Hello everyone,
I’ve been using my Dell desktop for a while now mainly for work and casual use, but recently I’ve been thinking of upgrading it for gaming purposes. Some modern games don’t run as smoothly as I’d like, especially when I try playing at 1080p resolution, and I’m not sure which components would give me the best performance boost.
Here are my current specs:
CPU: Intel Core i5 (10th Gen)
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Storage: 1TB HDD
PSU: Standard 450W (Dell OEM)
Monitor: 1080p, 60Hz
I’d like to be able to play newer titles at decent FPS, preferably at 1080p high settings, without spending too much. Should I prioritize upgrading the GPU, adding more RAM, or maybe switching to an SSD for faster load times?
If anyone has experience upgrading Dell systems for gaming, I’d really appreciate your recommendations.
Thanks in advance!
ejn63
10 Elder
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29.2K Posts
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August 23rd, 2025 14:24
The system model is needed to answer, along with the chassis size (small form, desktop, tower).
More RAM won't improve speed by itself. If you're running a hard drive, replacing that with an SSD will help all aspects of system performance, even more so if the system will take an NVMe drive. And that GPU is outdated relative to current gaming.
If this is an entry-level desktop (Inspiron, Vostro) or a business desktop, you may be better off with a new system entirely as upgradeability will be limited.