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[Soltype]

That's easy.

Going from HDD to SSD.

Completely changes the PC experience.

Easily my biggest upgrade, no CPU/GPU/ram can overcome a slow HDD.

my point exactly

the card is huge, it's expensive, DLSS3 allows nvidia to make downgrades and claim 'better performance...' but the 4090 is a masterpiece of a card for what it does. It's ridiculously strong

I hope the industry follows suit, we need more performance first products.I want the best, function over form.

 

[Wonko_C]

What upgrade to your PC did you make that DRASTICALLY improved performance in every facet?
I have only been doing this PC gaming thing for a year now... but going from a 5600g to a 5600x + 6650 XT was AMAZING. So many games that i ran at sub FHD could be maxed out at 1440p with good performance, it was great.

Going from a GTX 1050 Ti to an RTX 3070 Ti. From barely able to play New Genesis with low-ish settings at sub 1080p to maxing that baby out at 4K@60. Aww yeah.

 

[Mikado]

In terms of actual difference - like where I could do things that were literally unthinkable before;

I'd say it was either switching from a Motorola 68K Mac to an A/V capable PowerPC Mac back in the day, or else later when I was on PC purchasing my first 3d card - a 3DFX Voodoo 2.

Everything else has frankly been small increments. Little faster CPU, little more memory on the GPU etc.

 

[64bitmodels]

Going from a GTX 1050 Ti to an RTX 3070 Ti. From barely able to play New Genesis with low-ish settings at sub 1080p to maxing that baby out at 4K@60. Aww yeah.

oh my god that must have been so amazing..

Bless the 1050ti's heart, but it's so poor these days. 3070ti is almost 5x faster and is just so much superior.

the VRAM might be a bit of a problem in the future, so i hope you upgrade real soon!

 

[mrmustard]

Voodoo 2, SSD and Intellimouse Explorer.

 

[Black_Stride]

i5-2500k to 11700f .

The reason for this upgrade was not the cpu at all , the motherboard only had 2 ram socket 2x4g so its has to go . Thanks to the switch and ps4 I actually doesnt mind 30fps that much .

The good ol 2500K.....such a bulletproof CPU.
ive still got mine running in my media center cuz I couldnt let that tank go.....it lasted me way too long by the time I was thinking of selling it.......no one was willing to buy it, so I just repurposed it.

2500K to 11700 must have been a hell of an upgrade.
4 cores 4 threads to 8 cores 16 threads.

 

[rodrigolfp]

From some SIS onboard "GPU" at the time to a RIVA TNT2.

 

[Tg89]

From whatever piece of shit Compaq family PC we had to:

Athlon XP 3200+
Radeon 9800 Pro
1GB RAM
120GB HDD

 

[64bitmodels]

In terms of actual difference - like where I could do things that were literally unthinkable before;

I'd say it was either switching from a Motorola 68K Mac to an A/V capable PowerPC Mac back in the day, or else later when I was on PC purchasing my first 3d card - a 3DFX Voodoo 2.

Everything else has frankly been small increments. Little faster CPU, little more memory on the GPU etc.

damn, that's old. What new stuff could you do on the powerpc as opposed to the Motorola?

 

[pennythoughts]

I've always done completely new builds every 5-6 years so I can't point to any of those individual components but years ago I made the jump from a 60hz 1080p monitor to 144hz 1440p monitor and that was massive.

Also, a really nice set of speakers. Headphones cannot compete with a proper audio setup.

 

[reinking]

 

[calistan]

Moore's Law is still alive and kicking - the difference is that most of the "new tech" that's being developed scientifically isn't making into the hands of the consumers, in favor of sticking with high production output creating a commodity product.

What’s not making it into the hands of consumers? Are you talking about experimental stuff like quantum computers or just that the most powerful GPUs are priced out of reach for most people?

 

[yamaci17]

hd 4550 to r7 265

 

[Garibaldi]

I had a gen one Intel i7 920 and a GTX295. Built a custom water cooled 5950x/64GB/RTX3090/Gen4 m.2 in late 2020.

