Question New Build ($1800-$2300) or Just a GPU Upgrade ($380)?

[kubrat]

Hello,
I am interested in upgrading my GPU or even get a new PC Build. I am still saving money if I am going to go with the entirely new build option, and in that case the purchase would happen no later than Black Friday sale.
So here goes:

Approximate Purchase Date: If GPU Upgrade (within a month, hopefully prices will come down a bit more here in EU) / New Build (within 2-3 months)

Budget Range: $380 for GPU / $1800-$2300 (New Build)
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (I mostly play single player games, and a few e-sports titles), Image Editing (I use lighter programs, mostly GIMP , Inkscape and , lately - Affinity ), browsing and watching Youtube videos (my browser is open all of the time with so many tabs opened that I some times forget what I was watching)

Are you buying a monitor: Yes / No, if only GPU upgrade

Parts to Upgrade: GPU / New Build

Do you need to buy OS: No
Please note that if you're using an OEM license of Windows, you will need a new one when buying a new motherboard.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: No Preference.

Location: Europe 🙁

Parts Preferences: AMD because of my current monitor (if GPU upgrade is my best bet) / If New Build - AMD CPU. No parts with potential upgrade - everything must work great together as is it.
Overclocking: For the RAM maybe, but for the rest I'd prefer not to take my chances.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 (my current monitor if GPU upgrade) / 2560x1440 (for a new build)

Additional Comments: Nothing much to say if I'll be going the GPU route - it seems RX 6600 would work better with my current PC, but am not sure if my current PSU would be enough to handle the addition of the GPU, Also, not sure how much the cirrent MOBO would hold back an RX 6600 or a higher GPU.

And, if entirely new build is my best option - I am looking for a clean build. I most definitely prefer a clean pc case with good cooling, I don't mind rgb for other parts but am not aiming for it. In this case, as I mentioned am looking for parts that will work great together as they are, so I can squeeze every bit from that new build - no parts with a potential to upgrade - I'll just get entirely new build when needed.
I do have parts in mind, so I will list them below, along with links to Pcpartpicker, so it'll be easier for you to check. Please, let me know what you think about the parts I've chosen and if I need something better. Are any of them overkill - can I save money? As for a GPU upgrade only - I mentioned the RX 6600 but feel free to suggest (and if this one is fine which model would be better).

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I am not quite happy with my current build. It was my first build and till that point I had no idea of how to build a pc or anything about pc parts. It ended up a bit ''weird'' - I first bought an apu, then I decided to replace it with the current CPU and GPU, which you will see is not the best combo either. I want a better performance in gaming - 4gb ain't cutting it for new games - I am not one that would aim for Ultra setting and am perfectly fine with 'high' or 'very high settings'. And I'd also want a better option when using image editing programs (no fancy programs as I mentioned them already) while browsing and have multiple Youtube tabs open. Not aiming for overkill but definitely something that would last me longer than 2-3 years.

All your thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

My Current PC
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9S
Motherboard: MSI B450 Tomahawk
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX Black (2x8GB) 3000MHz CL16
Storage: Sandisk Ultra 3D (500GB), Samsung Evo (1TB)
GPU: Palit KalmX 4GB > potentially to upgrade to RX 6600
Case: Deepcool Kendomen
PSU: Seasonic S12II-520 520W Bronze
Monitor: Acer Nitro XV242YP

New Build
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12A
Motherboard: ASRock B550M Steel Legend
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16
Storage: Samsung 870 Evo 1 TB, Samsung 870 Evo 2TB
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon RX 6800 XT 16 GB GAMING OC
PC Case: Cooler Master MasterBox NR400 (the non ODD version)
PSU: SeaSonic FOCUS GX 850 W 80+ Gold
Monitor: Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQ

 

[Why_Me]

For countries in the EEC, it works exactly as the different states in the US

Every EU country has their own VAT along with different vendors.

 

[egda23]

Every EU country has their own VAT along with different vendors.

Yes but we can buy from any vendor in the EEC at the local price and VAT and have it shipped at home without internal borders.
As I said it is as in the US. Just replace VAT by sales tax.
Hint: I do it all the time

 

[KyaraM]

Well, should've started with that. I obviously am unaware of adaptive sync, otherwise I wouldn't have kept insisting on my monitor being Free Sync only.

