Hi forum.
I've been thinking of upgrading my PC lately but I keep seeing these great deals and I'm wondering if I should just buy a new one instead.
Processor - Intel i5-6600k CPU @ 3.50GHz
RAM 16.0 GB
GPU GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
Motherboard - Asus Z170 Pro Gaming
Crucial BX500 480GB
Samsung SSD 860 EVO 250GB
Samsung SSD 860 EVO M.2 500GB
The reason I want to upgrade is mostly for gaming.
The computer freezes every now and then and is somewhat "slow"
PSU shouldn't need upgrading if it is from a good brand. Agree on the rest.
He should back up his PC. Do a fresh clean, TIM, and reinstall Windows maybe on a faster nVme SSD. Update all drivers (or roll back from bad ones). Then put his files back on the fresh system (don't do direct restore from your backup). That usually works wonders.
If I were OP, I wouldn't upgrade. It's only gaming. If you really want great graphics, get a PS5 and enjoy the exclusives (and advantages/disadvantages of a Walled Garden) but keep the PC for your other needs. With inflation the way it is, I see crypto and house prices to stay strong next year. So getting your hands on a dGPU is going to be expensive.
Hold out the storm (chip shortages), then upgrade when the pendulum swings the other way. And you can use the New-gen Consoles in the meantime (their availability isn't great, but much better than PC parts) to get you by, as they're pretty well built and value for money (no scalper prices).
PSU shouldn't need upgrading if it is from a good brand.
Don't fully agree with this personally. If you're buying all new kit, there's no harm in upgrading a 5+ year old PSU to a new and more modern/efficient PSU too. Not only are older ones more prone to failing, they're also likely lower power output rating with today's kit requiring more and more power. Also fewer 12V rails and might even not be modular at all or support some new motherboard requirements. If you're spending ~$2,000+ on new parts, upgrade the unit that powers them all and reduce any potential future issues.
Also an avid PS5 fan, a mid-range RTX 3070 blows it out of the water so recommending a console for graphics isn't really the right mantra.
Do agree with holding out to next year in general though.
No, I meant that you should NOT upgrade your PSU if you are not going to upgrade your PC.
The way you worded your initial comment, made it seem like he should just re-install Windows and replace his PSU, when his CPU/GPU will stay the same. A good quality PSU will easily work 10+ years within its capabilities… but if you are pushing it past/to its limits (eg Crypto Mining) regularly, then yes, you may need to replace the PSU even if the rest of the hardware stays the same.
Sure, the PS5's dGPU may not be cutting edge, but its still a decent upgrade for someone coming from a PS4 Pro, or a GTX-1060, or RX-580. It is enough to scratch your graphics itch. Not to mention, that its graphics will get stronger as newer games are more optimised for it, which is usually the opposite for PC Gaming.
For anyone wondering (rough estimate):
VSD: 8CU = 1.6TF = 720p/30 = 6300 ? = GT 3030 ? = GTX 1050
XsS: 20CU = 4TF = 1080p/60 = 6500XT ? = RTX 3050Ti ? = GTX 1660
PS5: 36CU = 10TF = 1800p/60 = 6700 = RTX 3060Ti = RTX 2080
XsX: 52CU = 12TF = 2160p/60 = 6700XT OC = RTX 3070Ti = RTX 2080 Ti
computer freezes every now and then and is somewhat "slow"
did you try reinstalling Windows and checking whether SSD is failing (check with CrystalDiskInfo) ? are you suing "Samsung SSD 860 EVO M.2 500GB" as the boot drive ?
I upgraded from i5-2400, Q67, 16GB DDR3, GTX1060 3GB, BX500 240 GB boot drive to 5600X, B550M, 32GB DDR4, GTX1060 3GB, BX500 240 GB boot drive but honestly there is no much difference in usual tasks (ex: web browsing etc) unless I play games or do other CPU intensive task (I felt that GPU was bottlenecked by old CPU) etc. i5-2400 even booted faster and way cooler as well.
As others have said, decent components even for 2021. A fresh install of windows will do you wonders and then reassess if it still feels slow after.
Depending on what games you play you may be GPU limited in the latest titles, turning down Ultra to High settings is not nearly as bad as it used to be.
You could look around on gumtree/Facebook for more powerful second-hand GPU (also crazy market but better bang for buck then new. Of course beware Gumtree scams and the usual its second-hand PC components which can have faults)
Given its a few years old it may with worth reapplying CPU cooler paste.
If you haven't overlooked and your PSU was purchased separately from the case I see no reason to replace it unless you get a more powerful GPU with a higher power demand.
Depending on what games you play you may be GPU limited in the latest titles, turning down Ultra to High settings is not nearly as bad as it used to be.
Really does depend on what games you're playing; RDR2 runs over 60fps on high-ultra settings on my i7-2600 and RX 570. Can't expect Cyberpunk to do so well on the same settings level, but the specs are perfectly capable of running nearly all games really well.
Processor - Intel i5-6600k CPU @ 3.50GHz
The reason I want to upgrade is mostly for gaming.
The computer freezes every now and then and is somewhat "slow"
The CPU is slowish, but most games doesn't care much about CPU speed.
You'll get a performance benefit from an upgrade/new machine. No doubt but it depends on what you're playing/settings and what's causing the freeze/somewhat slow and whether that's being addressed in the upgrade.
hardware seems decent, might wanna try some tweaks. cpu should clock higher with a decent cooler. decent ram on xmp? gpu may still have some headroom over factory default. windows also some settings to change for optimizing gaming.
Thanks for all the comments.
Looks like you guys are going to save me some money!
Fresh re-install Windows to resolve freezing and slow issues, that's not hardware specific but more likely drivers or software. www.ninite.com will help to batch-install software.
6600k and GTX 1060 are getting on a bit now but serviceable for 1080p gaming. Depends on your budget and desires.
The new Intel 12-series have recently landed to great initial reviews but that means new motherboard and RAM too.
GPU market is still crazy inflated if you're after a 3070 or 3080 upgrade.
Rest is up to you. PSU should be fine but at 6-7 years old, may be worth refreshing with new one.
Drives, case, fans, RGB and rest doesn't really matter as long as have sufficient airflow.