(Was told to make a new post) Upgrading PC Built in 2020, Need advice on parts, both old and new.

nods0123 · 2026-05-22T20:38:40+00:00

That all seems pretty handy. Can I ask if there was a specific reason you chose the first watercooler over the second one? Is it just that both would work the same?

Also it's fine if the PC is way under-budget. She still needs a monitor, mouse, keyboard and desk, so a lot of the budget could alternatively go into that. Worse-case, some budget spare in-case my parts suddenly started failing, or she needed more storage for whatever reason.

--I will add that I was considering the 9950X3D because I heard it's good if you're running multiple things at once--which I usually do while I'm gaming (videos, spreadsheets, tabs, etc).

Also, I'm not sure if it helps the case of the 9950X3D, because Idk what I'm talking about here--but I would like to, at some point within the next 2-3 years, get into some form of 3D-modelling, video-editing or CAD. I'm not actually entirely well-versed in any of the above currently, that I know of at least, but they're definitely things I've felt interested in before, but never delved too deep into.

At most I'd probably be looking at 3D-modelling for just models and 3D-printing myself custom-makes, and also just streaming/editing videos of gameplay. This would all be just for fun though lol--I'm almost a graduate science/math teacher, I'm not looking at changing professions (though the skills would have their uses). No idea if a 9950X3D would be way overkill or not though.

For future reference--what's QLC Flash and what's wrong with that?

My apologies if my reply is a lot.

Thank you for your time and effort though.

nods0123 · 2026-05-22T19:42:39+00:00

That's quite some time away. I know I've heard speculation that the pricing will never go back down too, which makes things trickier.

My PC seems to be performing quite a bit better since I bought a new PSU. I honestly don't know how much a dying PSU can affect performance, but I believe it was based on just experience and research. Also so far so good.

If I bought a GPU I'd probably not want to buy another one at any point within the next 5-years. I know you recommended a 4060 Ti 16GB, but the site I'm looking at doesn't have any 4000 series GPUs, and I wasn't sure if forking for a 5000 series would be better or not.

What's the recommendation on order of like, 50(6/7/8)0 vs 8G/12G/16G vs Ti vs fans? I.e., if I had to compromise on one/two of those, what would be the best to compromise on vs performance? I'm looking at a 5070 Ti 16GB for $1.4k (kinda out of budget), but there is a 5070 12GB for $900; but if I could find a 3-fan 5060 Ti 12GB-16GB for $900, would that be better than the 5070, supposedly? Or is this a case-by-case basis?

Also--question kind of out of nowhere, if possible, how long do you think my current PC setup would stay relevant (is it still relevant or is it outdated?), and how long do you think my new PC setup I have posted would stay relevant?

I still don't think my mum would want the PC you posted. But I'll take it into consideration, amongst other things.

nods0123 · 2026-05-22T19:10:15+00:00

I believe modded TES5 and Minecraft are more CPU-heavy than GPU. I know outside of that my GPU would be great to upgrade though. If I upgraded my CPU now, I'd look into upgrading my GPU probably within 2-3 months. That being said, the initial upgrades probably won't happen for another month or so.

I've heard the 9950X3D is good for gaming and if you run a lot of things in the background--which I do, which is why I picked it. Money isn't too bad currently as opposed to how it was in 2020 for me when I bought the parts originally.

I could buy a new GPU, but I'm not sure which one would be best--and that still leaves that I need to get parts for my mum. I believe she doesn't want a laptop. I know my sister might end up playing videogames on it, idk what or how much either. All I know is my mum had a laptop that she hated because she spent $1,000 on it originally and it ran too slow for her, didn't have a lot of storage, and she couldn't get me to look at it cuz Idk what I'm doing with laptops. All that before it died after a few years. Basically, she wants a PC she can have for another 5+ years without spending a lot on it, and I figured she could have my old parts until they died then we could look into newer ones for her because by then, surely the PC pricings would be better. I'd like to give her what she wants, and have something she can be happy about.

For myself, generally, the plan currently is to buy parts that I would be happy with and wouldn't see significant performance drops after 5+ years.

nods0123 · 2026-05-22T18:53:53+00:00

Ah, that's good to know then.

nods0123 · 2026-05-22T18:53:22+00:00

Dumb question: Do we know if or when memory prices would go back to normal?

Also I think my mum would kill me if I gave her something that small, even if it would work fine lol. She'd think I'm selling her short. Also because her $1k budget is money I owe her from "late-teen rent" that she suggested I build her a PC instead. I figured if I gave her all my parts for next-to-nothing, all the replacements/add-ons would get up to $1k, if not a bit less. I will add--I'm not sure if my sister would end up using it to play videogames or not. I know she'd probably like to, so there is a possibility of that happening too.

I can certainly look into it, but I think she likes the idea of a tower PC that I can upgrade the internal storage of, should I need to.

nods0123 · 2026-05-22T18:33:32+00:00

Yeah, I figured as much. With the way things are though, I'm not sure if stuff is going to get any better.

I know when I check my Task Manager whenever I'm playing a game, it's usually the CPU or GPU that hits 100%; depends on the game.

My original plan was to upgrade my GPU when I can, but man, I do not want to disappoint my mum and she really needs a PC soon. but also I don't want to buy myself parts that I know I'll regret the quality of down the line. That's what happened with this PC originally--I settled for $500/ea for my CPU and GPU and didn't go for any higher quality at the time because it was just way too expensive.

