Switching to Intel. Gaming Build.

[Vaulter]

My current setup is:
Amd Thuban x6 @3.3 + mobo + Cooler
6gb ddr3
AMD 5770
1tb WD Caviar Black
500gb junk drive

Asus DVD
Cooler Master gx 650 watt PSU
Cooler Master cm 690 II Case

The last three I can just reuse because I'm fairly happy with it, though I would consider scrapping the PSU for a more efficient one with less power and heat/noise. Everything else I will probably sell.

What I'm looking for now is something much more efficient, with less heat and therefore I can run the fans slower and quieter, only I don't want to give up TOO much gaming potential. I really only play League of Legends (and I want to continue doing so at 60 fps, 1080p at all times.) However I'm sure there will come a time where I want to play a bit of something else and will need a bit more juice (I'm okay with having to run it at med settings and such)

My needs:
-Some 4 core Intel Processor. I wont be overclocking so no K series necessary. I doubt you'd be able to convince me to go with a dual core chip, but feel free to try.
-A motherboard for it to go in. I like Asus?
-A video card that doesn't lose out too hard to the now old and slow 5770.
-Ram I can just reuse, but it's cheap enough again that it doesn't make a difference either way.
-Possibly new PSU?
-A quiet and good heatsink (are the all in one watercooled ones any good?)
-An SSD! They're finally below $1/gb so I'm willing to buy one haha. Problem is I know nothing about them. A quick one, probably just 128gb since I've got HTPC with a boatload of space. OS, some games, and school files is all it needs to hold.

I do NOT have a set budget. My thoughts are I should be able to get everything for under $800 so thats the number to go by, but obviously less is better and I'll pay more if it gets me what I'm really looking for. Hopefully that paints a picture and somebody will have some good ideas for parts. I'm just a bit out of my element with Intel (always been an AMD fan, but it just doesn't make sense to buy anymore) and ssds.

 

[mfenn]

This is pretty easy, we won't need to touch the top end of your budget:

i5 3570K + ASRock Z77 Pro4 combo $317
CM TPC 812 $65
Reuse RAM $0
7850 $185 AR
Crucial M4 128GB $110
Reuse PSU $0
Total: $677 AR

 

[Zap]

Is your computer too slow now in some way? Or just too noisy? You can fix the noise part by getting a new cooler (maybe an AIO liquid cooler or a big heatpipe cooler). With the new cooler you can do a mild overclock while still keeping it quiet.

Then, get an SSD and do a fresh Windows install on it.

Finally, get a new graphics card.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Thuban's not exactly slow. But Intel is more power-efficient, for the most part.

Seems more of almost a side-grade to me, especially if you don't plan to OC the Intel quad-core to the moon.

 

[dmoney1980]

Since you don't plan on overclocking, you could get a non-k series i5 and a H77 board...

CPU $195 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115232

Quiet CPU cooler $20 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233082

Board $80 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157302

RAM- reuse $0

GPU - $185 after rebate - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

SSD - Crucial m4 $110 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

Total $590.00

That leaves you some money to invest in a new power supply if need be, but i think your current PSU is fine

 

[mfenn]

Since you don't plan on overclocking, you could get a non-k series i5 and a H77 board...

CPU $195 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115232

Quiet CPU cooler $20 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233082

Board $80 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157302

RAM- reuse $0

GPU - $185 after rebate - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

SSD - Crucial m4 $110 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

Total $590.00

That leaves you some money to invest in a new power supply if need be, but i think your current PSU is fine

It's helpful if you list out the part names instead of just providing links. That way, we don't have to wait for the forums' slow-ass redirector to see what the product is.

 

[ElFenix]

the old ram might not be truly compatible with ivy bridge. a lot of ddr3 was (and still is) 1.65 volt, which is out of spec for ivy's memory controller.

 

[Vaulter]

Hey guys, you're right this is more of a side-grade. My current computer isn't too slow at all for me, however I live in Arizona and am constantly battling the heat. With the computer running so hot I have to crank all the fans and it is NOISY.

When I built the computer I wasn't concerned with it, as I wanted the extra cores no matter what for a large amount of rendering I was doing back then. I was also doing a lot more gaming back then and wanted to run everything on high.

Does it really make sense for me to go with the 7850? Is there any news on the 8000 series cards haha? Maybe I wait for an 8770 or something =]

Thanks for the help guys, so it looks the the M4 for sure! I'll chiggity check on the RAM, and I think I can sit on it long enough to find some kind of steal on the processor and motherboard.

 

[moonbogg]

I don't think anthing you upgrade to is going to make a massive difference in heat output. The stuff listed above is in no way a side grade. These part are way the hell faster than what you got.

 

[mfenn]

Does it really make sense for me to go with the 7850? Is there any news on the 8000 series cards haha? Maybe I wait for an 8770 or something =]

The 7850 is a quiet, cool-running card that's a hell of a lot faster than the 5770. What are you unsure about in particular?

 

[Zap]

Hey guys, you're right this is more of a side-grade. My current computer isn't too slow at all for me, however I live in Arizona and am constantly battling the heat. With the computer running so hot I have to crank all the fans and it is NOISY.

When I built the computer I wasn't concerned with it, as I wanted the extra cores no matter what for a large amount of rendering I was doing back then. I was also doing a lot more gaming back then and wanted to run everything on high.

Do you still do rendering? If you're solely gaming now (depending on the game) and you really want to cut the heat output, go with an Ivy Bridge Core i3.

the old ram might not be truly compatible with ivy bridge. a lot of ddr3 was (and still is) 1.65 volt, which is out of spec for ivy's memory controller.

It will work fine. All 1.65v RAM can work at 1.5v... at a lower MHz.

 

[magomago]

Meh too much of a side grade; I might consider a little bit more on the cooling, see how much I can undervolt, and call it a day.

Intel will be faster, not probably not in anything noticable that you'll have. If you want wait for Haswell; It won't be much much faster than IB, but if the indications are true, it'll be much much COOLER.