Question Upgrade or Buy a new PC

[H171995]

A lot of the new games I am looking to play say my PC doesn't have the necessary requirements to run. Is it worth upgrading it or buying a new PC altogether?

I am not completely useless with PC's and would have no issue replacing the hardware physically, but any more technical things when it comes to updating BIOS etc would be a little past my remit.

SPEC:

https://business.currys.co.uk/catal...5-gtx-1660-super-1-tb-hdd-512-gb-ssd/N514331W

CPU - Ryzen 5 3600
GPU - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super
Motherboard - ASUS A320M-K
RAM - Upgraded to 16GB DDR4
Storage - 1TB HDD & 512GB SSD

 

[Eximo]

CPU is a little dated. GPU is an older mid-range card. Really depends on the games you want to play.

The motherboard supports the next generation up 5000 series chips. 5700X would be a decent last upgrade. Or even the 5700X3D for maximum gaming performance.

BIOS updates are quite straightforward. Just put a file on a USB drive, boot to the BIOS, tell it to update. Small USB drives range from 5-10$/Euro if you don't have one. It is also possible to update the BIOS from Windows using the motherboard manufacturer's utilities in some cases.

GPU upgrade comes down to what you have to spend, how big your chassis is, and what power supply you have. Can't really make any recommendations without that information.

 

[Lutfij]

What is the make and model of the PSU and it's age? The highest you can perform in terms of an upgrade is Ryzen 5000 series CPU but your motherboard would falter due to the VRM area on said board. Besides, what sort of budget do you have set aside in terms of a upgrade path?

 

[H171995]

I will have to check PSU details when I get home.

I don't necessarily have a budget, its more what is "better value". I was looking at the HP Victus 15L. I think that worked out £749. So even if the upgrades to mine worked out to be £300-£400, which is the smarter move - upgrade or new PC?

 

[CountMike]

I will have to check PSU details when I get home.

I don't necessarily have a budget, its more what is "better value". I was looking at the HP Victus 15L. I think that worked out £749. So even if the upgrades to mine worked out to be £300-£400, which is the smarter move - upgrade or new PC?

That HP comes in several configurations including Intel, AMD and Nvidia. So nothing concrete to compare with yours or evaluate.

 

[geofelt]

What are the games you are looking to play?
What are the requirements they say you are missing?
What kinds of games do you play.
Some will be cpu limited such as sims, mmo and strategy games.
Others will be graphics limited such as fast action games or playing at higher resolutions.
Is your pc used exclusively for gaming, or do you have important batch work to do?

 

[artk2219]

I would upgrade what you currently have, a Ryzen 7 5700X or 5800X can be had for around 140 pounds, and a 5700X3D is around 180 pounds. You could spend 20 on a decent cooler if the one you have isn't a great one, and you would need to update your bios, but it is not a difficult or complicated process at all. An RX 7600 or RTX 4060 would be a decent upgrade from your GTX 1660 Super, but if you can spend a bit more, an RX 6700 XT or 6750 XT would be a better upgrade. For reference your GTX 1660 super performs about like the RTX 3050 6gb in the article below.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/asus-radeon-rx-7900-gre-tuf/31.html

PCPartPicker Part List
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/gbmyvj

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3.8 GHz 8-Core Processor](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/qtvqqs/amd-ryzen-7-5800x-38-ghz-8-core-processor-100-100000063wof) | £138.99 @ Amazon UK
**CPU Cooler** | [Thermalright Assassin King SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/RkC48d/thermalright-assassin-king-se-6617-cfm-cpu-cooler-ak120-se-d6) | £19.00 @ Computer Orbit
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 7600 8 GB Video Card](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/rh7scf/gigabyte-gaming-oc-radeon-rx-7600-xt-8-gb-video-card-gv-r76gaming-oc-8gd) | £239.99 @ MoreCoCo
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| **Total** | **£397.98**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com) 2024-09-12 17:28 BST+0100 |

 

[H171995]

So my PSU is a Corsair CV450. The PC was purchased in February 2021, only upgrade I did was the RAM to 16gb. Everything else is as bought.

Essentially the game I have been looking to play was Cities Skylines 2 which I believe both the GPU and CPU were issues.

I play mostly strategy games, World/city builders, some others like 7 days to die, Football manager. Anything I have played has run pretty decently.

I use it solely for gaming or the occasional personal use. I have a separate laptop for work.

The Victus 15L I was looking at has a Ryzen 5 5600G, Nvidia RTX 3050 8Gb, 16GB RAM. https://www.currys.co.uk/products/h...amd-ryzen-5-rtx-3050-512-gb-ssd-10259827.html

The dilemma is what's better in the long run. A new PC for ~£800 or upgrade for £400? Would the new PC last twice as long as the upgrade would?

 

[H171995]

I also have no idea where to start with transferring my files and data from one PC to another hence also leaning towards upgrading. Its just my somewhat limited knowledge at upgrading and tinkering with PC's.

 

[Eximo]

I also have no idea where to start with transferring my files and data from one PC to another hence also leaning towards upgrading. Its just my somewhat limited knowledge at upgrading and tinkering with PC's.

Files and data is simple. You can just take the old drive and plug it in to copy them.

However, what you are probably wanting is all your installed programs, preferences, etc. Some can be transferred using the built in Windows Backup, but installed applications must be reinstalled on a new system.

