New PC or GPU upgrade?

[ryanoly]

I bought a new computer to work from home for covid. I wasn't thinking i would eventually want to build a golf simulator. so I went to costco and just bought one. It's a Dell Inspiron.
i5-9400 2.90Ghz
12GB ram
128 NVMe + 1TB HDD

I am thinking I should be able to just buy a video card to make it work. I will be running in 1080. I don't think I will care if I have all of the setting way up but I don't want to be laggy because I cheaped out. I am willing to buy a top of line gaming PC if it would actually make the experience better. If not why waste the money.

So which one? New PC or upgrade GPU?

[ryanoly]

Actually I probably have my mind made up to just buy a GPU and if that doesn't work I can always use that GPU as the start of building my own gaming PC. It didn't really occur to me until just after I posted the original question. Although if people know I am going to end up building my own it would save me some time and I can just buy one already built. I've built enough computers that it no longer is fun, it's just a pain in the butt.

[Stonebattle]

I take it the computer you have now does not have a video card in it? Does it have an open PCI-express slot for the card? If so, anything at or above a GTX 1060 or RX 570 should do well.

[Gotkimchi]

I take it the computer you have now does not have a video card in it? Does it have an open PCI-express slot for the card? If so, anything at or above a GTX 1060 or RX 570 should do well.

It depends, if that machine as a descent power supply to support the video card or allow for the power supply to be upgraded.

[Stonebattle]

Yes, good catch. With a system like that the power supply could be on the small side.