First-timer Upgrading a Best Buy PC

[Wolfesbrain]

So I've never built a PC before but I've been reading guides and build lists and stuff for years, putting together a plan. Unfortunately, everything I read was either way out of my price range, or within my price range but working off the assumption that I was upgrading an old PC and directing the budget towards just the motherboard, processor, and graphics card which didn't work because I was starting from scratch.

 

So I saved up and, on a tiny bit of research and a lot of impulse, bought an ASUS Essentio Series M11BB about two years ago. Brought it home, set it up, and downloaded Steam to install Skyrim; it auto-detected to Ultra, and I was a happy camper. Since then I've bought a graphics card and more RAM, but now I'm looking to some more significant upgrading. I've half a mind to do a proper build from a new case and up, but my budget leans more towards a piecemeal overhaul. So I figure I'll list out my current specs and gaming style/aspirations, and get some advice on where best to start the upgrade.

• Motherboard: F2A55-M/M1BB/DP_MB (stock)
• CPU: AMD A10-6700 (stock)
• RAM: 16GB (2x8) PNY Xlr8 DDR3
• Graphics: PNY Verto 2GB NVIDIA GT 740 ("ew, budget card", I know, but I bought it before I started following Linus Tech Tips and learned better)
• Storage: 1x 1TB Toshiba HDD (stock)
• PSU:  AcBel HBA008-ZA1GT 350 (stock)
• Network: Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC (stock)

And it's all in the ASUS Essentio case, a non-descript black rectangular box.

 

I'm looking at getting the AMD RX 480 (though I just read that NVIDIA is releasing the 1060 at that price point, so I'll wait and see how it compares), and I plan on running just one with one 1080p display. I have no plans to upgrade to a multi-monitor set-up, VR, or 1440p+. I honestly can't tell the difference between 30fps and 60fps (though that may just be a lack of experience), and I don't play the kind of competitive games where those extra frames would make a difference. I think that's all the important information. 

 

As far as I've read, the first thing I need to upgrade to be able to even use an RX 480-class card is the PSU. Am I on the right track? What kind of wattage should I look for? What are the reliable generic/cheap brands? Are there any frills/features I should look for or avoid?

 

Thanks for your advice,

Wolfie

Edited July 7, 2016 by Wolfesbrain
added a sign off/expressed appreciation for reading

[Cyracus]

This psu should handle any single gpu setup you could plan to use http://pcpartpicker.com/product/fZyFf7/seasonic-power-supply-s12ii520bronze  or semi modular http://pcpartpicker.com/product/vJvRsY/cooler-master-power-supply-rs650amaag1s1   I don't bother recommending full modular because you need those connectors anyway. Good psu ranking 

 

[Wolfesbrain]

Awesome. Thanks for the advice and I guess I'll be back with more questions after I've saved up and bought the PSU.