Significant decrease in frame rate and frequent performance dips.
Significant decrease in frame rate and frequent performance dips.
I completely understand, the PC is quite old. I've been using it for a while now, and it's time for some upgrades. I'd like to spend a bit but as cheaply as possible, preferably without upgrading the GPU if possible. Would you recommend affordable RAM and SSD upgrades? (UK based) Also, a CPU upgrade isn't necessary right now, but I can always get one later. SSDs are getting more affordable lately, and RAM kits are also reasonably priced.
CPU is moving extremely slowly, memory and storage are likely the main issues. The Vishera Arch didn’t perform well when it launched in 2012 (I own an FX-8350). I’m not trying to be rude, but this old gear makes it hard to play modern games smoothly.
It seems like the RAM isn't too slow either—it has three 4GB modules, and I thought it would be fast enough, which is a solid beginning!
The GPU is working well so far (still quite solid). Great to see another UK user. For the RAM, check out the sticks listed below—they’re the fastest DDR2 options I’ve found. If you want something affordable for a SSD, go with one that includes a DRAM cache, such as the Crucial MX500 500GB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD—up to 560MB/s. Alternatively, you can opt for a cheaper model with less capacity if you don’t need much storage for games.
You’ll require two upgrades for the new platform, meaning a fresh CPU, MOBO, and RAM are still necessary. What’s the cost?
The current RAM speed is 1300mhz, still a solid setup. Upgrading to a 250gb SSD sounds smart, especially since you only play a few games and Windows installs leave plenty of space. Keeping the 2tb HDD as a backup makes sense for other data needs. For the next CPU, a mid-range option would be ideal—something like an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 would balance performance and budget.