There's no indication on G-Sync compatibility/Adaptive Sync enabling that for the monitor. It would've been nice if something like that was mention, unless I've missed that when reading the specs.

Anyway, thanks for letting me know. I will have to read about Adaptive Sync.

I didn't start with it since it was a later edit, as indicated.

Here is also a list by Nvidia with all monitors featuring G-Sync Ultimate, G-Sync, and G-Sync Compatible. I found the XV242Y listed in the latter category:

NVIDIA GeForce G-SYNC Gaming Monitors

Search for GeForce G-SYNC gaming monitors.

www.nvidia.com

You are correct, though, that it is very annoying that Acer isn't directly advertising it...

Activating it with a Geforce card is very easy at least:
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/ag6a9f/how_to_enable_adaptivesync_freesync_if_you_have/

 

[kubrat]

I didn't start with it since it was a later edit, as indicated.

Here is also a list by Nvidia with all monitors featuring G-Sync Ultimate, G-Sync, and G-Sync Compatible. I found the XV242Y listed in the latter category:

NVIDIA GeForce G-SYNC Gaming Monitors

Search for GeForce G-SYNC gaming monitors.

www.nvidia.com

You are correct, though, that it is very annoying that Acer isn't directly advertising it...

Activating it with a Geforce card is very easy at least:
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/ag6a9f/how_to_enable_adaptivesync_freesync_if_you_have/

Yeah, manufacturers should do a better job at providing a better information about their products.

Thank you for the links. I appreciate it!

Seems like Nvidia gpu upgrade is also an option for me.

I managed to activate G-Sync on my current gpu.

https://ibb.co/H4T8yhD

 

[ohio_buckeye]

G sync is more proprietary but if your monitor supports it should be as good or better than freesync.

 

[helper800]

Interesting upgrade suggestion. Wouldn't that second RAM pair cause a problem?

At least, as far as I've learned is that RAM should be bought together for dual or quad channels, and not separately, even if the new pair is completely identical with the other pair. I've asked about that before (not here but on another forum) and I was told it's risky and that I should either buy another pair of better RAM or a set of 4 sticks that come together.

So, an Intel build with similar performance but cheaper? Even after I include the monitor from my ''New Build''.
What about the PSU? You are definitely not using that widely accepted ''formula'' of multiplying the calculated wattage by 1.5.

Would you share your thoughts on the CPU cooler? It definitely is cheaper and with similar stats but is louder than Noctua NH-U12A. However, it seems like Noctua NH-U9S (from my current build) has similar stats and it looks like it'll work well with the intel CPU. So, would Noctua NH-U9S work instead of Deepcool AK620?

The two matching kits not working together is certainly "possible" but very unlikely. I think I saw linus do a video with mixed ram from many types of speeds, timmings, capacities and so forth without much issues to get them to work together.

About the PSU; Its 750 watts with a 10 year warranty and its almost exactly 1.5 times the maximum expected draw in wattage (1.5 * 520 = ~750 watts).

There is a really good review on gamers nexus about that cooler and it performs about as well as an nh-d15 minus a couple degrees (better) and minus (better) a few decibels while being cheaper.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Personally, if you go for the new build, I'd move to Intel 12th gen, as they are generally better bang-for-buck right now.

alternately, instead of a full PC build, you could do a BIOS update, drop in a 5800X3D or 5900X, a new PSU and new GPU and be good to go for a few more years.

 

[kubrat]

The two matching kits not working together is certainly "possible" but very unlikely. I think I saw linus do a video with mixed ram from many types of speeds, timmings, capacities and so forth without much issues to get them to work together.

About the PSU; Its 750 watts with a 10 year warranty and its almost exactly 1.5 times the maximum expected draw in wattage (1.5 * 520 = ~750 watts).

There is a really good review on gamers nexus about that cooler and it performs about as well as an nh-d15 minus a couple degrees (better) and minus (better) a few decibels while being cheaper.

Good to know about RAM. If getting the exact same kits to increase the size would work just fine, then it's pointless to resell a completely useful kit than getting another pair (in case you have extra slots).