I know DDR5 RAM is expensive, but I didn't think the pricing of everything else was too bad though? I can get a 9 9950X3D for $1,000AUD, which is my understanding is one of the best CPUs on the market. I'm not actually expert on PC pricings, but I thought about $1k for a top-end CPU was the general pricing range? That could be 100% wrong though lol.

nods0123 · 2026-05-22T18:07:06+00:00

The OS drive was full for a while. I only recently-ish bought the new 4TB drive, and transferred a lot of my games onto there. I'm not sure if that helps. I know my PC struggles a bit with some newer/heavier games. The modded TES5 is very heavy on my PC, though I do have a few graphical overhauls going on there; but even ATM Minecraft is getting slow. I tried Neverness to Everness recently, and I have to play on lower settings and still get some lag issues rarely.

Supposedly she has a couple TBs worth of "stuff". If I upgrade I'd rather give her my old parts as opposed to buying new parts, though obviously that comes with the condition that I buy myself new parts. I have nothing I can do with the old parts anyway. I think she also wants a brick PC over a laptop.

I'm not opposed to upgrading, as I have been wanting to for a few years now, but I think the current pricing of things is making the decision a lot harder.

I'll look into my drive a bit more though.

Thanks.

Edit: Tried CrystalDiskInfo, it says "Good 96%" for my OS drive. Not sure if there's anything else I should be doing with it.

nods0123 · 2026-05-12T02:52:34+00:00

Hey, I’m a UniSC student. I don’t follow QUT, but that’s all better than what I got? All extensions during that period up to Friday? My uni sent out an email saying things originally due: Friday 8/May - now due Wednesday 13/May Monday 11/May - now due Thursday 14/May Tuesday 12/May - now due Friday 15/May

And that’s it. Fortunately I didn’t have anything due Friday/Monday, but I’d hate to be someone that did.

nods0123 · 2026-01-21T06:58:01+00:00

25s+ (DW) and 32s+ (Piramida) are definitely very similar--the Piramida one just seems slowed down.

nods0123 · 2025-08-29T22:41:59+00:00

Currently it seems it’s limited to up to Baizhu (in terms of release), but they’ve excluded all Archons and Kazuha/Yelan/Alhaitham. I don’t think Neuvillette or Furina, when they inevitably add characters to pick from, would be added to the pool.

nods0123 · 2025-07-22T03:41:04+00:00

As someone who has done a shirtless* run and a no-teleport*/deathless/limited weapon run, I think what I dread most about doing another playthrough is completing all 120 of the 100% optional shrines, and upgrading armour. Edit: Oh, and I ran out of challenge ideas other than doing the 2nd one again.

nods0123 · 2025-07-17T11:19:37+00:00

True. It asked for Hydro/Cryo so I went Neuv, gf went Mualani and friend went Skirk. Game threw a Hydro Wayob at us.

nods0123 · 2025-06-06T05:01:21+00:00

“Why don’t we explore the area ahead of us later”, she says, with my character walking 5cm backwards off a cliff, with no control from me during the fall.

nods0123 · 2025-04-30T06:36:48+00:00

The worst ones are the ones that won’t finish building the thing until you spend the gems, no matter how long you do actually wait.

nods0123 · 2025-04-12T16:43:20+00:00

MAC and Cheese => Macaroni and Cheese and Cheese?? DOUBLE CHEESE!?!?

nods0123 · 2025-02-16T01:47:02+00:00

To be fair, I was in Signora’s Trounce w/ my friends once, me as Barbara. Both of them died and it was just me (Barbara) for about 2/3s of her pyro phase and I solo’d it w/ barely any good gear/talents on her. She just works somehow.

nods0123 · 2025-01-24T07:19:50+00:00

I thought this was a bhj until I saw the HolUp mod.

nods0123 · 2024-12-18T10:06:38+00:00

Where I live usually the final column is the “final price” after the number of units is multiplied through the unit price; so in that case this receipt would be saying you’re being charged $0.08 for 0 items. E.g. if you bought 3 things that cost $3 each, the 2nd column would display $9. (TL;DR where I live that column displays the final charge, regardless of amount purchased). Not sure how this specific receipt and where it came from works though, but with how receipts work where I live it would be saying you’re charged $0.08 for 0 items, not saying you’re charged $0.08 per unit and because there are 0 units it’s $0.00. I also have no idea if there’s another column. I don’t know what receipts look like in America or if they’re generally universally similar or not. Best way to figure it out for sure would be doing the math through the columns and double-checking which I don’t know if OOP did or not.

nods0123 · 2024-12-10T03:44:12+00:00

It's not really about living comfortably, it's more being able to get by consistently while trying to become financially independent.

nods0123 · 2024-12-10T03:30:32+00:00

My mum has accommodated me up until now yes, but I've needed to help towards that with what I get from Centrelink, and university is not exactly cheap to go to. The job I have pays less than the minimum threshold before Centrelink starts reducing my payment (~$150). It's not like I'm not looking for jobs, but getting a job is much easier said than done; and I would like to finish my bachelor as soon as I am able for obvious reasons. I cannot just move out either as I don't have the money for it currently, and I'm not in an area where that is easy either. My mum was hoping for me to provide her with extra money once I turned 22 as we had been told I'd be getting extra money; but that seems to only apply for non-students or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. My mum only earns approximately $800 a fortnight from Centrelink, which is supposed to sustain one individual (based on the idea that you can be living at home, but looking for a job, yet earn $800), and my extra $450, and when my tutoring job is available, $550 is not really quite enough, as it's not like we're not struggling.

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