Need guidance on maintaining a very old rig?
Need guidance on maintaining a very old rig?
I’ll begin by noting that the first thing I’m planning to purchase is a CPU. That means I’ll also need a motherboard and RAM, something I haven’t considered in about five years. Recently, while playing Apex Legends on PC with my fiancé, I received a pop-up saying the game wouldn’t launch because my CPU couldn’t handle it. My system is an AMD Phenom II x6 1100T Black Edition—still a solid choice from nine years ago. Today it feels outdated. Now I’m trying to figure out the best path forward. I’m on a budget, so I won’t be splurging on high-end models like i9 or Threadripper. I’m leaning toward AMD since they seem to be gaining ground in my price range. If I could stay under $300 for this upgrade, I’d be thrilled. Even buying used wouldn’t stop me. My main dilemma is choosing between a Ryzen Gen 2 or Gen 3. I understand both will be big improvements, but I don’t want to jump ahead and miss the current wave. RAM-wise, I’m thinking around 6 gigabytes, maybe 8 if a deal exists. I’m still unsure where the optimal performance balance lies. I do know Ryzen performs best with fast RAM, and my monitor is still 1080p. Thanks!
Ryzen 2nd gen has limitations in achieving high frame rates, often failing to exceed 100fps consistently. For those focused on ultra-high refresh rate gaming, the 3rd gen offers a clear advantage. If your gameplay is around 60fps, the 2nd gen works adequately and is more budget-friendly. Without dual-channel support, you should aim for at least 8GB RAM; a 16GB option is reasonable given the availability of 3000MHz modules for around $50.
What is your present motherboard? Used market: Ryzen 5 1600 $75-90 B350 motherboard $50-60 8gb 3000 ram $30-40 Between $155 and $190 Otherwise I'd wait for BF deals as I expect a 2600 or 2700/b450 for $150ish and add $60 for your choice of 16gb ddr4 3200.....add $40-60 for a new PSU.
Good thought to wait for Black Friday. My current mobile isn’t worth much. It’s an Asus ROG Crosshair IV Formula. I doubt my CPU will be valuable enough to sell. Just throw it away at the local e-waste drop-off. Thanks for the Black Friday suggestion!
You might want to check if it works with FX, and if so, consider purchasing an FX chip for a small fee. It should run Apex, though performance won't be great. It should cost no more than $20.
It will, since a pure blood ROG board is a high-end system where even the CPU might be able to access data if you're willing to sell it.