What aspects should I prioritize for upgrading?
What aspects should I prioritize for upgrading?
He makes a valid observation. For instance, if you have a microcenter nearby, they often offer bundled offers. Right now, you can purchase a z790 board, i5 12600kf, and 16gb ddr4 for 250. They had the same offer with an i7 12700k for 329. Many others do too, but you could take this approach and possibly sell your old parts as a kit for 150-200.
You can test the CPU independently to assess performance, avoiding a full platform swap if you prefer. RAM speed likely won’t significantly impact results with non-demanding applications like Office or basic media editing. The 5700X offers roughly half the speed of the 1700X, and the older cooler should function fine.
I was aiming for about $300 at the moment, and I think a GPU is likely not necessary. Would it make sense to purchase something like a 1080 for around $125? I wasn't sure if that would add value alongside the other items.
It seems investing in a new graphics card might be worthwhile? I have a Micro Center nearby, and they currently offer some AMD and Intel bundles. Are these options preferred or just based on personal choice? Some come with 16GB of DDR4, but do most people choose 32GB? Is DDR4 still suitable with DDR5 available?
Also, would any of this require a more powerful PSU?
Regarding cooling, would it be better with Intel or would I need a different one? I currently have this model.
I'm guessing I might need a different mounting bracket or something similar?
Thanks again for your assistance!
$300 is not enough to buy a new gaming PC. The budget is tight but because you are reusing many parts it's possible to buy a intel motherboard that has room for future CPU upgrades. There are two i can think of.
If your PSU is not too old, you can keep it but
if it's out of warranty it's not wise
.
A GPU for $300 is not going to be enough improvement.
The problem is that your CPU can only send the data to the GPU so quickly. A better GPU could process the graphics faster but would still have to wait for the CPU.
This is why some of us here suggest going with a new computer, because your existing CPU+motherboard combo cannot be upgraded much. A 1080 would be a quick & dirty improvement on your RX580, but that's about it.
No. Put the $125 towards a new GPU.
Reason is the CPU limit as mentioned above
I think it would be worth it in the long run.
Check out the Microcenter bundles. If you're unsure why not ask here? Sometimes a junk item is part of a bundle. You know how it is.
32Gb is better but if a bundle has a good price, 16 is acceptable. 16Gb will become a limiting factor in years to come but not yet. A 32Gb DDR4 kit will set you back $50 or less anyway.
DDR4 still good. Very good. If you're buying a new PC on a budget, DDR4 can still last 5-8 years, maybe 10. Depends on how soon software bloat and demanding games drive hardware development.
No, but it's the age of the PSU that is a concern. And the warranty.
You will be limited to a 4060 level GPU, without a new PSU. ...that's not bad.
It says it supports LGA1700 (Intel 12,13,14th gen) and AMD AM4 and AM5. You should look into the box/manual. There is a mounting bracket in there.
Worst case scenario, you'll need $20-40 for a new tower cooler.
No problem, happy to help.
Here are two options:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i5-12600K 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor
($169.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler:
Deepcool GAMMAXX GT A-RGB 64.5 CFM CPU Cooler
($0.00)
Motherboard:
ASRock Z690 Extreme ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($129.99 @ Amazon)
*** optional Power Supply:
SeaSonic FOCUS GX-750 ATX 3.0 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($89.99 @ B&H)
Total:
$389.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-04-29 14:07 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i3-12100F 3.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor
($94.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
ASRock Z690 Extreme ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($129.99 @ Amazon)
*** optional Power Supply:
SeaSonic FOCUS GX-750 ATX 3.0 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($89.99 @ B&H)
Total:
$314.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-04-29 14:07 EDT-0400
You can see the motherboard specs here:
https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z690 Extreme/index.asp
The main feature is the power delivery actually. This motherboard can drive all 12, 13 and 14th gen intels. In the future, when you have the money you can upgrade to any one of them including i9. So you wont be in the situation where you have to buy a new motherboard or PC anytime soon.
Other features are good. Some very good. For the money, that z690 Extreme lives up to it's name.
The 12600K Intel is a major improvement over your existing Ryzen, and it will not limit any lower or mid tier GPUs.
You can continue to use your RX580, and your frame rates will improve. Graphics quality will be limited by the GPU though.
The 13600K CPU costs around $270 by itself. It would be a monstrous upgrade but it's not something you can afford right now. If you were willing to spend money on it... But as it is, you will have a decent CPU while you scout a good GPU. Maybe one of the new generation, or maybe you find a RTX 40XX, RX7800 or RX7900 GRE on sale.
