PC UPGRADES - What should I upgrade first?

[tb-iwnl-]

Hi, I am currently thinking about upgrading my PC to get better performance in games. I will list what my current specs are, and also what games I am playing, as well as their recommended specs. I am not that familiar with the names of parts and what they mean, so a quick glance at these "minimum" and "recommended" specs mean little to nothing to me.

Current Specs:

OS: Windows 7
Processor: Intel Core i5 2500k
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1060 3GB
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3

Game 1: SQUAD

OS: Windows 7 SP1 (x64), Windows 8 (x64), Windows 10 (x64)
Processor: Intel Core i or AMD Ryzen with 6 physical cores
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon 570 with at least 6GB of VRAM
DirectX: Version 12

Game 2: Escape From Tarkov

OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64 Bit)
Processor: quad-core processor 3.2 GHz (Intel i5, i7), ?? 3.6 GHz (AMD FX, Athlon)
RAM: from 8 GB
Graphics Card: DX11 compatible graphics card with 2 GB or more of memory
Sound: DirectX compatible audio card

Thanks for any help or insight you guys have on this. Thanks.

[pasa]

You are already playing those games. Do you have a problem with that? If not, why would you touch anything? If yes, then upgrade based on what it is.

[emoticorpse]

Your CPU isn't that bad. Your video card isn't that bad either. If you want to spend like $350 a 2060 is a good upgrade.

[Nabster]

Squad requires CPU with 6 cores, you would be looking at 8th or 9 th gen i5 or ryzen 5. That would mean new CPU, mobo, ram. You may as well build a new PC and sell the old one.

[Skyrin]

Your CPU is pretty old-fashioned by now but it will still be dong fine for the next 1-3 years I believe. Your GPU on the other hand is quite impressive although it could still be improved. If you are looking to upgrade your PC, I would recommend you to upgrade your CPU first. I see that your motherboard only supports DDR3 memory and these days I believe DDR4 is the standard so if you have the budget then do upgrade your Motherboard too. A Gigabyte GA-H110M should be good enough and it costs pretty much the same as your old Motherboard (In my country at least). And I would recommend you to upgrade your OS to Windows 10. It offers new features Windows 7 doesn't have. But of course, do consider your needs and what you want. Take this reply as a suggestion not a definite answer. Cheers!

[_I_]

your old i5 if oc'd (to 4+ghz) is not far off for gaming from the r5 2600

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-2500K-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-2600/619vs3955

new cpu/mobo/ram will be around $400

1060 3g isnt bad, just not as good as the 6g variant

id hold off for a bit for new ryzen cpus to be properly benched, compared and priced
same story for gpus, new amd and nvidia will be out soon and need to be properly compared


if your i5 is not oc'd get a good cpu cooler and go for it

[r.linder]

_I_ の投稿を引用：

your old i5 if oc'd (to 4+ghz) is not far off for gaming from the r5 2600

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-2500K-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-2600/619vs3955

new cpu/mobo/ram will be around $400

1060 3g isnt bad, just not as good as the 6g variant

id hold off for a bit for new ryzen cpus to be properly benched, compared and priced
same story for gpus, new amd and nvidia will be out soon and need to be properly compared


if your i5 is not oc'd get a good cpu cooler and go for it

Correct, but you're basically looking at a really hefty overclock on a 2500K, and the low core and thread count limits what it can do in newer titles if the title makes use of more than 4 threads, like AC:O.

Zen2 has already been benched. The 3600 can go toe-to-toe with the likes of the 8700K (and by extension the 9700K as well as there's no major difference aside from hyperthreading), coming very close to the same performance in games.
So it comes down to one deciding if they want to stick with a dead chipset or upgrade to something that not even an extreme overclock could achieve on such an old chip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0uB17Io2is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3zDp44YI3Q

Yes, Intel still beats AMD, even as high as Ryzen 9, but the competitive pricing with R5 and R7 chips alongside the 12% IPC increase from Zen+ means the price to performance value of the 3600 completely defeats the purpose of getting anything less than a 9700K or 9900K unless you already have a compatible motherboard for those chips, meaning it's only worthwhile because it would be cheaper than doing an entire platform switch to Zen2.

