Question Updating Gaming PC

[deholtsl]

I would like to update my gaming PC to run some more current games, mainly Diablo 4 and God of War. I have a decent graphics card (NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3060) and 16 GB of DDR3 RAM running in a VERY old motherboard and processor. I'm looking for a good motherboard/cpu combo for gaming ($300-$500ish) Was thinking Ryzen 5 or 7 idk what's the best bang for the buck for gaming. Right now I'm running Windows 10 Home, installed on a 232 GB SSD, I also have a 3726 GB regular harddrive. If a get new components, will the harddrives be plug and play? Should I upgrade Windows and how? Will probably need a new case too.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[punkncat]

You should have loads of selection at that price point. Don't forget RAM as if your other components are really old they may not be DDR4 or suitable speed for something newer.

If you really want a bargain and can find a suitable motherboard both the 3600 Ryzen and the 5600X have been at some really enticing prices as of late.

It may also be worthwhile to consider your power supply if it is as old as the base hardware.

Your drives should work fine, but would keep in mind to consider budgeting for OS license.

I recently built out a 3600 system with 16GB RAM and a GTX 1080 for right under $500. Some of that was just luck of the draw. 12th gen Intel has some good pricing right now as well.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Where are you located? If you are in the USA near a Microcenter, here's a great deal my local store is running lately. You'd just need to add a cooler.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...s-v-16gb-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

If you want to go toward the top of your budget, again, add a cooler, but check this out.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...ies-32gb-ddr5-6000-kit,-computer-build-bundle

That would set you up perfectly to add a better gpu down the road.

If you want middle ground, then I'd say this 7700x combo

https://www.microcenter.com/product...ies-32gb-ddr5-6000-kit,-computer-build-bundle

Or this i7 12700k combo

https://www.microcenter.com/product...s-v-16gb-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

Either way, if you are near microcenter, plenty of good options.

 

[deholtsl]

Oh wo

Where are you located? If you are in the USA near a Microcenter, here's a great deal my local store is running lately. You'd just need to add a cooler.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...s-v-16gb-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

If you want to go toward the top of your budget, again, add a cooler, but check this out.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...ies-32gb-ddr5-6000-kit,-computer-build-bundle

That would set you up perfectly to add a better gpu down the road.

If you want middle ground, then I'd say this 7700x combo

https://www.microcenter.com/product...ies-32gb-ddr5-6000-kit,-computer-build-bundle

Or this i7 12700k combo

https://www.microcenter.com/product...s-v-16gb-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

Either way, if you are near microcenter, plenty of good options.

oh wow yeah those are nice! There is a microcenter about an hour from me, def worth the drive. Which one of these is the most upgradable would you say? I know the motherboard is usually the limiting factor

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Either of those am5 bundles for longevity. In my opinion, with the 3060, you likely would see little difference with the 7700x vs a 7800x3d. Even if you do, 9000 series CPUs are supposed to be coming this year. So I’d almost consider the cheaper of the two then you could upgrade the gpu and cpu later. But the 7800x3d is the better cpu for sure. Totally your call.

Personally I did go Intel last time but I was on more of a budget. But am5 will give a little better platform life.

 

[35below0]

I'm not sure how this compares to Microcenter bundles (It's an AM4 build):

Motherboard+CPU+RAM are within budget. A 1Tb NVMe for the OS and games would be a nice thing to have.
You can reuse the case, or pick something you like. The Antec i linked is decent for a cheap case.

You can plug in your old SSD and HDD, they will work. I don't think you'll be able to boot the old OS but you wouldn't want to anyway. Too much new hardware. Just re-use your windows license (unless it's a locked OEM license)

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G 3.8 GHz 8-Core Processor ($164.00 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock B550M PG RIPTIDE Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($111.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($39.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: TEAMGROUP MP44 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec NX200M MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS GX 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $510.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-05-03 22:24 EDT-0400

 

[ohio_buckeye]

If the op needs all that I’d be tempted with the i5 bundle at microcenter. He’d need a cooler but that would still leave extra for everything else.

Don’t get me wrong am4 is a great platform, but LGA 1700 is slightly less dead at this point.

Although microcenter does have this bundle for am4 with the 5800x3d for 300.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...s-v-16gb-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

 

[35below0]

If the op needs all that I’d be tempted with the i5 bundle at microcenter. He’d need a cooler but that would still leave extra for everything else.

Don’t get me wrong am4 is a great platform, but LGA 1700 is slightly less dead at this point.

Although microcenter does have this bundle for am4 with the 5800x3d for 300.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...s-v-16gb-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

I was just looking at options. Mobo+CPU for 300-500 is doable, easily. RAM needs to be upgraded because it's DDR3.
AM4 has something to offer but AM5 is better, even if pricier. LGA1700 can fly DDR4 or DDR5, and if building something cheap but long lasting, it's maybe the best option.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

The videos I’ve seen for gaming there’s not a lot of difference between ddr4 vs ddr5. One of the microcenter guys told me that also a few months back.

The way I see it is this.

Budget =am4
Budget but spending a little extra= Intel 12th gen

AM5 best option for longevity but typically more expensive.

That’s how I rate them now. I ended up with an i5 12600kf with a z690 and ddr4 when I built due to budget and it’s been fine. Comes down to the math and what you can spend. Keep in mind if going am5 though, I think newer CPUs come out later in the year then you may want to upgrade. Just depends what your after.

LGA 1700 will let you update to Intel 14th Gen but is a dead socket.

AM5 should have at least one or two more generations of CPUs left I would think.

 

[deholtsl]

Thank you for all the replies, I’m really leaning toward the 7700x bundle for $380 at microcenter. What OS should i upgrade to and how does that work? I dont think i know where my key code is.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

At this point I’d go for windows 11. If you have an existing key code, it may be attached to your Microsoft account. Otherwise you’d need to buy a new copy. Microcenter should sell it.