predominantly cpu dependent (single core performance) and you have several things working against you. Your motherboard will only allow you to upgrade to a 3000 series which I don’t feel will give enough of an upgrade in single core performance to justify the cost. If you could have gone with 5000 series that would have been a much more beneficial upgrade. Your RAM is slow for Ryzen and that hurts performance. Your motherboard says it only supports up to 3200mhz but with a 2000 series you may get 3200mhz but may also only reach 2933/3000mhz. So while you are loosing cpu performance from the RAM an upgrade here is not going to be a big difference.

As those games are heavily reliant on cpu performance it is unlikely a gpu upgrade will help much. As a test you can try lowering the resolution and game settings, if you don’t see much of an improvement in FPS you are most likely already cpu limited and not gpu.
 
Solution
Sep 16, 2021
8
1
15
It’s tough. Those games are predominantly cpu dependent (single core performance) and you have several things working against you. Your motherboard will only allow you to upgrade to a 3000 series which I don’t feel will give enough of an upgrade in single core performance to justify the cost. If you could have gone with 5000 series that would have been a much more beneficial upgrade. Your RAM is slow for Ryzen and that hurts performance. Your motherboard says it only supports up to 3200mhz but with a 2000 series you may get 3200mhz but may also only reach 2933/3000mhz. So while you are loosing cpu performance from the RAM an upgrade here is not going to be a big difference.

As those games are heavily reliant on cpu performance it is unlikely a gpu upgrade will help much. As a test you can try lowering the resolution and game settings, if you don’t see much of an improvement in FPS you are most likely already cpu limited and not gpu.

Oh, thank you for the reply. Then, changing the motherboard would be the most benefitial for me? Also, what would be a good choice for the motherboard? And I'm not sure I fully understood that my RAM is slowing down the CPU. Are you saying the speed of the RAM slowing down CPU and performance?
Sorry, so many questions are flying by though, thank you for the tips.
 
Yes RAM speed has an impact on cpu performance especially with Ryzen.

As for what motherboard it will depend what you decide to do for upgrade. If you upgrade cpu/motherboard and possibly RAM at the same time you may want to consider switching to Intel. Their midrange CPU’s currently offer better price/performance.

Id ask yourself is an extra 20-40% FPS really worth this upgrade when you are getting strong FPS already. You would likely need to be a pro gamer running a 240/360Hz monitor to notice a difference.
 
Sep 16, 2021
8
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Yes RAM speed has an impact on cpu performance especially with Ryzen.

As for what motherboard it will depend on what you decide to do for the upgrade. If you upgrade CPU/motherboard and possibly RAM at the same time you may want to consider switching to Intel. Their midrange CPU’s currently offer better price/performance
I see... I would change CPU, motherboard, and RAM, but it would be a little bit too much for my budget right now. Or if you have any suggestions what kind of CPU, motherboard, and RAM to buy for $600? This amount would be my limit.
Thank you
 
I’m not up to date on Intel motherboards so I’d wait for suggestions from others who are. Here look at the i5’s and 5600x and then check current local prices. It’s up to you if you want to stretch to the 5600x

UNwo62qRgGdE6uLAiPVycM-970-80.png.webp
 
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Sep 16, 2021
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I’m not up to date on Intel motherboards so I’d wait for suggestions from others who are. Here look at the i5’s and 5600x and then check current local prices. It’s up to you if you want to stretch to the 5600x

UNwo62qRgGdE6uLAiPVycM-970-80.png.webp
Okay, but thank you for the help though! Hopely someone would come up with some good suggestions.
 

DSzymborski

Titan
Moderator
Alright, I will work on that. But do you have any suggested PSU that is around $100?
PCPartPicker Part List

Power Supply: Super Flower Leadex III Super Pro 650 W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Total: $69.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-09-16 13:53 EDT-0400


(More wattage if you think a future upgrade might be something of 3080/3090 power consumption)

Then, I think I'd be looking at an 11600K. I love Zen 3s (and use one in my main rig), but the Intels right now are the budget-oriented ones, as weird as that would have been to say five years ago. You can also just upgrade the CPU and motherboard and worry about the RAM later as it's just not as big a deal for Intel CPUs as AMD.
 
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157978
ASRock B560M PRO4 $99.99

https://www.pcnation.com/web/detail...6-core-2-90-ghz-processor-oem-cm8070104290716
Intel Core i5-10400F $144.35

Total: $244

Make these your next upgrade.

https://www.amazon.com/DEEPCOOL-GAMMAXX-400-Blue-Compatible/dp/B00JQ2YDCY/
DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400 CPU Air Cooler $24.99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T637L7T
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z DDR4 3200MHz 16GB (2x8GB) CL16 $67.99

 
Sep 16, 2021
8
1
15
PCPartPicker Part List

Power Supply: Super Flower Leadex III Super Pro 650 W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Total: $69.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-09-16 13:53 EDT-0400


(More wattage if you think a future upgrade might be something of 3080/3090 power consumption)

Then, I think I'd be looking at a 11600K. I love Zen 3s (and use one in my main rig), but the Intels right now are the budget-oriented ones, as weird as that would have been to say five years ago. You can also just upgrade the CPU and motherboard and worry about the RAM later as it's just not as big a deal for Intel CPUs as AMD.

Got it. tyty
 
Sep 16, 2021
8
1
15
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157978
ASRock B560M PRO4 $99.99

https://www.pcnation.com/web/detail...6-core-2-90-ghz-processor-oem-cm8070104290716
Intel Core i5-10400F $144.35

Total: $244

Make these your next upgrade.

https://www.amazon.com/DEEPCOOL-GAMMAXX-400-Blue-Compatible/dp/B00JQ2YDCY/
DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400 CPU Air Cooler $24.99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T637L7T
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z DDR4 3200MHz 16GB (2x8GB) CL16 $67.99


I live in Canada, so the prices may vary a lot, anyway I have found those products on Amazon Canada. Confirm if I got the correct product.

https://www.amazon.ca/ASROCK-B560M-...cphy=9001396&hvtargid=pla-1192735994332&psc=1
ASRock B560M PRO4 CAD $159.99

https://www.amazon.ca/i5-10400F-Des...ocphy=9001396&hvtargid=pla-919732582935&psc=1
Intel Core i5-10400F CAD $239.99

TOTAL: CAD $400
 
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