Starting this time is the first upgrade in several years—what should be the optimal upgrade route?
Starting this time is the first upgrade in several years—what should be the optimal upgrade route?
Hi, I haven’t been closely tracking the hardware trends or the releases over the past few years. I stopped paying much attention to those developments when I bought my GPU. My system has performed well so far, but it’s starting to feel outdated. I’m seeking guidance on the best upgrade route.
Currently, I have a 2080 Super Ryzen 5 5600 with 16GB DDR4 3200 MHz, running MSI B450 Tomahawk. I really enjoy good graphics for gaming, though I didn’t prioritize high refresh rate displays. My goal is to get my games running at 4K at 60fps. The 2080 Super has been reliable for a long time, but it’s beginning to show its age. I’m considering whether to upgrade the GPU or explore other options.
I’ve also heard about DDR5 RAM and AM5 CPUs being recommended now. I’m curious about how these changes would impact my performance. My CPU seems fine, especially since the GPU handles the heavy lifting at higher resolutions. However, if the new RAM and architecture bring real benefits, I’d be open to future-proofing.
For more demanding games, I’d like to play titles like Forza Horizon 5, Black Ops 6, Oblivion Remaster, Cyberpunk, Red Dead Redemption 2, and I want some flexibility to stream these over Discord or while watching YouTube (just need to close other tabs to avoid stuttering).
My budget is around $1000 CAD maximum, but if performance is what matters most, it’s likely the GPU will be the top priority. The 2080 Super was my biggest investment so far, but if I can’t get more performance for less, I might consider upgrading later this winter.
Current build specs:
CPU: 2080 super Ryzen 5 5600
RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200
BIOS: MSI B450 Tomahawk
PSU age: [insert age]
Motherboard: [insert model]
GPU: [insert model]
Chassis: [insert model]
OS: [insert OS]
Monitor: [insert model]
Budget: ~1000$ CAD max
Location: Canada
Preferred purchase site: [insert preference]
Here’s the detailed information you provided.
CPU model is Ryzen 5 5600 with an included cooler.
Motherboard is MSI B450 Tomahawk.
Memory is 16GB DDR4 3200 MHz RAM.
Storage includes a WD Black SN750 1TB SSD and a 2TB HDD.
GPU is an MSI Gaming X Trio 2080 Super.
Power supply is an 850W Seasonic Gold model purchased in 2019.
Chassis is Phantek P300.
Operating system is Windows 11.
Monitor setup includes Dell models such as 3221QS, P1230, LG 27GP83B, LG 24GNRL, and Wacom Cintiq 16.
Preferred purchasing options are from places like Best Buy, Amazon, and Canada, with PCs being the most common choice.
It seems like you're evaluating whether a significant platform upgrade is feasible or if a graphics card and power supply refresh would be more practical within the next year. I believe it's not worth prioritizing the AM4 configuration right now; instead, focusing on upgrading to AM5 and ensuring at least 32GB of RAM would be more beneficial. Even with a graphics card, the AM4 setup is likely to limit performance. It might not be possible to achieve meaningful improvements on such a budget.
would you need to swap out your power supply? i was hoping to use the one i bought for a long time. gpus have been getting more powerful since the 2000 series, but i didn’t think it’d be that bad. currently, i’m really limited by my gpus in games, so that should come first. i’d like to take advantage of any sales if they happen, but i think the gpu will still cost around 800. from what i’ve seen about the am5, an upgrade would be about 500 (assuming i choose something like a 7600, but i’m not sure what’s best). maybe i could manage it after selling my 2080 super.
You should still be able to sell your current GPU for at least 320 CAD (perhaps even more).
If we factor that into the budget, we can discuss better upgrades.
Your PSU should be okay – though you might want to specify a particular model.
It’s reasonable to assume any 850W gold-rated Seasonic unit would work for this build.
It should also last at least another 4-5 years.
Here’s a suggestion (assuming you add around 300 CAD after selling your 2080 Super to the budget):
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 3 GHz 8-Core Processor
($391.00 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler:
ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE 58 CFM CPU Cooler
($49.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Memory:
G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
($74.98 @ Memory Express)
Video Card:
Asus PRIME GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB Video Card
($769.98 @ Amazon Canada)
Total:
$1285.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts where applicable
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2025-06-29 22:44 EDT-0400
Having roughly 12GB of VRAM might feel a bit limited for such high resolution, but with sensible settings it should be manageable.
You could also consider upgrading your memory, cooler, and graphics card – you can push your 5600 to its limits (within reasonable bounds) and invest in a better card with 16GB of VRAM. The processor isn’t a major issue and won’t be a significant bottleneck at this resolution.
I would simply upgrade the GPU. I’d skip the trouble of swapping out the CPU and adding unnecessary DDR4 RAM that you might not need later, especially if gaming or graphics is your main focus. Just pick an RTX 5070 (or the Ti version if you want to splurge), or go with an RX 9070XT if you’re okay with an AMD option. I’m not sure a Ryzen 5600 would be too slow for those GPUs in most current games. In a couple of years you could upgrade your whole system to AM5 and still keep that GPU. My Ryzen 3700X CPU is already fast enough to prevent the RTX 5070 from throttling on Ultra settings in nearly every game.
A fresh graphics card offering 16GB of VRAM is ideal for 4K gaming. Consider the 9070xt, 5070 Ti, or hold off for the 5070 Super.
I would increase your RAM to 32GB and switch to an RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti based on availability. These upgrades should extend your gaming experience for several more years.
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapph...ro/34.html
PCPartPicker Part List
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($74.98 @ Memory Express)
Video Card: Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB ($939.99 @ Memory Express)
Total: $1014.97
Prices cover shipping, taxes, and any applicable discounts
Created by PCPartPicker
2025-06-30 11:16 EDT-0400
5070 with 12gb ram might not be ideal. Recommend 16 gb of vram and a 5070ti or 9070xt for gaming in 4k. The asrock 9070xt taichi, being OC, delivers performance similar to a non-OC 5070ti... but at 200 to 300 GBP less.