Upgrading Existing Gaming Rig

dangermouse425

dangermouse425

dangermouse425

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Joined
16 Aug 2011
Posts
1,147
Location
Reading, Berks
OCUK,

TLDR: Upgrade existing rig? Or save more for a new-build?
Budget: £500
Role: Modern games at medium settings

Looking for upgrade advice for a friend. Looking to play modern games like Space Marine 2 at a decent enough setting, but don't need everything maxed out with all the bells and whistles. Current rig runs Cyberpunk 2077 at basic settings.

Is it worth upgrading the GPU and RAM with a budget of no more than £500? Or is the CPU so old nowaways that it'd be a significant bottleneck?

He's currently only running a 1080 monitor, but want to future proof for a future 1440 monitor upgrade.

CPU: Intel i7 7700K Kaby Lake 4.2Ghz Quad Core
Mobo: ASRock Z270 1151 K
RAM: 16GB HyperX SAVAGE DDR3
GPU: Gigabye GeForce GTX1070 G1 Gaming 8GB
PSU: XFX XT Series P1-500B-XTFR 500W 80 Plus Bronze

Any recommendations appreciated!
 
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Not much point in upgrading just RAM really when it's on DDR3 still, I'd probably prioritise CPU/Mobo/RAM first and then look at GPU after personally. Should be okay at 1080, 1440p would need a better GPU to be decent on modern games at that res.
 
If he NEEDs the upgrade you could probably squeeze an AM4 used build + 6600/6700/6750 out of £500.

There are used mobo/RAM/3600 bundles for sale for under £200 (5600 bundles have gone for less though so time it right), leaves £300 for a 6750XT. This also leaves an upgrade path to a 5x00X3D CPU (check the motherboard supports it) but it's then a dead end. Not sure what I'd do in that position to be honest.
 
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That psu will need upgrading as well. Unlike the rest of the XFX units the XT series is made by Shenzhen Rui Sheng Yuan Technology and can be had for as little as £36 which tells you all you need to know about the quality of it.
 
You can get a 6750 XT for £300, I'd stick one of those in and see how it goes.

Most likely a platform upgrade will follow, but you can take the GPU over.
 
You probably need a full upgrade, so either GPU now or core system now. (or splash out on both now)

My basket at OcUK:

Total: £524.92 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

Assuming you reuse your case, GPU and SSD/HDD. (or add a WD SN770 1TB NVME to the above)
 
Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard
MB-6K0-AS
£165 (incl. VAT)
FREE DELIVERY
Find out more
TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01)
MY-0B2-TG
£120 (incl. VAT)
£80 (incl. VAT)
Find out more
Phanteks AMP GH 750W 80PLUS Gold ATX Power Supply Modular - Black
POW-PHK-02517
£85 (incl. VAT)
Find out more
AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Six Core 5.10GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail
CP-3DW-AM
£219 (incl. VAT)
£200 (incl. VAT)
Find out more
if you're willing to do the research:
if that were my £500, this is what i would get: ryzen 7500f, asrock b650M-HDV/M.2, 32gb ddr5 6000
for the above core components, if you look at the correct places, would cost less than £300 new
that would leave you with £200 and that could get you a 3060ti/6700xt if you bought a preowned specimen
(all assumes you don't need to change the other parts (case, psu, cooler) and that you are going to reuse the storage)
 
save up till you have £1000 and then do a full upgrade its will last much longer and allow you to play those games.

but having said that if you can find a second hand RX 6950XT or RX 6900XT it will pair quite nicely with that system, you will be CPU bottle necked quite some but it would allow you to play all those games at even 4k resolution. Then you can save up more to upgrade the rest of the system at later point to release the performance from being CPU bound. That GTX 1070 is not going to do much to be honest. I have a RX 6950XT with an even older processor than yours and I play 4k games with it just fine and I mean modern games.
 
2 cents
7800XT is around 500
gaming is graphics.

um and a new platform probably. sometime. with a better psu
 
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Thanks, all. That's really useful. I'll pass it on, it sounds like an incremental upgrade just isn't worth it, and it'd be better to just hold off until he can do a full upgrade.
 
Not played the game but lookig at the specs required, think you only need the GPU and PSU upgrade for better 1080p and 1440p. Then do the rest later.

Cyberpunk 2077’s Recommended Specs For 1080p​

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 or AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
  • RAM: 12GB
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, a GTX 1660 Super, or AMD Radeon RX 590
  • VRAM: 6GB
  • Direct X: Version 12
  • Available Storage Space: 70GB SSD
  • GFX Setting Game Can Be Played On: High

Cyberpunk 2077’s Specs For 1440p Resolution​

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 or AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
  • RAM: 12GB
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 5700 XT
  • VRAM: 6GB
  • Direct X: Version 12
  • Available Storage Space: 70GB SSD
  • GFX Setting Game Can Be Played On: Ultra
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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