[Lord Flashheart]

Are you happy with your gaming performance? If not I suggest installing MSI afterburner & rivatuner and monitor the CPU & GPU usage.
If the GPU is continually maxed out - then look at a GPU upgrade.
If not then maybe the CPU is holding you back and look into a CPU/memory/motherboard upgrade.

Also whatever you do upgrade to windows 10 as Windows 7 is loosing security updates in 6 months.

[tb-iwnl-]

Nabster の投稿を引用：

Squad requires CPU with 6 cores, you would be looking at 8th or 9 th gen i5 or ryzen 5. That would mean new CPU, mobo, ram. You may as well build a new PC and sell the old one.

Hmm. Maybe. How much do you suppose I sell this for?

[tb-iwnl-]

Skyrin の投稿を引用：

Your CPU is pretty old-fashioned by now but it will still be dong fine for the next 1-3 years I believe. Your GPU on the other hand is quite impressive although it could still be improved. If you are looking to upgrade your PC, I would recommend you to upgrade your CPU first. I see that your motherboard only supports DDR3 memory and these days I believe DDR4 is the standard so if you have the budget then do upgrade your Motherboard too. A Gigabyte GA-H110M should be good enough and it costs pretty much the same as your old Motherboard (In my country at least). And I would recommend you to upgrade your OS to Windows 10. It offers new features Windows 7 doesn't have. But of course, do consider your needs and what you want. Take this reply as a suggestion not a definite answer. Cheers!

I actually have upgraded I made that Spec List a while ago and just copy-pasted, thank you so much though for the suggestions! I'm pretty terrible at this kind of stuff.

[tb-iwnl-]

Mamba Bajamba の投稿を引用：

Are you happy with your gaming performance? If not I suggest installing MSI afterburner & rivatuner and monitor the CPU & GPU usage.
If the GPU is continually maxed out - then look at a GPU upgrade.
If not then maybe the CPU is holding you back and look into a CPU/memory/motherboard upgrade.

Also whatever you do upgrade to windows 10 as Windows 7 is loosing security updates in 6 months.

Ah, that might be useful! I would like these games to perform better! And I have upgraded to windows 10 :-) thank you!

[Skyrin]

tiny baby の投稿を引用：

Skyrin の投稿を引用：

Your CPU is pretty old-fashioned by now but it will still be dong fine for the next 1-3 years I believe. Your GPU on the other hand is quite impressive although it could still be improved. If you are looking to upgrade your PC, I would recommend you to upgrade your CPU first. I see that your motherboard only supports DDR3 memory and these days I believe DDR4 is the standard so if you have the budget then do upgrade your Motherboard too. A Gigabyte GA-H110M should be good enough and it costs pretty much the same as your old Motherboard (In my country at least). And I would recommend you to upgrade your OS to Windows 10. It offers new features Windows 7 doesn't have. But of course, do consider your needs and what you want. Take this reply as a suggestion not a definite answer. Cheers!

I actually have upgraded I made that Spec List a while ago and just copy-pasted, thank you so much though for the suggestions! I'm pretty terrible at this kind of stuff.

Sure thing! I'll be happy if you could enjoy your gaming!

[Talby]

Was in a similar situation last Black Friday, my kit was nearly identical

2500k / z68 / 8gb (2x4g) / r9 390 8g

Upgraded to a 2600x / b450 / 16gb 3200 and kept the old r9 390, was a world of difference. Eventually upgraded to a 1070ti with a 1080p/144hz VA panel, it is now pure bliss

May be a good upgrade path for you as well since the 1060 3g is relatively equal to my 390, then budget your next upgrade to a 2060 or whatever next-gen mid gpu with a 144hz monitor, should rock any game you run on it

If you can list you current case and PSU would help to give the best upgrade recommendations