Looking at upgrading parts on my custom built pc

meaks89

meaks89

meaks89

Associate
Joined
5 Jun 2025
Posts
24
Location
UK
Hi,

I built my PC a few years ago and it's been solid for me, however it's becoming a little old now and I want to bring it up to date a little. I feel if I play a game like Tropico 6 it makes the machine become a little bit loud (hoover like), I'm feeling that maybe it's being pushed with the graphics? Any advice on how you would upgrade my pc, where to begin, I would appreciate the advice.

Ryzen 5 3600xt 6 core
32gb ram
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
224GB SSD Kingston and 1tb HDD
64 bit operating system


Thanks
 
Gray2233 said:
You're way over the recommended requirements for Tropico 6, it sounds more like your hardware is getting hot. Are there any performance issues or is it just the noise?

When was the last time you gave your PC a good clean? Repasting the GPU might help too given its age.
Click to expand...
I am due to give it clean to be honest and did think this could be contributing to the issue.
But equally I'm thinking where should I be thinking for giving the machine a boost, I don't need mega heavy graphics, not for how I use a pc nowadays. Is it worth adding some cooling elements?
 
Corsair CC-9011023-WW Carbide Series 200R Compact ATX Performance Computer Case -
Graphics card temp with Tropico loaded - seems to rise to 80 degrees
Cpu got to 81 then Started to cool to 70

Soon as I turn Tropico off GPU decreases at time of writing (still decreasing) 47

Motherboard seems high at 63 degrees


Running with one fan.

Guess I need to increase cooling?
 
Sorry I was reading the temps from speccy.
ASUSTek ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING (AM4) 70 degrees
GPU is Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB - now down to 35 (been sat idol)

Well I completed Tropico 5 and naturally went to Tropico 6, game is a bit of an uplift in graphics between the two. So never really noticed the noise.
 
Gray2233 said:
If you're happy with performance you can look at resolving your heating issues, the noise you're hearing is related to the fans on your CPU and/or GPU I'd guess.

If you're not sure about what CPU cooler you have, could you take a picture of the inside of your case so that we can see it?

Otherwise, as mentioned by Tetras we can spec you a new build or upgrade which would help.

Edit: @tamzzy beating me to it. :p

Edit 2: I actually had a 200R years back and while it was good for the time it's a touch dated by todays standards, so-so airflow too if you didn't add a couple of fans.
Click to expand...
I will do the test and give it a clean out over the next two days, but out of interest what cases, fans/CPU fans would you recommend
 
tamzzy said:
that fan is the wrong way round, it should be an exhaust. not an intake


definitely swap out this cpu cooler. the stock cooler ain't great
something like this is more than sufficient: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/thermalright-assassin-king-120-se-cpu-air-cooler-coo-tlr-03267.html
Click to expand...
Thank you, I was sure I had it wrong way.

Not done the test, decided to give it a clean and the paste has dried up. I've decided to upgrade the CPU cooler so I'm not sure about firing it back up until I fit the new cooler.


I think I will have a look into a newer GPU (I don't need anything flash but think mine now old), anything else you think I should maybe look into adding or upgrading? Just to keep it at a fairly moderate level/ future proofing like the GPU?
 
Well I haven't given it all much thought, so you think I should upgrade to cpu to what? Ryzen 7?9?
What GPU should I be looking at? I don't play heavy gaming graphics or watch anything that needs the best going.


tamzzy said:
you have a very good base system
the only thing that needs upgrading is the CPU, GPU (and SSD) + heatsink
what is your budget?
Click to expand...
 
Ok thank you..I was going to say right now budget is about 250 but over next 6 weeks that could increase to 500. So upgrading is going to be a bit of a slow burn project. Was hoping to look into it more in December, but now I've got the bug I think I will look to bring the project forward
 
Tetras said:
Big enough to do the CPU and graphics if you want to.

By the way, if you do go for the graphics, measure your case. I can't see clearly in the pictures, but it isn't very big and I don't know if the Pulse is smaller or larger than your 1060. If it is much larger, it looks like it won't fit.
Click to expand...
I'm open to upgrading case as taking things out, added to a few other bits n bobs I could knock up another pc for the kids.

Was my motherboard fine or that need upgrading with the GPU if it was a bigger unit? (At this point it's nearly a new pc )
 
Thank you, the CPU cooler being the most important thing here to get and thermal paste, what order of priority should I be looking?
 
tamzzy said:
depends on whether you will be paying delivery fees or not.
if you are, then i would split the purchase into two parts:

seeing as you have £250 right this moment, then you can't get the gpu now...so:
(1) 5600, cooler, ssd
in 6 weeks, then (2) 9060XT

the reason i would buy the cpu and cooler together is so that you don't have to remove the cooler again, else you'd have to do it twice if you bought the new CPU separately to the cooler.
unfortunately, because of budget constraints, you won't see the true performance benefits going from a 3600XT to a 5600 as the 1060 will be the bottleneck. you'd only see the CPU upgrade benefit once you get the 9060XT...in which case, the CPU + GPU combo will provide a tremendous performance uplift

the SSD is a given, if you currently run your games off the hard drive, you will see a massive loading times decrease when you run your games off the new nvme ssd - this is independent of the combination of cpu/gpu that you have
Click to expand...
Thank you, what a brilliant forum, really really helpful.
So to upgrade the CPU I would need to update the bios, putting the update on the flash drive and then into the bios and updating from the flash
 
Thanks tamzy, do you think i can add another fan or two? If so would they need a splitter, which led me down the rabbit hole of looking into cases, especially as i will soon have spare components so will nearly have a second rig
 
Gray2233 said:
You can get some very decent cases for fairly cheap with excellent airflow, dust filters aren't always included at the entry level however.

My basket at OcUK:

Total: £39.95 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

There's currently a sale on some of the Kolink cases, mesh fronted + comes with 4 pre-installed fans. Not a bad price for what you get to be honest, although whether or not it's to your taste or not is another matter.
Click to expand...
Thank you Gray, I don't mind that, ticks a lot of the boxes that I like
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom