Upgrade Season is Here

It's the season for upgrades, with new hardware and the latest technologies, you might be considering upgrading your system. Today we'll take a quick look at some key upgrades you can make.

Plan Your Next Power Move

So you're going to be swapping some core components for your build, but what's out there? Let's get the TL;DR on some key component upgrades.

Memory Matters

System memory is used to keep your processor fed with information, be it something as simple as a document or webpage you're viewing or the mountain of layers or video assets you're chewing through in Photoshop or Premiere. Having enough memory available for the task at hand is important, otherwise your system will fall back on slower storage (usually in the form of a pagefile on your primary boot drive) which will result in severely reduced performance. Memory speed is also a factor, generally the faster your system memory is, the more responsive your system will be which helps considerably in CPU-intensive games and any other task that puts your CPU to heavy use.

If you're just gaming, 16GB is the current sweet spot for performance with enough capacity to handle the growing demands of games as virtual environments have become larger and more detailed. In terms of raw speed, DDR4-3600 is recommended for AMD platforms and provides a good balance in terms of overall cost vs. performance in CPU-intensive games and programs. If you're upgrading an Intel system, memory speed isn't as crucial, so memory kits rated for DDR4-3000 and DDR4-3200 are popular options for most gaming builds.

For content creation, capacity plays a substantial role in performance (while overall speed doesn't matter as much). A 32GB kit would be the minimum if you're juggling a lot of high-resolution assets for your streams or working on highly complex video projects. As we mentioned earlier the more memory you have available, the less often your system will need to dip into its pagefile, resulting in more consistent performance as you work through large media projects.

If you're going all in on the new Intel® 12th Gen Core Series, you'll be looking at the bleeding edge of technology and need all-new DDR5 memory. The strategy is the same, but the numbers are cranked up to a whole new level (and it wouldn't hurt to future-proof your build bit while you're at it). For a DDR5 gaming rig, try shooting for a 32GB kit of DDR5-4800, this should be plenty fast and give you quite the buffer for games for the foreseeable future. When it comes to content creation, more RAM is always better, so shoot for a 64GB kit (it's alright to drop the speed a bit).

For DDR5, you've got the choice of our sleek and stealthy VENGEANCE DDR5 kits.

And if you want to make a splash and have better cooling performance, our DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB Series and CORSAIR-exclusive DHX cooling technology make a return.

Pick Up the Pace

SSDs have been getting faster and larger each year, if your current platform (or the one you're upgrading to) supports PCIe Gen4, you'll be able to take full advantage of a PCIe Gen 4-capable SSD like the MP600 PRO XT. A fast SSD means faster loading times in games or when opening a large video and/or photo project. The MP600 PRO XT is available in sizes up to 4TB and can hit transfer speeds of up to 7.1 GB/s!

And if you're looking for a healthy mix of speed AND capacity, our MP600 CORE is available with capacities of up to 8TB!

Keeping the Lights On

If you've gotten this far, you're definitely in the mood to upgrade, but don't overlook your power supply. If you're looking for higher efficiency, modular cables, or need more breathing room for beefier components, we've got you!

If you're doing a no-frills build with an entry-level graphics card (or even just integrated graphics), a 650W - 750W modular or semi modular power supply would go a long way, giving you some wiggle room for future upgrades.

Serious gaming requires serious power. With higher-end graphics cards recommending at least an 850W PSU, if you want to future-proof a bit, consider going for at least 1000W. And if you go for a model with modular cables, you can swap them out for different colors to match your build.

Cooler and Quieter

If your system's cooler is having trouble keeping up with the heat put out by your processor or if it's running louder than you like, it may be time to upgrade to a new cooling solution. Our new ELITE LCD Seriesis available with radiator sizes of 240mm, 360mm, and 420mm and provides plenty of cooling performance for high end processors to keep throttling at bay. Not to mention, the vibrant LCD screen on these coolers lets you further customize your build (or provide at a glance cooling info in real-time).

Speaking of cooler upgrades, if you've got an ELITE CAPELLIX Series cooler, you can pick up the ELITE LCD Upgrade Kit to give you the same spectacular screen found on our ELITE LCD Series.

And if you're upgrading to a new Z690 motherboard and Intel® 12th Gen Core Series processor, make sure to pick up this LGA 1700 Retrofit Kit which includes the required standoffs for Intel®'s new CPU socket (ELITE LCD Coolers include this already in the box).

If you're looking for a fan upgrade, consider our ML PRO Series PWM fans which run quietly while offering high performance thanks to their magnetic levitation bearing. And with our new ML RGB ELITE fans, you get the added benefit of AirGuide technology which helps direct airflow precisely where you need it.

And if you want some more style with your cooling, our QL Series and LL Series are popular choices for those wanting to make a statement with their cooling, incorporating a dazzling array of RGB LEDs into the fan frame.

A new case could also be the solution for better cooling performance. While many of our cases take airflow into consideration, we've developed airflow-focused models that help you bring cool, fresh air into your system to keep your components running as cool as possible. Our 4000, 5000, and 7000 Series AIRFLOW cases, provide plenty of options outfit your system with a much-needed cooling upgrade whether it be fans and/or liquid cooling!

Speaking of liquid cooling, if you want to take your build to the next level, our HYDRO X Series custom liquid cooling components are ready to help you tame your temperatures with the ability to incorporate multiple radiators into your loop and allow you to turn your fans down for whisper quiet operation. Check out our cooling configurator to explore the wide variety of components compatible with your current hardware or your next upgrade.

High Performance, Out of the Box

If a complete system upgrade is what you're looking for, our VENGEANCE GAMING PC and CORSAIR ONE systems may be more your speed.

VENGEANCE GAMING PCsare built with the same off-the-shelf parts we all love, offering high performance, reliability, and more importantly allowing the system to be upgraded easily as new hardware comes out in the future.

If you want compact power, the CORSAIR ONE takes the same formula of high-performance, off-the-shelf components and packs it into phenomenally small 12 liter package, allowing for quick and easy setup and whisper quiet performance.

Choose Your Upgrade Path

Upgrading your PC is easier than ever, whether you're simply upgrading a few parts to speed up your current system or building an entirely new PC from the ground up! CORSAIR has everything you need to get the most out of your hardware.

Building a new rig? Join the conversation over on theCORSAIR User Forums, Community Discord, or Reddit!

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