Upgrade Advice: What Should I Swap First?
I’ve had my current PC for a while and I think it’s time for some upgrades. Here are my current specs:
- CPU: Ryzen 5 2600
- GPU: GTX 1660
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
- Storage: 500GB SSD + 1TB HDD
- PSU: 550W Bronze (this part is pretty new, so I’d like to keep it)
- Case: Phanteks Eclipse P400
I mostly play newer AAA games at 1080p and occasionally dabble in light video editing. I’d love to move towards 1440p gaming without replacing everything at once. If I can only upgrade one or two parts right now, where should I start for the biggest performance gains? Should I target GPU first, or is my CPU too much of a bottleneck?
GPU First
To achieve smoother 1440p gaming, upgrading your GPU is the most impactful change. Your Ryzen 5 2600 will still handle newer titles well, especially with a more powerful GPU.
The recommended GPUs are linked below. Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT 12GB GDDR6 is a solid choice for 1440p gaming, offering excellent performance at a competitive price OR ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER TUF Gaming OC Graphics Card provides top-tier performance with features like ray tracing and DLSS 3, ideal for high-quality gaming experiences.
After upgrading the GPU, monitor your system's performance. If you notice any bottlenecks or performance dips, consider upgrading your CPU or adding more RAM.