What would YOU do with an Intel $5,000 Extreme Tech Upgrade?

[LloydLynx]

Would you do the normal thing and overhaul your gaming setup? Or would you do something completely different? If you were given $5,000 with the rules of the Intel Extreme Tech Upgrade, how would you spend the money?

[7heo]

I would probably spend most of the money on the parts that you get to keep and reuse for multiple generations (case, PSU, monitor(s), wall mounts, desk, chair, peripherals), and minimize the money spent on CPU/Mobo/GPU (esp GPU given their current prices); also because I could really use a threadripper and there's no way Intel is going to sponsor that

[Downkey]

6 minutes ago, LloydLynx said:

Would you do the normal thing and overhaul your gaming setup? Or would you do something completely different? If you were given $5,000 with the rules of the Intel Extreme Tech Upgrade, how would you spend the money?

I wish it would be AMD extreme upgrade lmao

Ideally, it would be an entire new setup

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i9-10850K 3.6 GHz 10-Core Processor  ($409.00 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB 48.8 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($130.00)
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z490 GAMING EDGE WIFI ATX LGA1200 Motherboard  ($199.95 @ Amazon)
Memory: Team T-Force Delta RGB 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 980 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($119.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB FTW3 ULTRA GAMING Video Card  ($700.00)
Case: Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic ATX Full Tower Case  ($149.99 @ Adorama)
Power Supply: Enermax Revolution D.F. 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($116.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: ARCTIC P12 PST A-RGB 0dB 48.8 CFM 120 mm Fan  ($15.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: ARCTIC P12 PST A-RGB 0dB 48.8 CFM 120 mm Fan  ($15.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: ARCTIC P12 PST A-RGB 0dB 48.8 CFM 120 mm Fan  ($15.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1953.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-07-18 15:35 EDT-0400

Would also get any decent mouse pad that's preferably 48x24, a GPro Superlight, maybe a Blue yeti?
 

[NineEyeRon]

Some kind of solution that makes switching between my work laptop and my home gaming PC much easier. I have a tiny desk space and for the last 16 months I have been just "dealing" with it.

 

I would also get a "Live Laugh Liao" neon wall light.

[da na]

12 minutes ago, Caroline said:

A what? I'd probably get a car with 5k, or maybe get into the stocks market

I'd be a bit sus of a $5000 car...

[da na]

I'd buy older parts, I'd probably get a bomb ass LGA 2011 dual socket board with 2 12 core CPUs, RTX 3090, I already have ddr3, I'd need some m2s, and a nicer case. But I think I'd keep my monitors, keyboard, soundcard, etc.

[Murasaki]

make a cute and powerful sff thingy

[jaslion]

Use it to go do a part time course in college again.

[7heo]

14 minutes ago, Mel0nMan said:

I'd probably get a bomb ass LGA 2011 dual socket board with 2 12 core CPUs

But then your 5k budget would be eaten up entirely by your first electrical bill...

[CommanderAlex]

Probably go with a Intel HEDT that is not on 14nm and see some single core performance boost comparable to consumer chips. Max out the RAM and go pretty minimal with the RGB. 

[sub68]

I would get a LP GPU like a 1650 or 1050. ~250 usd.

Maybe a PSU and a 6th gen i7 6700 ~300usd

Audio upgrade:

Scarlett 2i2 is ~100USD

Neumann TLM 103 ~1395 USD

 

Camera: EOS RP~ 1000 USD

EOS wecam kit 160USD

Canon 14-35RF 1,700

total 4,905

That is left for may be a cheapo webcam or cables that might be needed.

[Freakwise]

Probably upgrade to somewhat decent spec

i5, 3060ti (or whatever the heck comes next), 32gb ram

 

And use the rest to buy audio gear and such (bigger/higher I/O Audio interface, more midi keyboard, and maybe even buy an hardware synthesizer if budget allows)

 

 

[da na]

16 minutes ago, 7heo said:

But then your 5k budget would be eaten up entirely by your first electrical bill...

dammit I didn't think about that

[Kilrah]

An LG OLED, a $500 intel laptop as "main machine" and... a Threadripper 5000 build as "accessory"? 

