How to upgrade your PC when prices are rising?
How to upgrade your PC when prices are rising?
Hello, here’s what I’m considering for improving my PC setup. Right now I have:
- Intel i7 14700
- PNY VERTO RTX 3050 6GB
- ASUS H610M-K-D4 motherboard
- TeamGROUP UD4 DDR4 3600MHZ RAM 32GB (16x2 kit)
- MSI A550BN power supply
- Deepcool Tower Cooler XFan 120mm
- Ballista ADV 256GB SSD NVMe
- Two 1TB HDDs
I purchased this system in November 2024. Apart from the CPU, GPU, and old HDDs, I assembled it using parts from a store that helped me build it. Back then I had limited knowledge about these components, so I went along with everything they recommended. My upgrade plans stem from three main points:
1. The motherboard needs USB-C support.
2. PCIe 5 could be useful if I want to upgrade my GPU later.
3. I require more storage on the SSD.
My intention is to replace the motherboard, install a liquid cooler, and swap out the existing SSD for a new one. For the SSD, I already own a 1TB WD Black SN850X. The tricky part is the motherboard itself. With prices for RAM going up sharply, my choices are narrowing. Initially I thought about getting DDR5 RAM, but now most people advise sticking with DDR4 for now. So I’m considering these options:
1. Keep the current build for another 6 months to a year before deciding.
2. Purchase a decent DDR4 motherboard, so I don’t need to buy new RAM, but I keep thinking about it because a DDR5 board might come with DDR5 RAM in the future—maybe I should save and upgrade later.
3. Buy a DDR5 motherboard and a 16GB single stick of DDR5 RAM, which is what I can afford right now. If I go this route, I’ll get that 16GB stick first, then plan to buy another 32GB later when I have more funds. This means I’d be compromising performance for now.
As an interior designer, I mostly use the PC at work, but occasionally I use it at home for tasks like browsing, word processing, and some games such as Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail. I’m looking for guidance on which upgrade path suits me best.
Thank you in advance.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer! It's recommended that you format your threads with the information requested here. *How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice* This guide is based on an adaptation of the Animal's *How To Ask For New Build Advice* post. I developed it because many users are currently seeking upgrade advice, both in this forum and on the CPU forums, and I believe... forums. can provide some context to your challenges and encourage helpful suggestions from the community. 1| Whatever we're dealing with, it won't change in the next 5~10 years. If it fails, it's likely within the next 2 years, according to my estimates, but don't rely on those predictions. 2| You're already in a solid position with your DDR4 RAM setup. Even if you upgraded your motherboard to a Z690/Z790 chipset, the best you can do is overclock the RAM to DDR4-3600MHz and fine-tune its timings, since your processor is locked. 3| Regarding the scenarios you described at the start of your post, you're overcomplicating things and possibly spending more than necessary. To add, adding just one more stick of RAM will only negatively impact your system's overall performance. One step forward could mean several steps back. You didn't mention the make, model, and age of your PSU. Please include the case make and model as well. Deepcool offers a range of tower coolers; which one do you currently use? Moved thread from Components section to Systems section.
Hello, thanks for your guidance. I've added more details such as the cooler model, PSU model, and the time of purchase. Your suggestions are helping me decide on option number two. I believe the DDR4 RAM is still in decent condition. Yes, I'm planning to upgrade the motherboard to reach 3600MHz, as the current one only supports 3200MHz. This should be a small step and won't cause much impact. Additionally, I want to use my new SSD which needs a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot to maximize its performance.
The SSD upgrade is expected to significantly boost performance. Using a 256GB SATA SSD, which is mostly sufficient for your operating system, compared to a 1TB NVME M.2 drive, will result in a clear improvement. This might be all you require at the moment.
Although your motherboard isn’t ideal, as long as it supports your CPU, its influence on overall speed is minimal. It doesn’t make sense to upgrade from a DDR4 board to another DDR4 board, particularly since you’re starting from a very basic setup and won’t be able to upgrade your CPU much further.
This suggests spending around $100-180 on a new motherboard for essentially no advantage, with little real gain. A DDR5 LGA1700 would offer a substantial RAM upgrade, but the overall benefit would be reduced if you only install one stick, which could lead to compatibility issues down the line. Over six months, your RAM situation is likely to worsen, so consider these options:
1. If you face performance problems or your motherboard struggles with your CPU, opt for the most affordable compatible board that meets your needs.
2. Save up until you can upgrade to a completely new platform, CPU, motherboard, and RAM—possibly the next generation of technology arriving in the next year or two.
The SSD is actually NVMe, but because the motherboard only supports PCIe 3.0 for the M.2 slot, switching to the new WD Black SN850X will limit its speed to half of what it can normally achieve.
However, following everyone's advice here has made me reflect. I might skip the motherboard upgrade. In fact, I placed an order yesterday, but the shop told me it’s out of stock and refunded me. This could be a sign from the universe or a warning not to push further.
Maybe I should invest in something more practical, like an AIO cooler or a new SATA SSD instead of my HDD. But I’m not in a hurry and could wait a little longer.
I’m generally fine with my current setup, but I’m considering an upgrade because I thought my PC could improve. Still, since I have no major concerns about performance here, I’ll reconsider my plans now.
Appreciate your help!
Hey there,
Here are some thoughts:
1. Get an add-in card. Simple and straightforward.
2. Purchasing a mobo seems unnecessary. To start, all GPUs, regardless of level, work forward and backward with a given mobo. Only the most powerful GPUs from recent years can fully utilize a PCIe 3.0 bus. The performance drop from PCIe 5 to 3 is minimal—around 5-10%. Not worth planning around.
3. Invest in one or two high-capacity SATA SSDs. Sure, NVMe/M2 drives are fast, but standard SATA SSDs lag behind by just a few seconds for quick boot times and general responsiveness. Faster PCIe NVMe drives would significantly cut load times in games, especially if direct storage is used. If those factors matter, it’s worth considering.
Regarding your overall system and current prices for RAM and NVMe drives, the value isn’t great. Your setup is decent, but a mid-range GPU with a better PSU would be ideal.