It was a a little bit better.

 

[Kupfer]

Only HW upgrade without a whole new system?

Upgrading from

AMD Athlon Xp Palomino 1800+ @ 1,533 GHz with a GeForce 2 MX400

to

AMD Atlon Xp Barton 3200+ @ 2,2 GHz and a Radeon 9800pro a weird RAM upgrade to like 768mb

was a blast in performance.

It was a good system back then and I remember how I was always one of the last remaining players on WC 3 legion TD at LAN parties because the other computers couldn't manage to maintain 2fps anymore.

 

[Knightime_X]

1st pc Ryzen 7 3800x, RTX 2060 super, 16gb ram
2nd pc i7 12700k, RTX 3070, 32gb ram.

First pc will get the 3070 once RTX 5080 drops.

 

[Mikado]

damn, that's old. What new stuff could you do on the powerpc as opposed to the Motorola?

It was an A/V model so I could feed audio and S-Video signals directly to it, capture video, edit and output movies larger than a 160x120 postage-stamp sized window. To be fair my older 68k was an A/V model as well (a Centris I think?) but it was frankly underpowered for the task. It could pass-through video but capturing or actually doing much with it was a pretty poor experience.

 

[Optimus Lime]

Probably going from an 8088XT with an EGA GPU to my 386DX-40, with glorious 256 colour VGA. I still remember booting up Willy Beamish, Syndicate, and Doom for the first time. It was like when the Wizard of Oz turns from black and white to colour.

Recently? This is far less exciting, but when I bought the 3080 to replace my 1080ti, it felt like a very incremental upgrade. It was okay. But, it didn't blow me away. Going from the 3080 to the 4090, though - THAT is significant. The power in that card is unbelievable.

 

[64bitmodels]

It was an A/V model so I could feed audio and S-Video signals directly to it, capture video, edit and output movies larger than a 160x120 postage-stamp sized window. To be fair my older 68k was an A/V model as well (a Centris I think?) but it was frankly underpowered for the task. It could pass-through video but capturing or actually doing much with it was a pretty poor experience.

Woah.
My only experience with any processor Motorola related is a Sega Genesis but i didn't know they were so underpowered to the point of barely being able to capture and edit video.

I am VERY grateful for the computers we have today

 

[Shadowstar39]

Going to show my age here, but let me tell you, the jumps in graphics, sound etc... was so much bigger in the early days of gaming 80s-90s than today. Even 2000s were more jumps.
Going from a 386sx 16mhz 2d graphics to a pentium 2 with 3d graphics in 1999. I gamed primarly on genesis -> ps1 during those years between 94-99 as my pc was shit by then. Was great for 1990-94.

I went from :
386sx 16mhz
1mb edo ram, 40mb hdd,
1mb oak graphics mem SuperVGA card (649x480 64k colors at once, or 800x600 256 colors at once)
Sound Blaster pro
1x cd rom, 2400k baud modem
windows 3.1

To a:
Pentium 2 (clone cyrix cpu) 266mhz mmx pc socket7,
32mb edo ram , 2gb hdd
Voodoo 3 16mb pci card (16bit 3d)
CDRW drive, 56k modem
Windows 98se

It was like going from a ford escort to a sports car.
Of course I wasn't satisfied. That cyrix chip was shit. I got the pc from my coz for $200 so I wasn't complaining.
I slapped a voodoo5 in there, and a sb live. The sblive actually gave me 5-20fps boost as the cpu was so bad for 3d that offloading sound to dedicated hardware helped so much.

A year later i did my first full build a Pentium 3 650mhz, 256mb sdram, Geforce3, dvd and broadband.

and

To this:

Major jump both in 2d and 3d. It was like going up a decade in hardware.

Now if you mean more modern, I would say going from a nvidia 6800 to 8800gts. Crysis was awesome on that.
Going from nvida 1060gtx to 3060ti rtx was a jump (especially for the wallet) but outside of ray tracing, and fps there isn't much difference.


