Need to help grandson to update ageing system (motherboard, CPU, memory and graphics card).

Mel_P · 12 Dec 2023 at 10:42

A couple of years ago I replaced my PC "internals" and bought a Ryzen 5 3600 and an AMD RX6600 and an MSI Mag B550 Tomahawk motherboard. This released some older kit of mine which I set up in an existing case for my grandson.

The key items in "his" PC are:

- Asus Z170-P motherboard.
- Intel Core I5-6400, 2.7 MHz.
- 12GB DDR4 single channel memory.
- GPU - Radeon RX580 8GB DDR5 memory.
- OS (Windows 10 and / or Linux) on an SSD, with an HDD for extra storage
- 600W Corsair power supply.

He uses it for college work and playing games such as MS Flight Simulator and X-Plane 12. The above system is not really man enough for these games.

He would like to upgrade it but is "financially restricted". I thought we could upgrade it in stages:

1 - keep case and power supply.
2 - upgrade the motherboard, CPU and I suspect the motherboard memory (to 32GB?).
3 - use current Graphics card.
4 - reinstall OS on current SSD.
Run system for a while and test capability / acquire more funds.
5 - if GPU adeqate = all good.
6 - if GPU not adequate, update when funds available.
7 - upgrade case when all parts obtained and operational.

SO - QUESTIONS PLEASE:
1 - what is a "good value" upgrade for the motherboard, CPU and memory for use described above.
2 - what would be a good upgrade for the GPU for the above use.

Advice welcomed, thanks, Mel

mickyflinn · 12 Dec 2023 at 11:05

Games need installed on a ssd really.

What resolution is he gaming at ?

12gb of ddr4 what speed and what size is each stick ?

PSU model ?

New motherboard,CPU and memory is going to cost around £250 .

Tetras · 12 Dec 2023 at 14:10

Mel_P said:
1 - what is a "good value" upgrade for the motherboard, CPU and memory for use described above.
2 - what would be a good upgrade for the GPU for the above use.

By financially restricted, how restricted do you mean? It sounds like going used is likely to be the best option.

The minimum I'd want (for CPU) is something on the level of a 5600 or 12400, otherwise the next upgrade is going to be due too soon. For graphics, nothing less than a 6600, but ideally a 6700 XT or better.

Mel_P · 12 Dec 2023 at 14:22

mickyflinn said:
Games need installed on a ssd really. OK

What resolution is he gaming at ? Resolution - what he is getting how with the Radeon RX580 (this is phase 2 of upgrade)

12gb of ddr4 what speed and what size is each stick ? 2400MHz, pc4 1900 - 3 x 4GB

PSU model ? CX600M modular CP-9020060-UK

New motherboard,CPU and memory is going to cost around £250 . MODEL EXAMPLES PLEASE?

Mel_P · 12 Dec 2023 at 14:23

Tetras said:
By financially restricted, how restricted do you mean? It sounds like going used is likely to be the best option.

The minimum I'd want (for CPU) is something on the level of a 5600 or 12400, otherwise the next upgrade is going to be due too soon. For graphics, nothing less than a 6600, but ideally a 6700 XT or better.

Thanks - what about AMD CPU? or are intel better now?

Tetras · 12 Dec 2023 at 14:27

Mel_P said:
Thanks - what about AMD CPU? or are intel better now?

The Ryzen 5 5600 and i5-12400/12400F performed within a % in TPU's testing, so whichever you can get the cheapest.

AMD AM5 would have the best upgrade potential (e.g. 7500F bundle), but from what you've said, I assume this option would be far too expensive.

Craig_d1 · 12 Dec 2023 at 16:02

£450 for am5 with 7600X, b650e tuf and 32gb ram as a guide...think you need to say how much phase 1 so you can be guided more

mickyflinn · 12 Dec 2023 at 16:57

Mel_P said:
MODEL EXAMPLES PLEASE?

Ryzen 5600
Gigabyte B550M DS3H
16gb or 32gb ddr4 3200mhz/3600mhz £35 to £60

If you need motherboard with WiFi then £20 more MSI MAG B550M Pro-VDH WIFI

Mel_P · 12 Dec 2023 at 18:20

Reading "Next Step Upgrade" above:

Next step upgrade

Hi, I've recently discovered MS Flight Sim and use it in conjunction with Quest 2 VR. I'd like to upgrade to the next step so that I see a difference in the graphics and running speed of the sim. My current spec is as follows and I'd be grateful if someone could recommend what the best approach...

forums.overclockers.co.uk

"Flight Sim likes the 3D cache, so I'd get the 5800X3D for CPU and a ......

Life is too complicated. Thanks for above I will look at prices / budgets over the next few days!

Quartz · 12 Dec 2023 at 18:32

Mel_P said:
Advice welcomed, thanks, Mel

Repeat your generosity of a few years back and get yourself a new PC and give him your old one. Upgrade the CPU to a 5800X3D.

Craig_d1 · 12 Dec 2023 at 19:06

Mel_P said:
Reading "Next Step Upgrade" above:

Next step upgrade

Hi, I've recently discovered MS Flight Sim and use it in conjunction with Quest 2 VR. I'd like to upgrade to the next step so that I see a difference in the graphics and running speed of the sim. My current spec is as follows and I'd be grateful if someone could recommend what the best approach...

forums.overclockers.co.uk

"Flight Sim likes the 3D cache, so I'd get the 5800X3D for CPU and a ......

Life is too complicated. Thanks for above I will look at prices / budgets over the next few days!

true, with a 3090ti, the 7600x averaged 97fps for flight sim at 1080 ultra, whereas the 5800x3d av 107fps....but that's with a 3090ti...lower gpu will narrow that gap. Also consider the 5800x3d costs £330 as is the best gaming cpu you can get for am4 platform....now the 7600x on average over all games is comparable to the 5800x3d, costs £200 which cover the motherboard cost too...then you have the future upgradeability of am5..you'll have the 7800x3d at mo which convincingly beats the 5800x3d, then next year will be the 9000 series launch , then after that will be the 9800x3d i'm guessing after that...
so a lot to think about...
for phase 2 you'll have another dilema..nvidia 4000 series gpu with dlss3 (frame generation....works very well on FS where input lag not so important)...though FSR frame gen is being improved from last vid i thought, so again, might be an option with amd too

Tetras · 12 Dec 2023 at 19:12

Mel_P said:
Reading "Next Step Upgrade" above:

Next step upgrade

Hi, I've recently discovered MS Flight Sim and use it in conjunction with Quest 2 VR. I'd like to upgrade to the next step so that I see a difference in the graphics and running speed of the sim. My current spec is as follows and I'd be grateful if someone could recommend what the best approach...

forums.overclockers.co.uk

"Flight Sim likes the 3D cache, so I'd get the 5800X3D for CPU and a ......

Life is too complicated. Thanks for above I will look at prices / budgets over the next few days!

FYI: When I wrote that, I was thinking of what the OP already had, so from a Ryzen 9 3900 they really needed something meaningful to make it worth their while. In this case, your grandson only has an i5-6400, so there's no need to spend £300+ on the CPU.