These Are The 5 PC Upgrades That Give You The Most For Your Money

Building a new computer can be expensive, and the same goes if you’re looking to upgrade your current one. Sure, you can find budget alternatives, but finding the best performance for your money can be tough.

So, if you're looking to upgrade your PC on a budget, here are the upgrades that will give you the most bang for your buck.

1 better memory

Your system's memory is one of the most important aspects of overall performance, and I don't mean just adding as much RAM as possible. For best performance, it's best to use faster memory with less capacity.

For example, 16GB of RAM running at 5200Mbps will give you better performance than 32GB of RAM running at 3200Mbps. Of course, the total amount of memory you have affects system performance, but unless you're running programs that can take advantage of your increased system memory, it's usually better to have faster RAM than more RAM.

It's all about balance. While more RAM will help you multitask or keep more Chrome tabs open, faster RAM is the determining factor when it comes to processing speed.

Since you can pick up a 32GB DDR5 RAM kit from Crucial running at 6000 MT/s for under $150 (sometimes it drops to under $100 during Amazon sales!), it’s one of the first upgrades you should consider for your PC, whether you’re on a budget or not. Try to avoid buying RGB memory cards, as they tend to be more expensive and don’t do anything to improve performance over their non-RGB counterparts.

2 Faster storage

Another way to upgrade your computer that has become much cheaper over the years is storage. Hard drives have become much cheaper, so the bulk storage is taken care of, but you need to have at least one high-performance SSD in your system.

Choosing between a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD) has never been easier, thanks to the recent significant drop in SSD prices. Adding an SSD or upgrading to a faster SSD to your system is one of the best upgrades you can make on a budget, as it will result in a noticeable improvement in performance.

Installing your operating system and other important programs on an SSD reduces the waiting time for your computer or programs to boot up, providing a better overall user experience. There are many reasons why you should store your games on an SSD.

For around $150, you can upgrade to the WD Black SN850X, a 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD with transfer speeds of up to 7,300MB/s. If you want to save some money, the 1TB version is under $100. Samsung also makes some very fast SSDs, and you can check out our comparison of the PRO, EVO, and QVO series to see which one is best for you.

3 Better cooling

Investing in better cooling for your CPU, GPU, or case can increase performance and extend the life of your computer components without costing you a lot of money. Thermal throttling can impact CPU performance because it doesn’t leave much headroom for the processor when it’s under stress, so better cooling should always be on your list of upgrades.

While the CPU cooler you get in the box should be fine for your CPU, depending on the ambient temperature in your room and where you live, it may make sense to invest in something like an AIO cooler. For around $100, you can get a good AIO liquid cooler for your CPU. These coolers are surprisingly easy to install and can greatly improve thermal performance, solving throttling issues that may be preventing your CPU from living its best.

Thermal throttling can also affect GPUs. While there are ways to prevent GPU thermal throttling, you can find additional installable fans for your GPU for as little as $14.99 on Amazon. They won’t be as effective as an AIO liquid cooler but should lower temperatures by a few degrees. GPU water blocks tend to be in the same price range as CPU coolers, so if you have the time and money, this is a good solution for an overheating GPU.

Finally, adding some case fans to ensure good air circulation inside your PC case isn’t a bad idea either, considering you can buy an ASUS 120mm ARGB PWM case fan for around $15. Combining these three cooling solutions will help boost performance and ensure your PC components last a long time.

4 Consider buying a new GPU.

If you’re running an old GPU and your gaming performance isn’t up to par, a new GPU can breathe new life into your rig. GPUs can be expensive, but you don’t necessarily have to get a high-end one, as they’re rarely value for money. Even our editor Hamlin regrets buying the RTX 4090.

If you’re running an older GPU, especially one from Nvidia’s GTX series (or an equivalent AMD GPU), it’s time to upgrade. The good news is that you can get an entry-level RTX 3050 for around $170, which isn’t a bad price for the performance jump you’ll get. You also won’t have to spend much more on a new power supply, depending on the TGP of the new GPU.

Please keep in mind that I'm talking about the relative jump in performance when coming from older hardware, not modern standards, as a more expensive RTX 40-Series or AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series GPU will leave most older GPUs in the dust.

Unfortunately, any upgrades after that will cost you more. For example, the RTX 3060 can be priced between $250 and $300, and at that price you might also consider the RTX 4060. Budget GPUs are really out of the question, so you’ll have to stretch your budget. However, as we mentioned earlier, if you’re coming from older hardware, almost any new GPU will give you a huge performance boost for very little money.

5 New CPU and/or motherboard

There’s some debate over whether you should upgrade the CPU or GPU first, but the CPU is the core component of any computer anyway. If you’ve read this list and are still looking for an upgrade, it’s time to replace the CPU. In most cases, this also requires a new motherboard, so you’re looking at a new build here.

We’ve compared Intel, AMD, and Apple processors to help you decide which one you should upgrade to. There are also plenty of reasons why you might want to upgrade to Intel’s 14th-gen lineup, and you can do so for just $150, though unless you’re running a really old processor, it won’t improve performance much. However, you can get an Intel i5-14500 for just over $200 or an i7-14700F for around $350, with the K variant costing a bit more.

As for motherboards, if you’re upgrading from a 13th Gen Intel processor, you’re in luck, as your current motherboard is compatible with the 14th Gen chips. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for your current power supply, as you may need more power to power the updated components.

In general, if you're looking for the best value for your upgrade budget, better memory, storage, and cooling are the best places to start. Add a few extra bucks, and you can upgrade your entire PC without spending a lot of money, although it can cost a lot.