If you find yourself with a better GPU than your CPU can handle, you can look for upgrades. And that's why i'm ultimately suggesting this motherboard. Because it's super cheap right now and can still handle any current gen Intel you throw at it.
The fact it's DDR4 shouldn't be an issue for a long time.
The other, cheaper option is less of an improvement right now but it still allows for future upgrades.
An i3 12100 is the least powerfull of the current intels and the cheapest. It's also doesn't have any e-cores, but has quite a nice boost clock for it's position in the lineup. With a motherboard that doesn't choke it, it can punch above it's weight.
It's still ultimately a very budget CPU and is only a modest improvement over the one you have.
But if you're limited to $300 you cannot do better.
If you choose this option, you will be looking at a CPU upgrade at the same time as your GPU upgrade. The bright side is that you never spent too much money on the CPU you're replacing.
Just be aware that a 12100F doesn't have integrated graphics, so you will have to reuse the RX580.
Or you can buy the more expensive 12100 -
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qrhFf7/...8071512100
Other CPUs to consider for the z690 Extreme:
13600K -
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/LfNxFT/...071513600k
13600KF -
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/GV...60...71513600kf
14700K -
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/BmWJ7P/...071514700k
The 14700K is out of reach for now, but that may be your CPU some day. The more powerfull i9 14900K is... quite pricy but not
that
much better for the money. But who knows.
What games are you currently playing or interested in? Have you compared your performance with the RX580?
Here’s a revised version of your text:
I’d consider staying with my current setup and exploring alternatives like the Ryzen 5700X (around $175 or less if refurbished), 32GB of recent DDR4 RAM (about $65), and a used GPU for roughly $150 (such as a 1080, 2060, 5700XT, or 6600). I’m not sure which option offers the best value yet, but it would avoid the hassle of replacing the motherboard, installing a new OS, and reconfiguring everything. Since I already use M.2 and SSDs, performance should remain smooth, especially in games.
Thanks again!
Above it was noted that the 5700X3D could consume too much power for my motherboard. How significant is the difference compared to the 5700X? I generally lag behind by a year or two because of budget constraints. Mostly play single-player games. Recently, I've been interested in RE remakes, Control, Hollow Knight, and Ori. I attempted Alan Wake 2 but the system struggled. The kids are into a certain mining game. What kind of comparison with the RX580 would you recommend? I checked userbenchmark.com and compared older models like the 1080, RX 6600, RX 5700XT. They all seem much faster and more affordable. Thanks!
Of those GPUs, 5700xt is under 6600, which equals 1080, and that’s less than 2060. Don’t purchase the 1080 because of its age. The 5700x is about the same as an Intel 12th gen chip, likely the 12600, but there’s no upgrade path beyond that. If you’re fine with that, just note that the next step will be a better mid-range GPU later, then a new build. You might also look at the 5600xt. Here’s a link for reference: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1264504408...1QoO_yZSxW&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
With a quicker CPU, even a used GPU would perform slightly better. However, the difference remains modest.
Yes, you'd have to replace the motherboards, but I view it more as a fresh system setup, using an old case, RAM, etc., again.
The 2060/6600 models outperform the RX 580, and a stronger CPU would bring better results. If even a small boost matters, this option is worth considering. But it could be disappointing.
The improvement here is too minor compared to a 12600K. This processor sits 3 or 4 tiers above the 1700X. Of course, you won't get a new GPU, but swapping from an RX 580 to a 2060 would be at best a sideways move. Swapping a weak card for another weak card isn’t ideal.
A 4060 would offer a different scenario. They cost just under $300.
You face three tough decisions with a $300 budget:
1 - Upgrade your GPU to a 4060, but be limited by the old CPU and motherboard.
2 - Buy a new CPU and motherboard, but graphics quality won’t improve because you kept the RX 580.
3 - Split the options and upgrade both the CPU and GPU.
Option 3 seems reasonable, though the performance gain might not be noticeable.
You likely don’t have enough funds for a complete overhaul, so either save up or upgrade parts of your system.
I suggest going with the z690 motherboard and a 12600K CPU. This keeps your options open for future upgrades and ensures a much faster overall system.
Staying on your current hardware is restricting your choices significantly. A limitation you won’t face if you move to a less restrictive platform.
If you’re hesitant about changing everything, I understand. I’d feel the same way. It’s true you’ll temporarily lose access to your PC, and any issues could be frustrating.
Once it’s built and functions properly, the hassle will fade away. Until then...