Current Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 965 "Black Edition" (runs at non-OC speed 3.4 ghz)
MOBO: Gigabyte (GA-MA790GPT-UD3H)
RAM: 2x2g DDR3
Vid Card: ATI Radeon 4850
Hard drive: WD (not solid state and > 5 years old)

The Phenom 965 has benchmarks that come close to an i5-3320 (unless i read it wrong). Not planning on playing the highest graphic intensive games.

the plan: keep the 965, upgrade the RAM to 8g, buy a Radeon RX480 graphics card w/ 8g of video mem and purchase a faster solid state HD

thoughts anyone ?

Sounds like a good plan for me to get something more out of that older system!

I´m basically running my system from 2011 which I upgraded over time with some more RAM (16GB), a new faster SSD, Win10 and just yesterday with a new AMD RX 480 card.

Happy I can still play every game and sim I like so far with enough eyecandy on 1920x1080 res.

Never expected in 2011 I would still use the same CPU/Mainboard/RAM combination 6 years later.

Well not sure what processor you have but the AMD Black Editions are made to be easily overclocked once you purchase a compatible heat sink for it. You should be able to OC a black edition like the 965 to almost 4 ghz

Yes, getting an easily overclockable CPU shure helps to get something more out of it over time!

Running an i7 2600k here mildly oc´ed to 4,2GHz which will probably have to do for another year before I start looking for something different next year.

Nice NimRud, well if you're running an i7 OC'd to about 4.2 ghz i dare say that you will probably get another couple of years out of it before you have to do much of anything

Yes +1 on Overclocking it..

My wife still uses her Phenom II at 3.4 because its still "fast enough". Meanwhile, after Ryzen hits the market, prices on CPUs (other than Ryzen) should fall (assuming you ever want more CPU -- but, you'll need a motherboard too).

I once owned a 4850 and currently own an RX480 8GB Reference (was cheapest). The RX480 is far, far, far, far, etc. faster than the 4850. The RX480 seems to run everything I want to run at 1440p ultimate settings (but, its mid-speed compared to the fastest, more expensive Nvidia cards 1070, 1080). RX480 makes sense, to me.

An SSD makes a difference one can see in computer start up and in program and game loading. Otherwise, its rare to see an "in game" improvement. So, don't get it to play games faster. If on a budget, get a 240GB SSD -- if not get a 500GB. 250GB will run Windows, all your applications, and a game or two if one really needs it. Keep all your other games and files on the HD. A 250GB SSD is cheap for the capacity. Samsung 850 EVO is good, I have a few on all my computers around the house (250GB about $100 today, 500GB $160).

If you look at hard drives, I'm a Seagate fan. They got a bad reputation about 6 years ago -- so cost less than Western Digital. I've had no problems with mine since that time many years ago -- I have 5 in my main machine -- see my signature. Get a 7200RPM version -- if you get any at all.

Just opinions based on my owning some of the stuff you're looking at.

Yea thanks Allen I'll check to see if my current HD is 56 or 72. The SSD i bought is an 850 Pro and it might decrease the game load times and in game map loading times. If nothing else I'll hang on to it cause one of my PC's has a HD that is closing in on 7 years and not sure how much longer that thing will last.