Borfore the 386 i was working with a 8088 8bit cpu, 256k ram pc with 16k cga graphics, pc speaker(beeps and boops) 2 5.25in floppies and no hard disk, DOS 2.11. The games looked like this.
So going from that to a 386 with vga/svga and sound blaster was amazing too!

and if go further back some consoles and apple computer:


Atari 2600:

Apple iic:

Intellivision:

I had NES and TurboGrafx16 as well in the 80s. This was quite the jump from NES... but this thread seems more pc based, although i will post the screenshot, of one of my favorite games, along with it's brother Devi's Crush.
No one really made video pinball like those two games again, sadly.

from NES:

to TG16:

 

[64bitmodels]

Going from nvida 1060gtx to 3060ti rtx was a jump (especially for the wallet) but outside of ray tracing, and fps there isn't much difference.

jumps like that don't exist these days, pc gaming is more standardized and games will run even on the weakest cards.

but it's so fucking wild to see how much difference hardware could make in the 90s. a new soundcard could completely change the way DOOM sounded

 

[nkarafo]

I went from:

Pentium 4 2.8Ghz, 2GB RAM, Radeon x1950pro

to

i5 4670, 16GB RAM, GTX 960.


That was a decade jump of upgrade. I still have the same PC (with a 1060 6GB now) so i'm going for a similar jump soon.

 

[64bitmodels]

I went from:

Pentium 4 2.8Ghz, 2GB RAM, Radeon x1950pro

to

i5 4670, 16GB RAM, GTX 960.


That was a decade jump of upgrade. I still have the same PC (with a 1060 6GB now) so i'm going for a similar jump soon.

that is.... amazing.

if the RX 8000/RTX5000 come out and they're amazing value you might be getting yet another legendary jump

 

[nkarafo]

3DFX voodoo, boyyyyy.

This hasn't aged well though. Both Quake 1 and 2 look significantly better in software mode on a modern system (or a software "look" using a modern engine). GL Quake 1/2 looks like a piss filter is applied all over the screen and the default blurry filtering completely mangles the textures as they lose details.

 

[64bitmodels]

This hasn't aged well though. Both Quake 1 and 2 look significantly better in software mode on a modern system (or a software "look" using a modern engine). GL Quake 1/2 looks like a piss filter is applied all over the screen and the default blurry filtering completely mangles the textures as they lose details.

IDK about that, the left image looks a bit more noisy and unfocused like it'd give me a headache. one on the right might be less detailed but it's definitely easier on the eyes

 

[amigastar]

My old I7 2600k and now the I7 11700k. Especially when it comes to Switch emulation.
Soon gonna upgrade from an RTX 2060 to an RTX 4070 should also bring some improvement.

 

[nkarafo]

IDK about that, the left image looks a bit more noisy and unfocused like it'd give me a headache. one on the right might be less detailed but it's definitely easier on the eyes

That's because the left image is very low res (320 x 200 or something) while the right one is 640 x 480. That was great back in the day since there was no way to run this game at that resolution without a Voodoo. But nowadays you can run software Quake at any resolution so you don't get that noisy look.

Here's one good example in Quake 2, which really shows why i don't like the GL look:

This is the same deal but this time the left pic is at a similar resolution. But look at the loss of texture detail on the shotgun and the ugly piss filter colors...

And this is Quake 1 in software 640 x 480:

 

[Shadowstar39]

I went from:

Pentium 4 2.8Ghz, 2GB RAM, Radeon x1950pro

to

i5 4670, 16GB RAM, GTX 960.


That was a decade jump of upgrade. I still have the same PC (with a 1060 6GB now) so i'm going for a similar jump soon.

I went from Sandy bridge i3 (circa 2011) , geforce 1060 3gb , ddr3, to a Ryzen 5 3600 - geforce 3060ti 16gb ddr4. It was great for frames, and ray tracing but otherwise its not like jumps in the past. You don't notice it much in games outside of a fps for newer games, older games were already maxed by that card. Maybe in a year or two that will be different.

