Thought this might get more visability/answers in a new post:
Thanks guys for all the good ideas/suggestions.
Based upon what I read in the previous post, here are some thoughts:
1. Should I upgrade my CPU to a used I7 2600k or i7 3770? According to AMDistheBEST link, those CPUs are about 20 - 30% faster than my i5 2500k? Depending on how cheap I can get a used one it might be a good upgrade and would probably help my PC last another two years easy.
1a. What is the best way to buy a used CPU? What kind of price would I be looking at?
2. If I do the above, would faster RAM be an asset or still not as important?
--- OR ---
1. If I keep the 2500k - I'll probably get an additional 4gb of RAM (2x2). It's like $40 at Amazon and seeing reviews of newer games (and GTA 5) it looks like these games dip over 8gb.
SSD Drives!
I do have Windows 7. But do SSD drives really last 5 years? I was tempted to only get 512gb to use only for the upgrade and than just get a new bigger (like 2tb) one with a new build in a couple years, but it they actually last that long I might splurge for a 1tb one now and just reuse it in my new build.
I am looking way forward to getting an 8-core CPU but will be waiting until Ryzen ships their next gen (at least) and Intel has a competing product. It's nice to finally start seeing new CPUs pull decisively away from the 2500k which was so good for so long. It seems newer games are being able to harness to power of more than four cores, and with DX 12 and umm, the other one (forgot the name) it seems like 8 cores will be the near future.
Edit: Oh, I use my PC purely for games. Some recent/demanding games I am playing are: GTA 5 (just really started getting into it), Total War: Warhamer and Civ 6. In the near future I will be getting Dawn of War 3. Hopefully one day Left 4 Dead 3 will be coming out - c'mon Valve!!
Thanks guys for all the good ideas/suggestions.
Based upon what I read in the previous post, here are some thoughts:
1. Should I upgrade my CPU to a used I7 2600k or i7 3770? According to AMDistheBEST link, those CPUs are about 20 - 30% faster than my i5 2500k? Depending on how cheap I can get a used one it might be a good upgrade and would probably help my PC last another two years easy.
1a. What is the best way to buy a used CPU? What kind of price would I be looking at?
2. If I do the above, would faster RAM be an asset or still not as important?
--- OR ---
1. If I keep the 2500k - I'll probably get an additional 4gb of RAM (2x2). It's like $40 at Amazon and seeing reviews of newer games (and GTA 5) it looks like these games dip over 8gb.
SSD Drives!
I do have Windows 7. But do SSD drives really last 5 years? I was tempted to only get 512gb to use only for the upgrade and than just get a new bigger (like 2tb) one with a new build in a couple years, but it they actually last that long I might splurge for a 1tb one now and just reuse it in my new build.
I am looking way forward to getting an 8-core CPU but will be waiting until Ryzen ships their next gen (at least) and Intel has a competing product. It's nice to finally start seeing new CPUs pull decisively away from the 2500k which was so good for so long. It seems newer games are being able to harness to power of more than four cores, and with DX 12 and umm, the other one (forgot the name) it seems like 8 cores will be the near future.
Edit: Oh, I use my PC purely for games. Some recent/demanding games I am playing are: GTA 5 (just really started getting into it), Total War: Warhamer and Civ 6. In the near future I will be getting Dawn of War 3. Hopefully one day Left 4 Dead 3 will be coming out - c'mon Valve!!