I'm OK to get Intel WiFi, NIC and SSD... heck might even throw an Xe GPU 

[Bladzy]

Hookers and Cocaine! No seriously.

I'd get:

GeForce RTX™ 3090 GamingPro OC (mainly because of its smaller form factor, this is the only model that fits my case) Samsung C49RG94SSU or similar (to go along with the new gpu) new motherboard with X570M chipset some "cheap" 2TB+ m.2 SSD new CPU to go along with the motherboard (8+ cores) likely a new PSU aswell matx case with passive cooling capabilities (to throw my old components in and make it a proxmox server running an ip camera, pihole, home vpn client, media server and some other cool things)   This should leave me with ~ 1K which I likely would just save up until I need it.   (Just realized I am not allowed to get an AMD CPU, well I'd try it anyways lol)

[Peaky]

i'd honest wouldnt know what to spend it on, but i guess i would spend it on a i7 10700F, a RTX 3060, a guitar like the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder or some ibanez, a good amp from boss, a new TV and a desk and monitor with the rest 

again, i wouldnt know how to spend it because i never ever in my life had 5000€/$ to spend freely 

good question though

[WhitetailAni]

What I'd get:
- Titan Z ($600)

- X570-E ($300)
- RM1000X ($250)
- iMac G5 logic board ($70)
- Power Mac G4 logic board ($60)
- Pokemon Alpha Sapphire ($25)
- Pokemon Diamond ($25)

- Replacement 2DS screen ($50)

- Pokemon Sword ($65)

- Pokemon Shield ($65)

- 1 year of Pokemon Bank ($10)

- Total: $1520

 

I would then save the rest.

[Downkey]

45 minutes ago, FakeKGB said:

What I'd get:
- Titan Z ($600)

- X570-E ($300)
- RM1000X ($250)
- iMac G5 logic board ($70)
- Power Mac G4 logic board ($60)
- Pokemon Alpha Sapphire ($25)
- Pokemon Diamond ($25)

- Replacement 2DS screen ($50)

- Pokemon Sword ($65)

- Pokemon Shield ($65)

- 1 year of Pokemon Bank ($10)

- Total: $1520

 

I would then save the rest.

Yes, spend intels money on an x570 board

[WhitetailAni]

24 minutes ago, Downkey said:

Yes, spend intels money on an x570 board

If they won't let me, I'll buy an Intel board and sell it so I can buy the X570 board.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

1 hour ago, Caroline said:

Never said it had to be a great car, a Peugeot maybe, used and with no fancy stuff. My rusty FIAT has given up 

Any $5000 peugeot is a bit of a downgrade tbh

[ToboRobot]

desk 

router/firewall and ap, plus battery backup and a NAS unit

a gaming PC
system76 keyboard

cd player, record player and audio stand for the amp & speakers I have

[Arika]

honestly, just a CPU and motherboard upgrade. i'm happy with everything else i have.

 

Assuming it works the same as the video series, i'd get Linus to help repaint a wall and maybe stain my desk

[Moonzy]

Maybe oculus quest 2, a 360hz display (contemplating Asus vs Alienware), along with a Samsung Odyssey G9

[Andreas Lilja]

Just upgraded my computer. i7 11th gen, 3080Ti.

 

High-tier gaming laptop perhaps.

 

My previous one developped coil whine and the warranty company decided to reimburse me 100% since it isn't fixable / economical.

 

I decided to keep the money because I barely used it.

 

 

 

 

[iLikeBananas]

I would definitely spend a good chunk of the money on audio equipment, like James did. Well James didn't replace his speakers because they are already good enough, but since I don't have good speakers I would get some of those. Than a good chair + height adjustable table and use whatever is left on the pc. I don't know about you guys, but for me the pc itself is not the most important aspect.