Should you enhance your existing computer or construct an entirely new one?
Should you enhance your existing computer or construct an entirely new one?
I’m considering either replacing my computer’s central processing unit and graphics card or constructing an entirely new system. My current machine, approximately six years old, is showing its age. If I were to build a new rig, I’d need to determine if any components from my previous setup could be reused, particularly regarding the RAM and power supply, which were refreshed about two years ago due to older parts failing.
Here’s a breakdown of my existing configuration:
* MSI 990FXA-GD80 V2 AM3+ AMD 990FX + SB950 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard – [https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6813130649](https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6813130649)
* AMD FX-6300 Vishera 6-Core 3.5 GHz Socket AM3+ 95W FD6300WMHKBOX Desktop Processor – [https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6819113286](https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6819113286)
* SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7970 DirectX 11 100351SR 3GB 384-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card OC with Boost – [https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6814202008](https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6814202008)
* CORSAIR CS-M Series CS750M 750W 80 PLUS GOLD Active PFC Haswell Ready ATX12V & EPS12V Semi Modular Power Supply – [https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6817139061](https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6817139061)
* CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1600C9 – [https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6820233299](https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6820233299)
* Approximate Purchase Date: Within a month
* Budget Range: Upgrading $500-$600, New Rig under $1,000
* System Usage (Most to Least): Gaming, Streaming/Movies
* Are you buying a monitor: No
* Parts to Upgrade: CPU, GPU & other recommended components
* Do you need to buy OS: No
* Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg
* Location: Ripon, CA, USA
* Parts Preferences: AMD processors, prefer MSI brand, but not fixed on any specific manufacturer.
* Overclocking: Yes
* SLI or Crossfire: Unsure of the differences
* Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
* Current Monitor: MSI Optix G27C2 27" Curved FHD 1080p 1ms (MPRT) 144Hz 110% sRGB Widescreen LED Backlight LCD/LED AMD FreeSync Gaming Monitor 300 cd/m2 HDMI DisplayPort DVI, Tilt – [https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6824475003](https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...6824475003)
Additional Notes: I’m looking for budget-friendly options, but also want a new system capable of handling almost any game smoothly, excluding VR. I’m interested in running two smaller graphics cards instead of one large one, and would like to know if this is feasible with my current motherboard.
The Primary Reason for Upgrading: I can no longer achieve maximum settings in games, experience screen tearing and frame rate drops, and frequently need to reduce graphics quality to watch streams or movies.
Thank you for your assistance.
For that amount of money, you could swap out the central processing unit, random access memory, and motherboard. This package includes a set (at $272). Simply add 16 GB of RAM, sourced from the motherboard’s Qualified Vendor List, and your upgrade will cost significantly less than $500. The system comprises an AMD RYZEN 5 2600 with six cores operating at 3.4 GHz (up to 3.9 GHz boost) and an MSI ARSENAL GAMING B450 TOMAHAWK AM4 motherboard utilizing AMD B450 technology. [https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBund...bo.3885151]
Your power supply unit is the sole component you might retain from your previous setup. However, you’d likely be able to market your entire old system as a whole unit instead of selling it for individual parts. Personally, I would sell the entire computer and use the proceeds to fund a new one—there’s simply nothing valuable from it that could be utilized with current technology.
With a budget of one thousand dollars, you could confidently purchase an external enclosure, a Samsung 860 Evo SSD with 500 GB of storage, and a graphics card for approximately five hundred fifty dollars.