PC Upgrade Ideas?

Hey there!

I could really use some advice here!

Here’s what I’m running right now:

CPU: Intel Pentium g3258
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX
GPU: Geforce GTX 650
PSU: FSP Blue Storm II 500w
RAM: 2x 4GB Crucial 1600MHz

I’ve managed to scrape together about $467—not quite sure where to start the upgrade process.
My initial thought was to grab an Intel Core i5 4460 to get things moving, then slowly swap out the GPU, maybe the motherboard if needed, and eventually the PSU...
Or is there a smarter way to go about this?
If I were to stretch my budget a bit more (maybe up to $667 if I put the graphics card on a credit card plan), any ideas for a better combo?

Anyway, thanks everyone for the help!

I guess buying used might be your best bet if you're planning on upgrading both, especially if you live near a major city where you can just pick it up in person.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/processors/listing/21067319

You can usually snag a decent used gaming GPU for around $233.

The power supply is fine. Given your budget, you could grab an I5 4460 to pair with the Nvidia Geforce GTX 650, and for $167 maybe pick up a used graphics card (if you're pushing your budget up to $667) if this one isn't cutting it anymore—not sure if you're gaming or just using the PC for other stuff. Aside from buying used, you won't find anything worth the money for $167 if you want it brand new.

Just let me know, since the motherboard is ITX, what size is your case?

I'm out here in San Diego.
I've been eyeing some used i5 processors—pretty sure that’s the move for me.
I bought a used graphics card once before—it was an older model and a total steal—but it died on me after just three months... hopefully, my luck holds up better this time! 🙂
Anyway, what kind of GPU would actually be worth picking up for under $267 (used)?

The case is just some old relic—honestly, I can't even remember the brand anymore, just some random midi tower.
The fact that the motherboard is an ITX is just how it turned out—it wasn't because of the case itself...
As for gaming, I really only play PoE and Civ. So, there's zero need for a beastly graphics card.

If you grab a used i5 and dump the rest of your cash into a new GPU, you’d just need to stretch your budget a bit more toward the $100 mark—$0.37where things like the Nvidia GTX 1050 or AMD Radeon RX 460 usually sit...

Used, you can find an R9 270-270X for around $267, which is basically in the same league as those new cards with the warranty (the ones I mentioned earlier), so I'm not sure if it's actually worth it... unless you happen to stumble upon something beefier ☕

EDIT: Civ 6 absolutely shreds the GPU 😬

The RX 460 is listed on CNN for $287 if you're paying cash....

Honestly, the move would be to wait until you can afford to $0.83 drop it all on a card (maybe over 12 months) and just grab everything at once from Best Buy. Or, if you get lucky, hunt down a used i5 for $0.33 😬

So, I'm looking at a used Intel Core i5 4460 (or maybe something similar/better if you guys have suggestions?)
plus grabbing a new graphics card on a payment plan. (Maybe a Nvidia GTX 1050? Not sure why—I just always seem to prefer Nvidia...)

Just grab whatever cheapest i5 you can find for that 1150 socket, like an Intel Core i5 4440 or an i5 4430. As for the GPU, it works fine, though it isn't really worth the money here when you compare it to the RX 460, which stays under $333. Plus, you can actually unlock almost any 460 with just a click

Alright, I'm going to grab the CPU first.
As for the GPU—I'll figure that out later. Honestly, I won't even be able to pick one up for another couple of weeks anyway...

Thanks everyone for the input!

Maybe consider picking up an SSD one of these days, just so your whole system actually runs faster...

Honestly, I think he needs to prioritize the CPU and GPU for now😁

I picked up an Intel 80GB SSD about six months ago—specifically an Intel model. Man, what a difference... absolute game changer!
Used to be I’d boot up the PC and have enough time to grab a coffee before anything happened—maybe 2 or 3 minutes tops—but now? Windows kicks in within 7 or 8 seconds. 🙂