Enhancing your pre-built PC with a new motherboard upgrade
Enhancing your pre-built PC with a new motherboard upgrade
Sure thing! The main point is still useful hardware remains important. For performance, aim for a 1660S or RX5600xt—avoid RX580. Your current RAM setup feels outdated, so upgrading makes sense. Keeping the motherboard, NVME drive, RAM, CPU, and GPU together can boost your value when selling. Third-gen Ryzen systems benefit from dual-channel memory, so a 3200MHz kit is a good move. The B550 or X570 boards are worth considering, though they’re extra if you want the best performance.
This purchase felt like a huge opportunity at first. I was really excited when I bought the B550 board before it sold out. Since then, my understanding of the market has improved, and I’m impressed by the B550 model now. Should I go ahead with this? The seller from BHPHOTO doesn’t have it in stock yet, and delivery could be delayed. What’s your advice?
I also bought a 16GB 3200MHz RAM package for $67.99, but I was hesitant about the seller. I thought the price without RGB was better, but I’m okay spending a bit more. On my end, I ordered a Ryzen 5 3600 for $166 on Amazon. I’m still unsure about the graphics card—my mind is leaning toward the 1660S, but I feel like waiting might be wiser. For storage, I plan to add another 500GB SSD later. Any other suggestions would help, especially since my motherboard setup is a bit confusing right now. I hope I don’t make this impulse decision without more info.
I rushed to purchase this motherboard too https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1...board.html. I’m unsure how it will fit, as the listing only mentions "more on the way" with a 7–14 business day wait. That makes me think it might take longer than expected. Now I’ve ordered two boards just in case. I can’t cancel my Newegg order for the B450 Aorus, so I’ll have to wait until it’s returned or sold, which isn’t too big of an issue—I’m fine with that. If anyone has tips on what else to buy or do before I finally sleep, please let me know!
This was my final update for the evening. Did I just make a huge mistake? Is the B550M Aorus Pro really microATX? On the Gigabyte site at the bottom of the specs it says microATX, but the review links it to ATX. I’m really confused and would appreciate any help before things get too much. Thank you!
A B450 board is functional but offers limited VRM cooling compared to newer models. Your existing board also lacks optimal cooling, though it’s still usable. For future upgrades, consider the B550 for better performance. Neither model supports R5 3600 without a BIOS update, which requires an older CPU. You can run it with your first-gen Ryzen if you keep that setup. Memory and CPU choices look solid. A new PSU is advisable; if you upgrade to an SSD, opt for NVME options like Crucial P1 for better value.
I’m likely to delay getting the B550 over the B450. I bought the exact model you suggested from pcpartpicker.com. I probably won’t even look at the B450, just keep it until I receive the B550 and then return it. For the PSU, someone else advised me I could wait now, but upgrading seems a better idea later. Do you have any other power supply suggestions besides the one linked? Thank you for your assistance.
Yeah, I'd personally wait for B550 as well, worth it. Launch has been slow mostly due to COVID though so it may take a few weeks still for stock to come in. If you are going to use the 1060 for a bit longer than it is "okay" to use your current PSU for the meantime, but if you get a new GPU get a new PSU as well. Only thing being that stock on PSU's is drying up so anything else I would recommend will cost more.
No need to stress about maintaining anything now; I’m starting fresh with a brand new build. Featuring a 1660s model, a new PSU, and SSD setup. After reviewing my previous posts seeking advice, a helpful Reddit user shared they had faced the same issue before and attempted a similar solution. Unfortunately, the rear IO is locked in place by steel from the case, making removal impossible. It seems the case was custom-made for the motherboard, so it won’t fit standard retail boards. I’ve listed my computer for sale at $550, hoping it will attract interest. Thanks for all your support! Feel free to share any additional ideas.
The main idea seems to be removing metal from the rear IO. If you sell your current setup and create a new one, it’s best to focus on the remaining components. For those parts, PCPartPicker Part List works well. The recommended options include: a 500 GB M.2-2280 NVMe SSD for $62.99, an MSI Radeon RX 5700 8 GB MECH OC video card at $329.99, a Thermaltake Versa H18 case for $60.98, and a Corsair CXM 650W power supply for $94.99. Additional items like the Power Supply and fans are also available at competitive prices.