Question New GPU for old PC

Gorrath

Distinguished
Sep 20, 2008
99
1
18,635
Hello,

I was about to buy a new PC but decided to wait for the next Geforce generation.

I just added some new DDR3 ram to go from 8gb to 32gb so that I could actually do stuff on my PC. (cost me less than 50$CAD so was really worth it)

Was thinking about upgrading the GPU but I'm not sure what would be the optimal value vs power choice and what would be compatible with my 12 years PC.

Just checked my PSU and it's a 750w (silencer MKII 750) so I think this is plenty enough.

My CPU isn't great tough: i5-3570K 3.4 GHz so it might be a bottleneck.

My MB is a ASRock Z77 Extreme4

Was thinking something like a GTX 1070.

Do you guys think it will be compatible? Should I aim lower or a bit higher?

Thanks for your help

Patrick
 

Gorrath

Distinguished
Sep 20, 2008
99
1
18,635
Compatible and should be fine. Still an older GPU, but should pair nicely with what you have now.
I took a look at cards a bit newer, like a 2070 but it's at least double the price. Kinda want to keep the cost low since it's a dying PC.

1070 sounds like the sweet spot

Found some used ones on marketplace under 100$CAD
 

Gorrath

Distinguished
Sep 20, 2008
99
1
18,635
what would be compatible with my 12 years PC
Is your PSU 12 years old? If so, what did it power throughout it's tenure? I won't call it plenty, not after 12 years due to internal wear and tear.

yeah...hard to guess the shape it it in.
Haven't game much in the past few years and I'm not a hardcore gamer but yeah, it's still 12 years old...guess it's a gamble lol
 

Gorrath

Distinguished
Sep 20, 2008
99
1
18,635
About to buy one of those 2, does the brand makes a difference?
One is ZOTAC and the other is Gigabyte

The seller of the Gigabyte says he has opened it and cleaned and put new thermal paste.
Sounds like someone who knows what he's doing and it's cheaper, might go with this one.
 
Oct 14, 2024
5
0
10
Minimum 500 W or greater system power supply with one 8-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.
there will not be a bottleneck, but you really shouldn't be getting a 1070 for 1080p gaming, unless you are getting a high refresh rate monitor. This is because the 1070 can easily pull off above 100 FPS at 1080p in most current games, and buying it for 60 FPS 1080p gaming is a waste of money.
 
Hello,

I was about to buy a new PC but decided to wait for the next Geforce generation.

I just added some new DDR3 ram to go from 8gb to 32gb so that I could actually do stuff on my PC. (cost me less than 50$CAD so was really worth it)

Was thinking about upgrading the GPU but I'm not sure what would be the optimal value vs power choice and what would be compatible with my 12 years PC.

Just checked my PSU and it's a 750w (silencer MKII 750) so I think this is plenty enough.

My CPU isn't great tough: i5-3570K 3.4 GHz so it might be a bottleneck.

My MB is a ASRock Z77 Extreme4

Was thinking something like a GTX 1070.

Do you guys think it will be compatible? Should I aim lower or a bit higher?

Thanks for your help

Patrick
An RX Vega 56, GTX 1070, or GTX 1660 (super, TI) would be a pretty good pairing with that CPU. The highest i would think about using would be a GTX 1080 ti, RX 5700 (XT), 6600 (XT), or RTX 2070 (Super), 3060, even then you'll likely be losing a good deal of performance on those. You could also upgrade to a CPU with hyperthreading for around 20 dollars on ebay. The Xeon E3 1240 V2 should work with your board as its on the supported CPU's list. It can't overclock very well since it has a locked multiplier, but the extra threads should help quite a bit in those games that need as many as they can get. It's definitely time to look at upgrading everything, but those upgrades should keep you rolling for another year or so.

Xeon E3 1240 V2
 
  • Like
Reactions: MEMOFLEX

MEMOFLEX

Distinguished
Minimum 500 W or greater system power supply with one 8-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.
there will not be a bottleneck, but you really shouldn't be getting a 1070 for 1080p gaming, unless you are getting a high refresh rate monitor. This is because the 1070 can easily pull off above 100 FPS at 1080p in most current games, and buying it for 60 FPS 1080p gaming is a waste of money.
I think you are being a little optimistic about the performance of a 1070 in modern games. I have a 1070ti in an old back up computer and it still runs fine for an older card but I wouldn't call it a high refresh card at any resolution nowadays. Good for some 60fps gaming though with appropriate settings and taking into account it is with a 3rd gen Intel and ddr3 I would say it is probably as balanced as you can get with a legacy system.
 

Gorrath

Distinguished
Sep 20, 2008
99
1
18,635
An RX Vega 56, GTX 1070, or GTX 1660 (super, TI) would be a pretty good pairing with that CPU. The highest i would think about using would be a GTX 1080 ti, RX 5700 (XT), 6600 (XT), or RTX 2070 (Super), 3060, even then you'll likely be losing a good deal of performance on those. You could also upgrade to a CPU with hyperthreading for around 20 dollars on ebay. The Xeon E3 1240 V2 should work with your board as its on the supported CPU's list. It can't overclock very well since it has a locked multiplier, but the extra threads should help quite a bit in those games that need as many as they can get. It's definitely time to look at upgrading everything, but those upgrades should keep you rolling for another year or so.

Xeon E3 1240 V2
Thanks for the detailed answer :)

Well, I've never changed anything else than a GPU or RAM in a PC. Not sure I wanna start switching CPU and putting thermal paste. Too scared to try that lol

I mainly want another GPU just to meet the minimum requirements on some game I would like to play.
But I guess, I won't meet the CPU requirements anyway lol

I really don't want to change too many pieces because it feels like wasted money since it's only for like 6 months.