After having a Stream Deck and then installing Linux on an old laptop for my wife, I decided to try and resurrect an old desktop I built in 2016. Wondering if it worth upgrading the graphics card, or is the whole thing too old to be of much use.

Parts

PCPartPicker Part List

Type Item Price
CPU AMD FX-8350 4 GHz 8-Core Processor -
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler -
Motherboard Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard -
Memory Corsair Vengeance Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR3-2133 CL9 Memory -
Video Card Sapphire 100292L Radeon HD 5450 1 GB Video Card -
Case Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case -
Power Supply EVGA 700 B1 700 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply -
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-12-31 21:26 EST-0500
In case the above is not viewable

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BVTxh7

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4 GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR3-2133 CL9 Memory
Video Card: Sapphire 100292L Radeon HD 5450 1 GB Video Card
Case: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case
Power Supply: EVGA 700 B1 700 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-12-31 21:33 EST-0500

Edit to add: No Man’s Sky is my most played game. And I was looking at an 8gb Radeon card as an update, if that upgrade would make the system usable, then I will do that. Otherwise I will save for a Steam Machine.

Edit 2: I knew I had a better graphics card, when I got home from work I found it. It is a [ASUS GeForce GTX 970 4GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Graphics Card STRIX-GTX970-DC2OC-4GD5](https://www.newegg.com/asus-strix-gtx970-dc2oc-4gd5-geforce-gtx-970-4gb-graphics-card-double-fans/p/N82E16814121899?item=N82E16814121899)

  • mongooseofrevenge@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    7 hours ago

    This sounds almost like the build I’m upgrading from now. I have an i5-4690 4 core 3.5ghz with 16GB DDR3, and an MSI GTX 970. I picked up a radeon 5600xt and it’s been able to handle a number of newer games with lower settings. That got me to pull the trigger on a full upgrade this week. But I was playing BG3 on medium settings and even Expedition 33. It’s not great but it runs fine.

    Your CPU is better than that and I’d see if you can get more ram in there, you can probably find DDR3 for a decent price. I’d also check for used equipment. I got that gpu for ~$100 from someone who just upgraded to something newer.