Question What GPU should I upgrade to? 350$ budget (can increase budget if needed)

[apollosoccer99]

My entire goal of this upgrade is to increase performance while playing games. If anyone has any suggestions I would really appreciate it. The whole budget doesn't have to go into just a GPU, if anyone thinks upgrading a different part is the move for my goal I am totally down.

Current specs:

GPU: Geforce GTX 1060 3 GB
CPU: i5 8400
RAM: 16GB DDR4 2133 mhz
MOBO: B360M BAZOOKA
PSU: EVGA 500W

 

[Eximo]

Hmm, let me pike around ebay for a bit to see if you can pick up a cheap CPU. Faster memory wouldn't hurt either.

1060 3GB gives you lots of $200 upgrade options, or you could blow all of it on a GPU.

What PSU do you have? That may limit things more than anything else.

 

[apollosoccer99]

Hmm, let me pike around ebay for a bit to see if you can pick up a cheap CPU. Faster memory wouldn't hurt either.

1060 3GB gives you lots of $200 upgrade options, or you could blow all of it on a GPU.

What PSU do you have? That may limit things more than anything else.

Hey sorry, I left the PSU out of the original post. I have a 500W EVGA PSU. I am totally open to splitting the money into some RAM and some GPU, what do you think would be the best general option for gaming?

 

[Eximo]

i7-8700 look to go for about $90 on ebay, that would get you hyperthreading so 6c/12t instead of 6c/6t which is more similar to the typical i5-10400/11400/12400. This is only really worth it if you want to play the latest games.

i9-9900 is probably out of your price range, still commanding about $250, but is 8c/16t.

Top memory speed your board supports is 2666, but you can pick up a new 2x8GB DDR4 3200 kit for about $30, you would just have to set it manually to 2666.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/P4FKHx/silicon-power-sp016gxlzu320bdaj5-16-gb-2-x-8-gb-ddr4-3200-cl16-memory-sp016gxlzu320bdaj5

You have enough to afford a 6650XT, but that is a 180W GPU, safer pick would be the RX6600 8GB (132W), which is a huge upgrade over the 1060 3GB.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/fQhFf7/powercolor-radeon-rx-6600-8-gb-fighter-video-card-axrx-6600-8gbd6-3dh

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-8700 3.2 GHz 6-Core OEM/Tray Processor ($90.00)
Motherboard: MSI B360M BAZOOKA Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($30.97 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6600 8 GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $320.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-09-29 14:55 EDT-0400


With a little more you could simply swap the CPU and motherboard for something newer, giving you further upgrade options (Intel 14th gen will be compatible)

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor ($149.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI PRO B760M-P DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($30.97 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6600 8 GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $480.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-09-29 14:59 EDT-0400

 

[apollosoccer99]

The first option looks like it will suit me as I don't really play any super demanding games and I play pretty casually. Thank you for the help

 

[Eximo]

No problem. You are in that weird middle ground where your CPU is fast enough for most things and upgrades cost more than they are worth. Holding out another year or two with that build makes a lot of sense.

 

[punkncat]

Intel doesn't take the hit for memory speed that AMD does. Don't waste your money on something you will not realize outside of a synthetic benchmark.

IMO, if this is THE upgrade money you want to put in at this time I would do an RX 6600 variant and a better power supply. If you can put some more money together think towards what your next core component upgrade will be and purchase a power supply and graphics card with that in mind. IMO there is zero reason to consider spending good money on chasing a used 9900 at this point. There are better, newer options that would go well with a FAR more powerful graphics card that would make financial sense in a longer time frame.

For instance, even something like a 12400 and decent mobo puts you in a good place to consider a higher end 14th gen CPU down the line.

 

[Eximo]

$30 is a small investment, slight though the improvement may be. Potentially that DDR4 will come in handy for a 12-14th gen build or an move to an AM4 system when the 5000 series really goes on sale in a year or two. It is possible DDR4 prices will start going up by then as they switch over to DDR5 production.

I agree, the 9900 is too expensive, as mentioned. Merely something I looked at.

i5-8400 tops out at 4Ghz, the i7-8700 boosts to 4.6Ghz and gets you hyperthreading. 600Mhz is nothing to sneeze at for gaming. If you can get one for $90 or less not a bad deal, and you can always sell the 8400 for a little bit.

If the PSU is running a 120W GPU reliably, I don't think an upgrade to the PSU is necessary for an RX6600. Any GPU larger and that is certainly a good idea.


Then we start getting into needing more detail. What games at what resolution and settings. For 1080p 60hz, not much reason to go further than the RX6600 at the moment. If the near future plan is a new 1440p monitor and a new CPU/Motherboard/RAM, then yes, investing in a larger GPU and PSU makes sense again. But if that is a more than a few years off, probably not worth doing.