Upgrading an older gaming setup for high 1440 or medium 4k performance is possible.
Upgrading an older gaming setup for high 1440 or medium 4k performance is possible.
Hi all, thank you for your support and any guidance you can offer. Please see the details below.
Approximate Purchase Date:
Flexible – from now until boxing day
Budget Range:
Best to stay under $1000 CAD after shipping and tax, though I’d prefer to upgrade only a bit more if it makes sense for saving for a bigger upgrade later.
System Usage from Most to Least Important:
Gaming
Are you purchasing a monitor?
No – currently using a 4K TV as my monitor
Parts to Upgrade:
This is the section I’m uncertain about.
What I own now:
GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 970
Mobo: Gigabyte Z97X-SLI
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR
PSU: Antec HCG 750M
Do you need to purchase an operating system?
Maybe
Please keep in mind that if you’re using an OEM Windows license, you’ll need a new one when buying a new motherboard.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts:
Ideally, somewhere in Canada
Location: Victoria BC, Canada
Parts Preferences:
Open to suggestions
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe
Monitor Resolution:
My monitor is 4K, but I’d probably play most games in a 1440p windowed setting
Additional Comments:
I’m considering this as a temporary solution before a major upgrade. I want to retain as much of my current setup as possible. Upgrading the GPU to something capable of 1440 would also be appealing if it’s more affordable, though I’d likely need to replace several components for any noticeable improvement.
Most importantly, why are you upgrading?
I’m struggling with performance in newer titles like BG3 and hope to get better results.
Thank you very much for your assistance!
Your setup has been struggling for some time. The 4th gen i5 from the mid-20xx is outdated. Skip the graphics card and invest in a much newer system.
It's clear you support a complete system refresh. If you're aiming for 1440p or 4K at least 30 FPS, you're likely expecting around 1800 CAD for parts, factoring in any storage drive replacements.
OP save and purchase a completely new pc. Just utilize the old one as a backup.
Well, that's quite clear! Are there any components from your present setup outside of hard drives you could reuse? Or should we consider letting it go and start fresh? Is it more practical to purchase individual parts now, or would buying a ready-made unit be preferable? I recall the last few times I assembled it myself.
to keep the 4690k running, adding more RAM would be wise since 8 gb isn’t sufficient anymore. 16 gb is the baseline, but many opt for 32 gb on a fresh build.
For a more powerful GPU, the 970 isn’t strong enough for modern AAA titles. At 1440p, you’d likely need a 7800xt from AMD or a 4070 series from Nvidia.
The CPU will still limit the game experience, but you should still manage to play it.
However, as others have pointed out, a completely new system is necessary for modern gaming.
It's really time to try something different. If you had the chance to get the computer when the CPU came out, a decade of use is quite impressive. At this price, making it yourself might be more economical.
Similar upgrades could be made later, such as an i7 14700. The 6650XT isn't suitable for 4K, but it could handle 1440p at 60 fps. GPU Benchmarks and Hierarchy 2023: Graphics Cards Ranked – We've tested numerous GPU benchmarks across Nvidia, AMD, and Intel cards, organizing them in our detailed ranking system. Visit for more info.
I recommend purchasing a completely new device and starting over. Including the SSDs. In my forum thread, you mentioned a 10600K from last year and a 2600k model. I wanted the older one to remain functional, so I have something ready for continued gaming with the Discord community even if the new one fails. Build it yourself or opt for a ready-made option—depends on what you can choose. Hmm, if you're aiming for 1440p, consider a 12th generation Intel processor or higher.
Thank you for your message. Here are the answers to your questions: