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Time to upgrade

Wootabulous
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Hello everyone!

 

looks like it is finally time to upgrade my rig, 

I've been running my current system for far too long now, I'm finally starting to struggle with the latest games, namely star citizen / arena commander

 

I'm looking to upgrade within the next few weeks and have put together a new build and would like some critique 

I upgraded my ram on my current rig about 6 months ago so I plan on using my existing 8GB G-Skill Ripjaws (2133) for the next 6 months or so when I plan on upgrading to 16GB, I may even be able to swap them for a 2400 kit, but i digress 

 

 

 

CPU Intel Core i5 4690k $275.00 GPU MSI Radeon R9 290 Gaming 4GB $499.00 RAM 8GB G-Skill Ripjaws (2133) $0.00 MOBO MSI Z97-G45 Gaming Motherboard $199.00 HDD Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM001 $99.00 PSU EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W Gold Power Supply $129.00 CASE CoolerMaster HAF Stacker 935 Modular Tower $189.00 OS OEM 64 bit MS Windows8 .1 $115.00 Cooler Corsair H110 $169.00 TOTAL   $1,674.00

 

 

the two retailers I have investigated for pricing are MSY and Pccasegear

 

 

onto the template!

1. Budget & Location

Upto $1700 & Australia

 

2. Aim

Purely Gaming - my old rig will be relegated to a server and will serve most ancillary tasks.

 

 

3. Monitors

two 1080p 60hz panels for now, though I would consider a third for eyefinity in the future

also I am extremely interested in oculus rift once CV1 drops 

 

 

4. Peripherals

Loads, I'm building a simpit for Star citizen, so will have a HOTAS, Rudder Pedals, and various other devices

 

5. why are you upgrading?

Gaming performance, my current system isn't cutting the mustard and want to play Star Citizen on max settings

 

 

Thanks everyone and let me know what you think.

 

 

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CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($275.00 @ CPL Online) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($39.00 @ Mwave Australia) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97-G55 SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($178.00 @ CPL Online) 

Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($99.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($149.00 @ Mwave Australia) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($68.00 @ CPL Online) 



Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($114.21 @ Mwave Australia) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($109.00 @ Mwave Australia) 

Total: $1595.21

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

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Looks pretty good! Star Citizen is also my benchmark for building my PC, even though it's a long way off, it's good to aim high.

I've made a few changes as below:
 

 
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($275.00 @ CPL Online) 
CPU Cooler: Corsair H110 94.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($169.00 @ PCCaseGear) 
Motherboard: MSI Z97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($129.00 @ CPL Online) 
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($149.00 @ Mwave Australia) 
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($569.00 @ Mwave Australia) 
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($149.00 @ CPL Online) 
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($115.00 @ CPL Online) 
Total: $1684.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
 
- I've gone with a smaller form factor with the 350D, purely because you sound like you're building an epic rig and the last thing you need is a big ol' case plonked right in the middle of your setup.
- H110 doesn't have to stay, you can save money by going to H100i or even H80i (recommend the H100i personally).
- Scrapped your 2TB for a 240GB SSD - unless there's no way you can put that 2TB into the server, you shouldn't relegate yourself to something so out-of-date.
- Went for a 780 because I think they are a better card personally, and they do perform a little better than the 290.
- 550W Gold modular because that's all you really need for either GPU.

MAXIMUS VII HERO | i7 4770K w/ H100i | 2x8GB 1600MHz | GALAX GTX 970 x2
250GB SSD boot | 250GB x2, 1TB SSD storage | Corsair 400C | Corsair RM550

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hey guys, thanks for the input,

 

I went with the HAF stacker as I plan on migrating my current system onto a mitx board and popping it into the top, though finding a 1156 mitx board may be difficult. I was thinking of adding another 315 to the stack later on down the line as desk space is at a premium for me at the moment.

 

I thought about going for a ssd for this build, I have gone that way in the past and had one die on me, though it was a cheapie it still sucked. I was hesitant to go that way again, but we'll see, plus I need the storage space, my current 3 2tb drives are full to capacity so im hurting for space.

 

I also may be up for adding a second gpu in the future so that is why i went for the higher psu rather than having to scrap that later.

 

Another thing that i also need to consider is heat, currently we don't have aircon and have had 40°C+ Days, my current card (6870) seriously struggles during those summer days, so I may even consider watercooling my gpu(s) in the near future (if the Mrs lets me)

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It also just occurred to me to swap out the cpu and go for an i7 4790k with stock cooling for $405, then upgrade the cooler a few months down the line (its winter here now, but would probably want to do this before summer hits)

 

thoughts? would the i7 4790k see much performance increase over the i5 4690k?

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thoughts? would the i7 4790k see much performance increase over the i5 4690k?

For gaming, the performance difference is generally within margin of error.

You need to quote a post or tag a member or else they won't get a notification you replied to them.

What are you current specs?

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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For gaming, the performance difference is generally within margin of error.

You need to quote a post or tag a member or else they won't get a notification you replied to them.

What are you current specs?

