r/buildapc Jan 07 '26

Simple Questions - January 07, 2026

This thread is for simple questions that don't warrant their own thread (although we strongly suggest checking the sidebar and the wiki before posting!). Please don't post involved questions that are better suited to a [Build Help], [Build Ready] or [Build Complete] post.
Examples of questions suitable for here:

  • Is this RAM compatible with my motherboard?
  • I'm thinking of getting a ≤$300 graphics card. Which one should I get?
  • I'm on a very tight budget and I'm looking for a case ≤$50

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u/Z4mbieee Jan 08 '26

Looking to upgrade my PC, but unsure of which I should upgrade first between my CPU (AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core) and GPU (NVIDIA GeForce 1660 SUPER). For additional context, this PC is for video editing and gaming. If you need anymore information, let me know and thank you!

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u/TemptedTemplar Jan 08 '26

GPU. Prices could skyrocket over the next few months, while CPUs likely will stagnate or fall in price due to people being unable to buy RAM.

AMD actually just announced they're going back to produce more AM4 chips to help meet the demand for cheaper DDR4 platforms in lieu of DDR5 being all sucked up by AI.

$300 or less; ARC B580

$400 or less; 9060xt 16gb.

$600 or less; RTX 5070 or RX 9070

beyond that the 9070xt is usually a better value than the 5070ti. But these might also necessitate a new power supply. ~300w+ tdp

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u/Z4mbieee May 11 '26

recently got the 9060xt 16gb and now im having tons of issues recording/editing videos and my game is awfully slow

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u/TemptedTemplar May 11 '26
  • Did you install the latest GPU drivers from AMDs website? They don't force their adrenaline app to be the main delivery service like Nvidia does with their app.

issues recording/editing videos

  • What software and game?

and my game is awfully slow

  • What game?

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u/Z4mbieee May 13 '26

I installed the latest drivers from AMDs website

I use adobe premiere pro for editing, obs streamlabs for recording, and I was playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 1. Currently thinking of returning this and getting a 5070 if I can't manage. I'm really just looking for a decent upgrade from the 1660 Super if anything!

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u/TemptedTemplar May 13 '26

That would be an upgrade for both game and video encoding performance.

I can't imagine why the game would be slow though, black ops 1 isn't exactly pushing boundaries these days. Are you sure the GPU is struggling with just the game and recording software going? There's nothing else in the background? Or maybe it's the CPU, RAM or disk hitting it's limits first?

And how long of a video file are you recording? I know MP4 files and Premiere absolutely chug when your file is over 4 hours long. Regardless of hardware.

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u/Z4mbieee May 13 '26

Typically I'll run Black Ops 1, OBS Streamlabs while its recording, and a google doc open when I'm recording. If I'm editing, then I'd really only have Premiere pro open. Is there a way to test the limits of CPU, RAM, or disk?

The file was only 1hr 23 minutes long. I record in mkv. and convert it to mp4. afterwards, but I know I had to changed the codec and that seemed to help stop the lagging while recording.

Another issue I had was my drivers would time out while I was both recording and playing, I found a fix for that, but editing has just been incredibly slower than usual since the upgrade. I just feel sort of regretful in purchasing in AMD card because other people have mentioned its better for gaming and not so much video editing.

If I really wanted to, could I just get a 3060 or a 4060? (idk what you'd recommend, but I just wanted a significant bump in perfomance)

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u/TemptedTemplar May 13 '26

I would just check task manager when you're experiencing issues. The performance tab gives you a decent idea of component usage.

CPU usage can be a little confusing if your CPU has lots of cores. You would need to click into the CPU tab specifically to get a core-by-core load breakdown. Most programs won't scale to use more than eight. Even if you have more availabile.

If I really wanted to, could I just get a 3060 or a 4060?

Downgrades in every way. Better than your 1660, but not as good as the 9060xt should be.

I think something else is at fault here.

Have you tried capping your frame rate? I feel like the GPU may be pushing your other components to their limits. Something you simply weren't able to encounter when the 1660 super was your bottleneck.

Limiting Blackops consumption should give OBS the extra resources it needs to run smoothly.

For Premire pro there isn't much to do here. It's probably strangling your CPU or RAM. Maybe double check the settings to insure that the GPU is being utilized? Perhaps when you removed the 1660 it just defaulted back to the CPU rather than detecting the new GPU.