5600G with a 3050 is redundant, paying for 2 GPUs essentially. You already have 16GB of DDR4, storage, chassis, power supply, and a motherboard compatible with the 5600/5600G/5700X etc. It would be a lot of redundant parts. If you moved up to a Zen 4 based system with DDR5 that would be another matter.

CV450 is a very light unit, and not well regarded. Still, if it is running that 1660 alright, then you should be able to stick around that power range. RTX 3050 8GB and the RTX 4060 8GB qualify. RX6600 at 132W would be okay as well.

 

[H171995]

Files and data is simple. You can just take the old drive and plug it in to copy them.

However, what you are probably wanting is all your installed programs, preferences, etc. Some can be transferred using the built in Windows Backup, but installed applications must be reinstalled on a new system.

5600G with a 3050 is redundant, paying for 2 GPUs essentially. You already have 16GB of DDR4, storage, chassis, power supply, and a motherboard compatible with the 5600/5600G/5700X etc. It would be a lot of redundant parts. If you moved up to a Zen 4 based system with DDR5 that would be another matter.

CV450 is a very light unit, and not well regarded. Still, if it is running that 1660 alright, then you should be able to stick around that power range. RTX 3050 8GB and the RTX 4060 8GB qualify. RX6600 at 132W would be okay as well.

So essentially, get a Ryzen 5600X and a RTX 3050 or 4060, new cooler and I should be golden? Push comes to shove a better PSU if things go a bit wonky?

 

[helper800]

So essentially, get a Ryzen 5600X and a RTX 3050 or 4060, new cooler and I should be golden? Push comes to shove a better PSU if things go a bit wonky?

You definitely want to replace that PSU with a decent one. Make sure you get at least a 6700xt in performance as an upgrade to the 1660 super or it will not feel like a significant upgrade. Get a thermalright cooler to make sure you keep decent temperatures. IMO you could even keep the CPU for a bit longer and replace it with a 5700x / 5700x3d later to put more budget towards a graphics card and PSU.

What case do you currently have?

Something like this, or:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 3 GHz 8-Core Processor (£183.97 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler (£37.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB Video Card (£282.92 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (£89.98 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £593.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-12 21:10 BST+0100

Like this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler (£37.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB Video Card (£282.92 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (£89.98 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £409.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-12 21:11 BST+0100

 

[H171995]

You definitely want to replace that PSU with a decent one. Make sure you get at least a 6700xt in performance as an upgrade to the 1660 super or it will not feel like a significant upgrade. Get a thermalright cooler to make sure you keep decent temperatures. IMO you could even keep the CPU for a bit longer and replace it with a 5700x / 5700x3d later to put more budget towards a graphics card and PSU.

What case do you currently have?

Something like this, or:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 3 GHz 8-Core Processor (£183.97 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler (£37.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB Video Card (£282.92 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (£89.98 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £593.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-12 21:10 BST+0100

Like this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler (£37.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB Video Card (£282.92 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (£89.98 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £409.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-12 21:11 BST+0100

I wouldn't even know where to start to find out what case it is. I posted the link to the PC previously if that helps?

So an RTX 3050 or 4060 isn't a decent upgrade on what I have?

My problem with the PSU is the one I have now is packed in pretty tight, especially the cables, the SSD was basically encased in cables. Wouldn't want to damage something if I started replacing that.

 

[helper800]

I wouldn't even know where to start to find out what case it is. I posted the link to the PC previously if that helps?

So an RTX 3050 or 4060 isn't a decent upgrade on what I have?

My problem with the PSU is the one I have now is packed in pretty tight, especially the cables, the SSD was basically encased in cables. Wouldn't want to damage something if I started replacing that.

1. The case seems decent enough as long as it has the room for cabling.
2. I would say that those graphics cards would be an upgrade for sure, but a 6750xt would be about twice as fast as your 1660 super.
3. You will need a decent PSU if you don't want your computer to go poof followed by a black screen and a cloud of electrical smoke. This PSU is 100mm in length and fully modular so it is about 1/5th shorter compared to your current PSU. You only need to plug in the cables you need with this PSU so there are not a bunch of extras to cram in there.

 

[artk2219]

I wouldn't even know where to start to find out what case it is. I posted the link to the PC previously if that helps?

So an RTX 3050 or 4060 isn't a decent upgrade on what I have?

My problem with the PSU is the one I have now is packed in pretty tight, especially the cables, the SSD was basically encased in cables. Wouldn't want to damage something if I started replacing that.

A 3050 definitely is not an upgrade from your current GPU, it was a garbage GPU when it was new, and it hasn't improved when compared with its competition. It's basically about as fast as your current GTX 1660 super, just with 2gb more memory and very weak ray tracing, definitely ignore it. I also wouldn't take Ray tracing into account with the price bracket you're looking at, it sucks on basically every single one of those GPUs short of a 4070 ti. An RX 7600 and RTX 4060 would be a decent upgrade, roughly 70% or so faster, but an RX 6750 xt is a better idea if you can swing it. It is as fast as a 4060 ti but with more VRAM. Honestly you could probably hold on the CPU upgrade and do the power supply and GPU first like helper800 suggested in his second PCPartPicker list. Then just upgrade the CPU and cooler in 6 months or so. That computer should run fine for another few years or so after that.