Would improving my GPU be a good idea given my existing setup?
Would improving my GPU be a good idea given my existing setup?
I have a budget of €800 and considered waiting for the 50 series Super cards to upgrade my GPU and Power supply, but I'm unsure if the GPU will be a sizable upgrade since I currently play at 1080p.
I play a lot of competitive games and see my GPU reaching 100% more often than my CPU, though people point out the CPU would bottleneck any of these 50 series cards.
Additionally, I'd pair an 850-watt PSU with the system.
(I'm not against getting an AMD card either, but since they're way above MSRP in my region (Portugal) it hasn't been my first choice, just looking for suggestions and advice)
Current specs:
Motherboard: Asus Prime B660 Plus
GPU:Rtx 3060 12 vram
CPU: i5 12400f
PSU: Seasonic Core GC 500 500W 80 Plus Gold
RAM: 32GB DDR4 3200
Check your current GPU performance by running a few games at high/ultra settings and recording the average FPS. Repeat the test with lower graphical settings to see if FPS improves. If FPS rises significantly (more than 5 FPS), a better GPU will help. If not, CPU limitations may be the issue. Also note the PSU model or make, its age, whether it’s new or used/refurbished. There are only a few 500W PSUs from Seasonic available, totaling eight. Depending on your setup, you might be fine without an upgrade, but if not, replacing the PSU is urgent—even without a new GPU.
In Portugal, I typically source my parts from Amazon.es, PCComponentes.pt, pcdiga.com, and globaldata.pt
It's a Seasonic Core GC 500 500W 80 Plus Gold, purchased new and used to be nearly five years ago. I was considering the MSI MAG A850GL, which costs around 100 euros.
I plan to run those tests once I return to my PC, thank you.
I've checked it and seen a big jump in fps from certain games (up to 90 fps more on average), and at high settings the CPU doesn't hit full usage while the GPU is near that level. At low settings, the CPU caps before the GPU does, but both are still strong.
Portugal
PCPartPicker List de Componentes
Tarjeta de Vídeo:
*
ASRock Challenger OC Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB
(€395.50 @ Switch Technology)
Alimentador:
*
MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 II 750 W Certificado Gold 80+ Total Modular ATX
(€92.61 @ PC Componentes)
Custo Total: €488.11
Os preços abrangem frete, impostos e descontos aplicáveis
*Melhor oferta selecionada de acordo com critérios definidos
Gerado por
PCPartPicker
17-08-2025 15:20 WEST+0100
Espanha
Tarjeta de Vídeo:
*
Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB
(€385.80 @ Neobyte)
Alimentador:
*
MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 II 750 W Certificado Gold 80+ Total Modular ATX
(€93.46 @ Amazon Espana)
Custo Total: €479.26
Os preços incluem frete, impostos e descontos quando disponíveis
*Melhor oferta selecionada de acordo com critérios definidos
Gerado por
PCPartPicker
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
*
AMD Ryzen 5 7500F 3.7 GHz 6-Core OEM/Tray Processor
(€150.22 @ reichelt elektronik)
CPU Cooler:
*
ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE 58 CFM CPU Cooler
(€41.96 @ Amazon Espana)
Motherboard:
*
ASRock B850 Pro-A WiFi ATX AM5 Motherboard
(€174.00 @ LIFE Informatica)
Memory:
*
Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(€99.99 @ Amazon Espana)
Video Card:
*
Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB Video Card
(€385.80 @ Neobyte)
Power Supply:
*
MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 II 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(€93.46 @ Amazon Espana)
Overall cost: €945.43
Costs cover shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected lowest-priced items based on criteria*
Created by
PCPartPicker
2025-08-17 16:52 CEST+0200
Yeah... the PSU is of average standard, almost low grade. Still Tier B.
But it comes with a 7-year warranty, so about two years of use left.
Thinking about the 8x 500W units from Seasonic, then (in terms of build quality): PRIME Fanless PX, Focus SGX, Core GX, Core GM, Core GC, S12II, S12III and A12.
Average quality PSU. Tier B.
For a gaming rig, a proper PSU should be Tier A. Examples include: Seasonic Focus/Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium.
PSU tier list:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...JW...1973454078
Tier A will suffice, while Tier A+ is better.
My three PCs are powered only by Tier A PSUs. Specifically, I use Seasonic PRIME 650 Titanium (A+), Seasonic PRIME Ultra 650 Titanium (A+), and Seasonic Focus PX-550 (A). Full details with pictures are in my profile.
You’re limited by the GPU, and a better one can match the same FPS boost you see.
Here’s a Nvidia option with a much superior Tier A+ PSU:
PCPartPicker Part List
Video Card:
Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB PCIe x8 Video Card
(€469.90 @ PCDIGA)
Power Supply:
Corsair RM750x (2024) 750 W Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(€146.90 @ PCDIGA)
Total: €616.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2025-08-17 15:54 WEST+0100
RTX 5060 Ti vs RX 9060 XT;
Performance depends on the game.
Source:
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapph...oc/34.html
In my opinion, I’d choose a Nvidia card.
Nvidia drivers tend to be more optimized than Radeon ones (fewer stutters).
Also, the RTX 5060 Ti supports DLSS 4, which is superior to Radeon’s FSR 4.
On 4K resolution, DLSS 4 matches FSR 4 in image quality, but on 1440p it still edges out.
Of course, there are game compatibility issues for both.
A good comparison article exists:
https://www.techspot.com/article/2976-am...upscaling/
It’s a lengthy read, but it covers both models well and mentions game support.
Also, a short 6-minute video comparing them is available if you prefer watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkGCwiEIdOA
In summary, DLSS 4 offers a slight edge, but the deciding factor remains game support.
When you have only 65 titles that work with FSR 4, while around 200 support FSR 3.1 and easily 700+ games with DLSS 4, is there much to weigh when choosing?
RTX 5060 Ti - DLSS 4 (or FSR 3.1)
RX 9060 XT - FSR 4 (or FSR 3.1)
Even if you rely on frame generation and use FSR/DLSS for higher FPS and better visuals,
There are still considerations.
If you’re comfortable with native performance and want to avoid extra features, I’d opt for the built-in.
Personally, I’d go for native. 60 FPS is sufficient for my needs, and I can hit 40 FPS too.
I also play smaller/indie games (including pixel art) and don’t prioritize high-end AAA titles with complex graphics, where frame generation and/or FSR/DLSS would be unnecessary.
Another point is power usage;
RTX 3060 12GB - 170W
RX 9060 XT 16GB - 160W
RTX 5060 Ti 16GB - 180W
A 750W Corsair RMx unit fits comfortably, both in terms of wattage and build quality.
With the RMx model, you’re looking at a lifespan of about ten years (it includes a 10-year warranty).