 

[R6Rider]

Probably SSD. Haven't done anything to my PC since 2020.

 

[IlGialloMondadori]

This hasn't aged well though. Both Quake 1 and 2 look significantly better in software mode on a modern system (or a software "look" using a modern engine). GL Quake 1/2 looks like a piss filter is applied all over the screen and the default blurry filtering completely mangles the textures as they lose details.

We are talking about impressive upgrades for the day. Yes, 30+ years later, computers can run the original software rendering better.
In the day, though, you got 320x200 with dogshit performance, or you got 800x600 gl quake at 60fps. Before the voodoo, every 3D accelerator sucked. Suddenly, 3D was not only playable, but had a huge performance boost.

 

[nkarafo]

We are talking about impressive upgrades for the day. Yes, 30+ years later, computers can run the original software rendering better.
In the day, though, you got 320x200 with dogshit performance, or you got 800x600 gl quake at 60fps. Before the voodoo, every 3D accelerator sucked. Suddenly, 3D was not only playable, but had a huge performance boost.

Fair enough. Though, with a voodoo 1 you still couldn't do 800x600 at 60fps. More like 20 something fps at 640x480. Still a nice upgrade from the 10ish fps at 320x200.

 

[Shadowstar39]

i wouldn't call 6 years a few.... It's no wonder the jump was so massive when there were so many gens you skipped.

that being said, that's awesome!


No lie deteced. Windows was completely unusable on an HDD, on SSD it's great

I actually reinstalled Windows on an HDD, it's painful as fuck. I need to get an SSD quick because i can't stand using that

I only use ssd for Windows, for games a hdd is still fine, imo. I don't notice a difference really for gaming, for windows sure.

Also on steam deck a game on teh ssd and game on the sd stick is negligible.
I don't think ssd is much of a jump, imo.

 

[Fools idol]

for me it was getting broadband LOL.

I was on 56k dial up for 5 years longer than anyone else because our village couldn't get power and lines up for 128kb. That jump was RIDICULOUS. Having a ping below 100 ms for the first time was an expience I wont forget

 

[Bry0]

pentium 4 and fx 5200 to a phenom II x4 955 and HD 4890. That was a massive jump and my first build.

 

[nkarafo]

for me it was getting broadband LOL.

I was on 56k dial up for 5 years longer than anyone else because our village couldn't get power and lines up for 128kb. That jump was RIDICULOUS. Having a ping below 100 ms for the first time was an expience I wont forget

I went from 56k to ADSL 384kbps

 

[PC Gamer]

Going from C64 to Amiga 500.

 

[Fools idol]

3090 to 4090!!! It was glorious

is it really that big of a jump?? I have a 3090 now.

 

[Hot5pur]

Going from a shitty 45" benq ultrawide lcd to a LG42C2 was impressive. Going from a GTX 1660 to an RTX 3070 was good too.

This is the way.
Do not skimp on the display!

This sound similar to me. Dropped out of PC gaming around 2005 with a GeForceFX (which I remember being shit) and a Pentium 4. Then grabbed a PC with a 970 and i7-4790 in 2014. That thing lasted me until 2021 and could have gone longer.

Now I’m rocking a 12700K and 3080. Hoping to upgrade to the 5XXX series cards when they appear (providing they offer good value!).

Not holding out hope for the 50xx series. What will it be, a 5070 for $800 equivalent to a 4080, maybe 4080 ti?

They've realized their mistake with the 3080 being $699 (even though few could get it at that price). We'll see how prices adjust once they sell through the old 30xx inventory, if that ever happens.

 

[Buggy Loop]

From no 3D, i had a 2D ATI card back then, to Voodoo banshee for sure.

Bought a CH fighterstick HOTAS and went nuts with the flight sims. It was the golden age of flight sims on PC right on time for 3d accelerators.

