Next Step in Upgrade Advice

[Discopickle975]

I am currently working on my personal gaming computer as a kind of project of mine due to my enjoyment in playing video games. I was wondering what the next step in increasing performance of games with this system should be. By that, I mean "What part of my system is currently the most in need of an upgrade in order to get more performance? Do I need more ram? A better graphics card or CPU?" I am seeking your guys' help on this issue, as I am fairly new to computers myself.

My PC specs are as follows in this image, taken from using Speccy:

 

[volkgren]

Well you're in just about the worst possible situation if you want better performance out of your computer. You want a better GPU for better gaming performance, but your CPU is holding you back. You can't really upgrade your CPU because the 8-core FX CPU isn't any faster.

So, if you want better gaming performance you will need to move to a whole new platform, which will require DDR4 memory. Basically a whole new system.

Something like this for a cheaper option:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 3 1200 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($92.60 @ Newegg Business)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($74.39 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $261.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-04-03 22:00 EDT-0400

.. or if you wanted to upgrade your GPU first (it will be bottlenecked by your CPU) you can go with the 3GB GTX 1060 since you're using 768p display.

Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB Mini Video Card ($272.85 @ OutletPC)

You will probably have better performance at times with the GPU upgrade only, but you won't be getting the full potential out of it.

and 8GB system RAM is fine for the most part. Only when you move to a higher-end system will it matter much.

 

[hang-the-9]

First, aside from just wanting to upgrade, why are you upgrading, what issues are you having and in what games?

At the resolution you are using the system at, your system is OK for most things. I'd say your CPU is the worst part of the system for the resolution you are using.

CPU and video care are pretty closely matched, but I would swap out the CPU first (which would mean a full new setup as in the post above) or just leave things as it till you actually have a full reason to buy new parts.

 

[Discopickle975]

First, aside from just wanting to upgrade, why are you upgrading, what issues are you having and in what games?

At the resolution you are using the system at, your system is OK for most things. I'd say your CPU is the worst part of the system for the resolution you are using.

CPU and video care are pretty closely matched, but I would swap out the CPU first (which would mean a full new setup as in the post above) or just leave things as it till you actually have a full reason to buy new parts.

I am wanting to upgrade to get better performance in games such as Just Cause 3, Arma 3, Watch Dogs 2, and other games that are relatively newer. As for the issues go, in some open world games like Just Cause and Watch Dogs, it informs me that I do not have enough memory, and thus I am considering buying like 4GB more of ram to help with that issue. What would be the best available CPU that is compatible with my system? I'd really like to avoid having to get a new mobo and a processor and GPU that are compatible with that just to get better performance because if I were to do that, I'd probably just build a new computer all together.

Edit: Would getting this CPU be worth it for the price or would the performance upgrade not be worth it?

AMD 4 GHz FX-8370 Octa-core Desktop Processor with Wraith Cooler, Black Edition FD8370FRHKHBX

 

[Discopickle975]

Well you're in just about the worst possible situation if you want better performance out of your computer. You want a better GPU for better gaming performance, but your CPU is holding you back. You can't really upgrade your CPU because the 8-core FX CPU isn't any faster.

So, if you want better gaming performance you will need to move to a whole new platform, which will require DDR4 memory. Basically a whole new system.

Something like this for a cheaper option:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 3 1200 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($92.60 @ Newegg Business)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($74.39 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $261.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-04-03 22:00 EDT-0400

.. or if you wanted to upgrade your GPU first (it will be bottlenecked by your CPU) you can go with the 3GB GTX 1060 since you're using 768p display.

Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB Mini Video Card ($272.85 @ OutletPC)

You will probably have better performance at times with the GPU upgrade only, but you won't be getting the full potential out of it.

and 8GB system RAM is fine for the most part. Only when you move to a higher-end system will it matter much.

Is an 8-core FX processor the best available for my system? And if I were to get the very best processor for my system, would it get me more potential out of a better graphics card , or even the graphics card that I currently have?

Edit: Would getting this CPU be worth it for the price or would the performance upgrade not be worth it?

AMD 4 GHz FX-8370 Octa-core Desktop Processor with Wraith Cooler, Black Edition FD8370FRHKHBX

 

[volkgren]

The gain from upgrading the the 8-core FX would be very minimal and not really worth the cost. The same costing CPU on a newer motherboard would get you much better performance gains.

 

[g-unit1111]

Is an 8-core FX processor the best available for my system? And if I were to get the very best processor for my system, would it get me more potential out of a better graphics card , or even the graphics card that I currently have?

Edit: Would getting this CPU be worth it for the price or would the performance upgrade not be worth it?

AMD 4 GHz FX-8370 Octa-core Desktop Processor with Wraith Cooler, Black Edition FD8370FRHKHBX

Not really, your upgrade options on 990FX are very limited at this point. If you hold off and move to Ryzen you will have lots more upgrade options to choose from. Especially when the new Raven Ridge CPUs arrive sometime in the next couple of months.

 

[hang-the-9]

First, aside from just wanting to upgrade, why are you upgrading, what issues are you having and in what games?

At the resolution you are using the system at, your system is OK for most things. I'd say your CPU is the worst part of the system for the resolution you are using.

CPU and video care are pretty closely matched, but I would swap out the CPU first (which would mean a full new setup as in the post above) or just leave things as it till you actually have a full reason to buy new parts.

I am wanting to upgrade to get better performance in games such as Just Cause 3, Arma 3, Watch Dogs 2, and other games that are relatively newer. As for the issues go, in some open world games like Just Cause and Watch Dogs, it informs me that I do not have enough memory, and thus I am considering buying like 4GB more of ram to help with that issue. What would be the best available CPU that is compatible with my system? I'd really like to avoid having to get a new mobo and a processor and GPU that are compatible with that just to get better performance because if I were to do that, I'd probably just build a new computer all together.

Edit: Would getting this CPU be worth it for the price or would the performance upgrade not be worth it?

AMD 4 GHz FX-8370 Octa-core Desktop Processor with Wraith Cooler, Black Edition FD8370FRHKHBX

I would not get a CPU for your platform, not really worth it.

Your screenshot shows you have 8 GB of RAM in single channel mode, you have one stick? If you do, get a second matching 8 GB stick, not a 4 GB one.