Hey,

thanks for the help,

from memory my current specs are

CPU i5 750 currently stock

GPU Powercolor amd radeon 6870

RAM 8GB G-Skill Ripjaws (2133, though running at 1800 atm)

MOBO Gigabyte GA-P55A

PSU 750w coolermaster psu

HDD 3X 2TB Seagate drives and another 500gb one

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Hey,

thanks for the help,

from memory my current specs are

CPU i5 750 currently stock

GPU Powercolor amd radeon 6870

RAM 8GB G-Skill Ripjaws (2133, though running at 1800 atm)

MOBO Gigabyte GA-P55A

PSU 750w coolermaster psu

HDD 3X 2TB Seagate drives and another 500gb one

What case do you have?

Are you limited to PSY and Pccasegear or are you open to other Australian shops?

Are you just looking to improve your performance enough to properly play games or do you just have $1700 to blow on as much performance as possible regardless of value?

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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What case do you have?

Are you limited to PSY and Pccasegear or are you open to other Australian shops?

Are you just looking to improve your performance enough to properly play games or do you just have $1700 to blow on as much performance as possible regardless of value?

an el cheapo Thermaltake matrix from 7 years back, It has haunted me for far too long.

I chose those two retailers as they are within driving distance from me and have had good experience from them in the past, I'm too impatient to wait for things to be shipped.

A bit of both to be honest, I'm starting to see performance issues and want the eye candy, plus if i dont spend the money my Mrs will.

 

 

Why are you buying a new psu ? Anything wrong with the Coolermaster ?

It has been working well, I'll keep it in service in my old rig as a file server/ spare gaming box

plus aesthetics, its quite fugly compared with the EVGA 

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It has been working well, I'll keep it in service in my old rig as a file server/ spare gaming box

plus aesthetics, its quite fugly compared with the EVGA 

Ok well in that case, get the EVGA Supernova G2 instead of the NEX. The G2 is far better quality.

 

This one: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_1619&products_id=27992

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an el cheapo Thermaltake matrix from 7 years back, It has haunted me for far too long.

Why such a large case now? 

The HAF Stacker is really large considering what you're putting in it. 

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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Why such a large case now? 

The HAF Stacker is really large considering what you're putting in it. 

 

I plan on rebuilding my current rig as a home server to offload several other tasks, I'll need a 1156 MITX board then I'll pop it in the top section so that i don't end up with two cases on my desk.

plus I like big things :)

 

Ok well in that case, get the EVGA Supernova G2 instead of the NEX. The G2 is far better quality.

 

This one: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_1619&products_id=27992

thanks for that, I think I'll do that, plus I think there is stock issues with the G2 at the moment anyway

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I plan on rebuilding my current rig as a home server to offload several other tasks, I'll need a 1156 MITX board then I'll pop it in the top section so that i don't end up with two cases on my desk.

plus I like big things :)

Alright--could be cheaper: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/DNrVmG

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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Alright--could be cheaper: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/DNrVmG

 

Looks quite good, 

 

how does the asrock board and the gigabyte gpu compare with the msi ones? I had heard that the MSI 290 was super quiet, (my current card is way too loud) also would you recommend XFX cards? my only bad AMD/ATI experience was with one of their cards.

 

as for the ssd, Ive been thinking about  Crucial M500 240GB SSD for $149 http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=210_902_909&products_id=24841 as a Ive had this recommended to me a few times.

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Looks quite good, 

how does the asrock board and the gigabyte gpu compare with the msi ones? I had heard that the MSI 290 was super quiet, (my current card is way too loud) also would you recommend XFX cards? my only bad AMD/ATI experience was with one of their cards.

as for the ssd, Ive been thinking about  Crucial M500 240GB SSD for $149 http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=210_902_909&products_id=24841 as a Ive had this recommended to me a few times.

The board has different features..?

The Windforce cools a bit better than the Twin Frozr and is slightly louder. The XFX cooler looks really nice but is louder and doesn't perform as well as the Windforce or Twin Frozr. 

If you're going to get a larger ssd, get the mx100: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct256mx100ssd1

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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The board has different features..?

The Windforce cools a bit better than the Twin Frozr and is slightly louder. The XFX cooler looks really nice but is louder and doesn't perform as well as the Windforce or Twin Frozr. 

If you're going to get a larger ssd, get the mx100: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct256mx100ssd1

Well things have changed for the better since I last posted, My budget has shot up to $2200, and this is a case of use it or loose it, Id rather be spending the extra on my rig than maccas or something silly like that

 

So, I made some refinements to the build and have come out with this, note the custom prices for some of the parts that msy sells for cheaper, alas they aren't on pcpartpicker.

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/WvbxRB

 

I will also be getting together some extra funds in around 4-8 months and will be hopefully adding a second gpu and maybe upping my ram to 16gb (if needed), the psu Should cut it for that, but It seems quite close (717 with two gpu according to calculations)

considering that I also have a metric but ton of usb devices, would this be an issue? would migrating them to a powered usb hub negate this?

 

as far as the ssd goes, would it be better to go for two 250gb drives in raid 0 or the single 500gb one?

thanks again for your help, hopefully this time on wednesday I'll have this rig and will be stabbing my hands trying to attach motherboard headers

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