Question Can I Just Upgrade my GPU and be Fine?

[tdonn16]

Hey Y'all I built my PC back in 2017/2018 and I havent upgraded it at all. my specs are https://pcpartpicker.com/list/dryYMc
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1500X 3.5 GHz Quad-Core Processor
MOBA: ASRock AB350M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive
Storage 2: SanDisk SSD PLUS 120 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
GPU: Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6 GB Video Card
PSU: EVGA 500 BQ 500 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply

My friends group has move onto console, so I plan on playing any beefier games like RDR2 or cyberpunk on PS5. However, I still enjoy playing games like league, CS2, Rainbow 6, etc. I also wanted to try out some MMOs. Right now When I am playing league on medium settings my frames can drop to 60 or lower towards the end of the game ( I think this has more to do with the recent update).

Would picking up a used 20/30 series GPU be a worthwhile upgrade to boost performance on these small games? Or will I also have to upgrade my CPU. I think that if I upgrade my CPU then I will probably need to upgrade my MOBA and PSU to compensate.

 

[Aeacus]

Would picking up a used 20/30 series GPU be a worthwhile upgrade to boost performance on these small games? Or will I also have to upgrade my CPU.

To see which of the two; CPU or GPU has headroom, make a simple test.

Take 2-4 of your games, on medium/high setting (or settings you play at, other than low/min) and look the FPS you're getting.
Then, reduce the in-game graphics to low/min and look if you had FPS increase.
You may even want to reduce reso (e.g from 1080p to 720p) to see if you gain FPS. But idea is to put lower load on GPU, to see if there is headroom in system or not.

If FPS did increase (more than ~10 FPS), then it means your CPU has headroom and better GPU can give more FPS.
But if FPS remained same (+/- 5 FPS), then your GPU is held back by the CPU and better GPU gives 0 in terms of performance.

PSU: EVGA 500 BQ 500 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply

That's low quality PSU and relatively old as well, 7-8 years. So, any new GPU = new PSU as well. Preferably good quality unit, like: Seasonic Focus/Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium.

(My 3x PCs are also powered by Seasonic. I have 2x PRIME TX-650 units and one Focus PX-550 unit. Full specs with pics in my sig.)

 

[tdonn16]

To see which of the two; CPU or GPU has headroom, make a simple test.

Take 2-4 of your games, on medium/high setting (or settings you play at, other than low/min) and look the FPS you're getting.
Then, reduce the in-game graphics to low/min and look if you had FPS increase.
You may even want to reduce reso (e.g from 1080p to 720p) to see if you gain FPS. But idea is to put lower load on GPU, to see if there is headroom in system or not.

If FPS did increase (more than ~10 FPS), then it means your CPU has headroom and better GPU can give more FPS.
But if FPS remained same (+/- 5 FPS), then your GPU is held back by the CPU and better GPU gives 0 in terms of performance.


That's low quality PSU and relatively old as well, 7-8 years. So, any new GPU = new PSU as well. Preferably good quality unit, like: Seasonic Focus/Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium.

(My 3x PCs are also powered by Seasonic. I have 2x PRIME TX-650 units and one Focus PX-550 unit. Full specs with pics in my sig.)

Thank you! yesterday I was playing league and I was getting only 80 frames, I noticed my settings were on high. I set them to medium and there wasnt that much of an increase. So, I am thinking that I will need to upgrade my CPU as well, but ill run the test in some other games and see!