Indeed, the PSU is almost 750 watt (519* 1.5 = 778.5 watts). That's what was bothering me.
I'm asking because for my current build (not the new system) I was also interested to just add RX 6600 as an upgrade and nothing else. My PSU is 520 watts and PCpartpicker estimates my wattage to be 311 watts (with the 6600 added). So, 311* 1.5 = 466.5 watts . But I still get advised that my 520 watt PSU won't be enough.

Nice review they made for that cooler. It seems 1-2 degrees cooler than the NH-D15. With the NH-D15 being quieter.

I did mention my current cooler - Noctua NH-U9S. When I compare it with the AK620 they look to have quite the same specs with the Noctua being just more quiet - and pricing is the same. The three coolers seem to do the same job. However, looking at Noctua's compatibility list NH-U9S is not recommended to do great if overclocking even the Ryzen 5 3600, let alone higher processor. I guess the bulkier the cooler the better it does with temps. Then again that AK620 review proves otherwise.

 

[kubrat]

G sync is more proprietary but if your monitor supports it should be as good or better than freesync.

With those gpu prices (and other pc components' awful pricing out here) - it'll be whatever nets me a better deal

I had my eyes on 3060 for a long time. Then I thought my monitor doesn't support G-Sync (but it does), so I went for RX cards.
3060 looks great to me and the extra 4 gb rams is welcomed, with 8gb seemingly becoming not enough, at least for gaming.
I really prefer a 12gb card and If I go for 8gb, then it better be RX 6600.

Anyaway, I don't mind either manufacturer - just prices are really bad right now. Actually, prices in EU were always bad, even before pandemic and even for other pc parts. A nice monitor $400 in USA is $800 in Europe - I am talking about specific models, like products recently released.

Though ''recently released'' means within a year, maybe two. Our retailers do not like to lower prices, even if those prices are much higher than the product's msrp. I don't expect prices in Europe to be exact same as USA, soon after release but damn, some times it's just ridiculous.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

I'm asking because for my current build (not the new system) I was also interested to just add RX 6600 as an upgrade and nothing else. My PSU is 520 watts and PCpartpicker estimates my wattage to be 311 watts (with the 6600 added). So, 311* 1.5 = 466.5 watts . But I still get advised that my 520 watt PSU won't be enough.

your 520W should be fine for handling a r5-3600 and RX 6600.

However, given its 520W, I suspect it is not an 80+ Bronze or higher of recent manufacture, and might be worth replacing with a new 500 or 550W PSU

Ad for GSync vs Freesync, pretty much every monitor made since about 2015, if it supports one, it supports the other.

 

[kubrat]

Personally, if you go for the new build, I'd move to Intel 12th gen, as they are generally better bang-for-buck right now.

alternately, instead of a full PC build, you could do a BIOS update, drop in a 5800X3D or 5900X, a new PSU and new GPU and be good to go for a few more years.

Yep, the Intel build is cheaper. Although the saving if I was in USA would be $400. Here I am saving $179, which is still enough of a difference to consider Intel, if brand new build.

The middle ground of new cpu, gpu and psu is also very viable. I'm definitely going for that 12 core 5900X.
Not in a hurry, so I will be watching prices, in hopes of a better deal. I may even wait for Black Friday.

 

[kubrat]

your 520W should be fine for handling a r5-3600 and RX 6600.

However, given its 520W, I suspect it is not an 80+ Bronze or higher of recent manufacture, and might be worth replacing with a new 500 or 550W PSU

Ad for GSync vs Freesync, pretty much every monitor made since about 2015, if it supports one, it supports the other.

It's Seasonic S12II-520 520W Bronze. The description says ''80+ Bronze''.

It's not really being sold anymore. Here, only one store is still selling it.

Found a link for you on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-S12.../B00390P1NO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

 

[ScrewySqrl]

It's Seasonic S12II-520 520W Bronze. The description says ''80+ Bronze''.

It's not really being sold anymore. Here, only one store is still selling it.

Found a link for you on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-S12.../B00390P1NO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

the S12 II 520W was very good when it came out, but is technologically behind now, being released 11 years ago (2011)

 

[kubrat]

the S12 II 520W was very good when it came out, but is technologically behind now, being released 11 years ago (2011)

Damn.... So, it's not reliable in a RX 6600 and Ryzen 5 3600 combo, even if the wattage is enough?