New PC purchase, don't know if right decision.

[cr2250]

Right now I have an i5 2500k w/ 560ti (SLI) 1gbs
12gb's ram
128gb ssd w/ 1TB HD
Lian-li microatx case

The graphic cards are struggling to keep up with some games. I have read that the 2500k is legendary when it comes to gaming performance and that upgrading isn't necessary. I was all set on just buying a GTX 980 and just adding in the card...

But came across a deal yesterday at slickdeals:

HP ENVY Phoenix 850se Desktop PC
Product number: M0K56AV#ABA
•12GB DDR4-2133 DIMM (1x8GB+1x4GB) RAM
•NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4GB GDDR5 FH GFX
•256GB SATA 2.5 TLC Solid State Drive (Samsung)
•HP Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 1x1 with Bluetooth M.2 NIC
•4th Generation Intel (R) Core(TM) i7-5820K processor hexa-core [3.3GHz, 15MB Shared Cache]
•SuperMulti DVD Burner


I would be paying a total w/o tax of $1291.49 minus $170 discount and a $250 rebate card.

Which brings the price to $871.93

When you factor in the cost of a GTX980 being around $500, that would bring the pc down to $371.93

Is it worth it in performance value to upgrade to a new computer? For $371.93

What I do like is that it's a pre-built and I don't really need to mess with anything out of the box. Comes with the latest version of an OS, plus the case on this one doesn't look terrible.

 

[Ken g6]

Hex-core is nice. But single-threaded performance may be underwhelming, unless you can overclock. From what I can find online, it looks unlikely that you could overclock any HP. But I could be wrong.

The RAM configuration is also strange. For that kind of system you want four of the same kind of RAM for quad-channel. So you might want to rearrange that in the future.

The ability to overclock, or not, really makes or breaks the deal, IMHO.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Hex-core is nice. But single-threaded performance may be underwhelming, unless you can overclock. From what I can find online, it looks unlikely that you could overclock any HP. But I could be wrong.

The RAM configuration is also strange. For that kind of system you want four of the same kind of RAM for quad-channel. So you might want to rearrange that in the future.

The ability to overclock, or not, really makes or breaks the deal, IMHO.

Not sure about OEMs, but independent computer-store repair-shops had always done this bit of mischief to save either themselves or their customers money -- I'd think mostly the former. I have seen . . . just . . . so . . . many such systems . . . fitted with a single RAM module when two would be better. My auto-repair shop and mechanic-owner is a case in point. He may have got 8GB, but it was a single module, even in a "two for one" price on the two computers with the same hardware.

I'm guessing it's possible the 5820K was fitted as dual-channel in a quad-channel system -- if that's possible. But AFAIK, there's no 3 GB RAM module, and no 6 GB RAM module. No -- looking again -- only an 8GB and a 4GB RAM stick. Very strange.

The builder must have really scraped the bottom of the barrel to choose an X99 motherboard. Just me speculating there.

Frankly, I'd buy the 980 card if you want it -- now. With the system you've got, if you've overclocked it, you shouldn't be in a hurry about this. If you haven't OC'd -- and I see you're not anxious to tinker with prospect of a ready-built system -- I'd do that. Later, you can redeploy the GTX 980 in a new system.

Then, Waiting either for Broadwell or Skylake and even taking some more time, the stocks of money will pile up, having deferred the "flow" you contemplate.

In the end, it's all about needs, wants and even money burning a hole in the pocket. But what if you're not satisfied with the new system you're looking at there?

 

[Ken g6]

Frankly, I'd buy the 980 card if you want it -- now.

Aside from good deals, I wouldn't get a 980 card at all. I'd either get an OCed 970, or a 980 Ti. $500 on a 980 isn't a good deal IMHO; $450 might be; $400 probably is.

 

[cr2250]

Hex-core is nice. But single-threaded performance may be underwhelming, unless you can overclock. From what I can find online, it looks unlikely that you could overclock any HP. But I could be wrong.

The RAM configuration is also strange. For that kind of system you want four of the same kind of RAM for quad-channel. So you might want to rearrange that in the future.

The ability to overclock, or not, really makes or breaks the deal, IMHO.

If I end up having issues with the RAM config, could I just purchase this http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC4-17000-Unbuffered-288-Pin-CT8G4DFD8213/dp/B00MMLUYVU

Remove the 4gb, and only have two slots utilized for ram?

 

[mfenn]

If I end up having issues with the RAM config, could I just purchase this http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC4-17000-Unbuffered-288-Pin-CT8G4DFD8213/dp/B00MMLUYVU

Remove the 4gb, and only have two slots utilized for ram?

Yes, that would work. In all honesty, if you're not a tinkerer, then that HP is a really good deal. It's $900 worth of kit in the CPU and GPU alone. Even if you say that the 980 is only "worth" $400, it's still $800 of parts right there. You can't put together the rest of a system for $72.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Any comment on whether or not that GTX980 is a "special OEM version", that may be *under*-clocked, rather than the generally-overclocked enthusiast versions sold at Newegg, etc.

I just remember that a lot of OEM rigs, have video cards that seem "name brand" (or model), but are variously "special" for the OEMs.

 

[mfenn]

Any comment on whether or not that GTX980 is a "special OEM version", that may be *under*-clocked, rather than the generally-overclocked enthusiast versions sold at Newegg, etc.

I just remember that a lot of OEM rigs, have video cards that seem "name brand" (or model), but are variously "special" for the OEMs.

It's possible, and there's not a lot of information out there on that particular HP model. However, there are no known "OEM-special" editions of the GTX 980 either.