Longbow 2

Jane's F15

F-22 Air dominance fighter

Joint strike fighter

Falcon 4.0

Of course, Quake 2

Rainbow 6. I spent all my time in a clan on Mplayer doing competition back then. Anyone besides me remember fucking Mplayer? lol

Mechwarrior 2

And then when Starsiege Tribes released, i spent the WHOLE summer in-house in front of the CRT monitor....
I went back to school in september, i think my skin tint was fucking green

I think i even played Half Life 1 on that freaking card, including Deus ex. Glide was strong in those years.

 

[IlGialloMondadori]

Fair enough. Though, with a voodoo 1 you still couldn't do 800x600 at 60fps. More like 20 something fps at 640x480. Still a nice upgrade from the 10ish fps at 320x200.

It was technically 26fps. If you ran it at 512x384 you could get 41fps. Voodoo2 would rock it out at like 80+.

 

[amigastar]

From no 3D, i had a 2D ATI card back then, to Voodoo banshee for sure.

Bought a CH fighterstick HOTAS and went nuts with the flight sims. It was the golden age of flight sims on PC right on time for 3d accelerators.

Falcon 4.0

Did you try out Falcon BMS mod for Falcon 4.0? Takes the sim into another dimension. It's really fascinating.

 

[SatansReverence]

GTX560m/i7 2630 laptop to GTX1070/i5 7500 desktop.

Since then I've been keeping up or getting closer to top of the line culminating in the current 7900XTX/7800X3D. My PC of Theseus still has a handful of items from that original build.

 

[Solidus_T]

I went from an i5 8600K and a Vega 56 on a custom loop to a R9 5900X and a 3090 FE and that is probably the biggest jump I experienced. Before that I had a R9 390 with the i5.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Did you try out Falcon BMS mod for Falcon 4.0? Takes the sim into another dimension. It's really fascinating.

Not yet. Been watching the evolution of Falcon BMS throughout the years.

I'm finishing my basement this year and for sure i bring out the HOTAS out again. Been meaning to, but my desk is currently temporary for work and fuck it, HOTAS are big boys (Warthog HOTAS). I have Track IR, but will likely try VR in that game, support is apparently superb.

 

[amigastar]

Not yet. Been watching the evolution of Falcon BMS throughout the years.

I'm finishing my basement this year and for sure i bring out the HOTAS out again. Been meaning to, but my desk is currently temporary for work and fuck it, HOTAS are big boys (Warthog HOTAS). I have Track IR, but will likely try VR in that game, support is apparently superb.

Yeah, as soon as i get my RTX 4070 i will try to get hold of an VR device. Should be really nice playing a flight sim in VR.

 

[Laptop1991]

My Voodoo 1 card, going from software to HW 3d accelerated is still the biggest jump and buzz ever for me.

 

[GHG]

My upgrade history is as follows (CPU/ system ram in brackets):

(AMD X2 6000+ / 2GB RAM)

Nvidia 8600GT 256mb (2008)


(Phenom 965 Black Edition / 4GB RAM)

ATI 4770 512mb (2009)
GTX 260 core 216 896mb (2009)
GTX 480 1.5 GB (2010)


(Intel i5 3570 @ 4.6 ghz 24/7 OC / 16GB RAM)

GTX 660 SLI 3GB (2012)
GTX 980 Ti 6GB (2014)


(AMD 3900x / 32 GB RAM)

RTX 2070 Super 8GB (2020)


(AMD 5800X3D / 32 GB RAM)

RTX 4090 24GB (2022)


The AMD x2 --> phenom x4 and 8600GT to 4770 upgrade was HUGE, over a 350% increase in performance. So that was the one.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Going from a GTX 2GB 960 to a GTX1070 was a nice jump, as was 3070ti to 7900XT.

 

[miek]

Just upgraded from a Ryzen 5 3600, GTX 1070, 16GB ram system to a Ryzen 7 5800x3D, RTX 3080 12gb, 32 GB ram system. I can't wait to play my visual novels!

 

[Arun1910]

An i7700 and a 1080 to a Ryzen 5800x and a 3080.