Upgrade Advice

[alpha88]

Hi - I used to be an avid system builder (new parts ever 6 months or so), but due to my work, I've since fallen pretty far behind. I'm looking for suggestions regarding my upgrade options.

Here is my current system:

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128377 )

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 2.8ghz, with stock cooler ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103649 )

Ram: 2x2GB DDR3 1600 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227324 )

Video Card: Radeon 5870 with 1GB

Seasonic 850W ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151067 )

Antec 900 series case (902 perhaps)

OS Drive: 150GB Raptor, running Windows 7
Other Drives: 2TB Seagates x 2, 1.5TB Seagate, DVD writer.


I'm planning to install Windows 8 when I upgrade my system.
These are my upgrade thoughts:

New CPU: Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103727 ) - will this work with my motherboard?

Add Ram: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145345 )

Add SSD, Either
Vertex4 256gb ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227792 )
Samsung 830 256gb ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147164 )


I use my computer mainly for software development and intermittent video gaming - primarily games like Civ V or RPGs (like Oblivion). These all run fine on my current system, so I don't think I'm in the market for a new video card yet.

Budget is probably in the ~400-500 range for an upgrade, or 800-1000 if building a new system.

I'll buy parts in USA (and do have Amazon Prime)

Historically, I've liked AMD and Seagate, but I'm by no means attached.

I don't plan on overclocking.

I use 1920 x 1200 monitor.

If upgrading, I'd like to upgrade in the next month or so. If building a new system, I'm okay with waiting until new architectures are released or what not.

My Questions:
Is this a reasonable upgrade? How much more would I benefit from spending extra on a new motherboard and an i5 (rather than just a new CPU). I'd be going from 3 cores at 2.8 to 4 cores at 3.4, which should be at least 20%, not counting the additional cores, at the cost of $100.

For my SSD choice, any good reasons to choose the 830 over the Vertex4?

 

[Blain]

Can we talk you out of Windows 8?

 

[lehtv]

New CPU: Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103727 ) - will this work with my motherboard?

I wouldn't do this, the performance increase just isn't that much. X4 730 vs X4 965. Whereas if you go Intel...

Budget is probably in the ~400-500 range for an upgrade, or 800-1000 if building a new system.

CPU i5-3570K $216 @amazon
Mobo Asrock H77M $70
RAM 2x4GB Samsung DDR3 $45 @newegg
GPU Reuse 5870 $0
SSD Intel 330 180GB $155 @amazon or wait for a sale on a 256GB Samsung 830 or Crucial M4
HDD Reuse $0 (I wouldn't use the raptor though, the SSD replaces it)
DVD Reuse $0
PSU Reuse Seasonic 850W $0 although it is super overkill
Case Reuse Antec 900 $0 if in good condition and you like it

= $486

Can we talk you out of Windows 8?

You can upgrade from a Win 7 to Win 8 for $15 if bought after June 2: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/upgrade-offer. I don't know what the upgrade normally costs though...

 

[alpha88]

Can we talk you out of Windows 8?

I haven't tried Windows 8 yet, and it's not entirely the motivation for upgrading the system. If I get it all setup and don't like it, I'd probably revert back to Windows 7.

I wouldn't do this, the performance increase just isn't that much. X4 730 vs X4 965. Whereas if you go Intel...

Those are some interesting stats, I'll have to figure out if that performance for $270 is a better choice than just an X4 for $110

 

[lehtv]

Those are some interesting stats, I'll have to figure out if that performance for $270 is a better choice than just an X4 for $110

The X4 is about a 50-60% boost in performance. You can get it for $90 from NCIX; if you're tight for money this is certainly an option. 0.6 % increase per dollar.

But the Intel fits your budget and gets you a boost well in excess of 100% (the i5-3570K is another 5-10% on top of the i5-2500K in the chart)

Also remember you could recoup some of the cost by selling your old motherboard.

Additional benefits to going Intel:
- lower power consumption
- integrated graphics for backup or a secondary monitor
- potential to use quicksync for fast video conversion
- potential to overclock the i5-3570K to 4.0-4.6Ghz depending on cooling (requires z77 chipset)
- new mobo will have SATA 6gb/s with which you can get the most out of the new SSD (although 6gb/s is by no means necessary to feel a big difference).

The H77 board can't overclock the unlocked 3570K, so it's an option to upgrade the mobo to Asrock Z77 Pro3 $102 or downgrade the CPU to i5-3450. I just picked the 3570K because usually it costs $230.

 

[alpha88]

Thanks for the advice lehtv -

I'm not really tight for money, but I just want to get a good value.

I'll look at z77 motherboards.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the advice lehtv -

I'm not really tight for money, but I just want to get a good value.

I'll look at z77 motherboards.

The "free RAM" Z77 promo looks to be over, so I would recommend the ASrock Z77 Pro3 for a good balance of value and features.

 

[alpha88]

So I decided to hold off on my upgrade, and now doing a rebuild.

CPU: i4670K - $199 @ Microcenter
Motherboard: MSI z87-g45 - $139 - $40 combo @ Microcenter ( http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0414819 )
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sports 1600 2x8gb $109 - $20 @ Microcenter ( http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0385182 )
Storage: Reuse 256gb Samsung 830 + other hard discs
Video: Reuse Radeon 5870
PSU: Seasonic 850W ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151067 )
Case: Reuse

This seems to come out to be $387 + tax.

Alternatively, I could go to i4770k for $80 more, which I'm somewhat toying with.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Any reason on getting the "K" version when you said you don't plan on overclocking?

 

[alpha88]

I chose the K for price reasons, since microcenter bundle seems to be a much better deal.

Here is what is in stock at my microcenter:

i5 4670k - $199
i5 4570s - $169 and lose $40 discount on motherboard
i5 4570 - $159 and lose $40 discount on motherboard
i7 4770k - $279
i7 4770s - $279 and lose $40 discount on motherboard.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Ah, I see.

 

[mfenn]

Any reason on getting the "K" version when you said you don't plan on overclocking?

Only the K is eligible for the combo at MC.

 

[mfenn]

So I decided to hold off on my upgrade, and now doing a rebuild.

CPU: i4670K - $199 @ Microcenter
Motherboard: MSI z87-g45 - $139 - $40 combo @ Microcenter ( http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0414819 )
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sports 1600 2x8gb $109 - $20 @ Microcenter ( http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0385182 )
Storage: Reuse 256gb Samsung 830 + other hard discs
Video: Reuse Radeon 5870
PSU: Seasonic 850W ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151067 )
Case: Reuse

This seems to come out to be $387 + tax.

Alternatively, I could go to i4770k for $80 more, which I'm somewhat toying with.

CPU, mobo, and RAM all look good. You could save a little on the mobo by getting the Z87 Pro4 though.

As for the PSU, your link is busted, so I can't see exactly what model you're looking at. However, I can tell you that 850W is way overkill. You need 650W at most to power this rig. Check out the Rosewill Capstone 650W.