Jump to content

$300 upgrade budget.

Osmium
By Osmium
in New Builds and Planning
 Share
Posted

So I have a planned budget around $300 to upgrade my system. I am still in the planning phase but I absolutely will not spend more than 300.

 

Right now I am running a system with an old Antec Case, ivy bridge i5, 8GB RAM, GTX 660ti, non Modular PSU, and a 500GB HDD.

 

My peripherals are fine but in terms of hardware I am open to ideas on how to improve my build. I know that people won't read this part and just post "SSD! SSD! SSD!" below but I am more than likely getting one so don't bother spamming how amazing they are.

 

The items I am looking at now are Samsung 850 Pro, EVGA Hadron Air case+ITX board, possibly some high quality fans, possibly a CPU cooler like the 212 EVO.

I am open to suggestions. I also don't really need a new GPU since all I really play is CS and my GPU is perfectly capable of satisfying my needs otherwise.

"If you do not take your failures seriously you will continue to fail"

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

212 evo will not fit in the Hadron. From my knowledge only low profile coolers will fit in it.

My System Specs: (Short list) i7 4770k, GTX 780, many SSD's, a 2 TB HDD(deceased :( ), Corsair 650D. Full list: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kchriz6097/saved/8dh7YJ

Upgrade Plan: Acquire some Black Noctuas then add 16 or 32GB of 2133MHz memory

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3070903
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Get a SSD! SSD! SSD!

|CPU: Intel 5960X|MOBO:Rampage V Extreme|GPU:EVGA 980Ti SC 2 - Way SLI|RAM:G-Skill 32GB|CASE:900D|PSU:CorsairAX1200i|DISPLAY :Dell U2412M X3|SSD Intel 750 400GB, 2X Samsung 850 Pro|

Peripherals : | MOUSE : Logitech G602 | KEYBOARD: K70 RGB (Cherry MX Brown) | NAS: Synology DS1515+  - WD RED 3TB X 5|ROUTER: AC68U

Sound : | HEADPHONES: Sennheiser HD800 SPEAKERS: B&W CM9 (Front floorstanding) ,  B&W CM Center 2 (Centre) | AV RECEIVER : Denon 3806 | MY X99 BUILD LOG!

 

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3070904
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

The items I am looking at now are Samsung 850 Pro, EVGA Hadron Air case+ITX board, possibly some high quality fans, possibly a CPU cooler like the 212 EVO.

I am open to suggestions. I also don't really need a new GPU since all I really play is CS and my GPU is perfectly capable of satisfying my needs otherwise.

850 Pro isn't worth what it costs, neither is the Hadron.

 

If a 660 Ti is still great for you then there's not really much to upgrade. A decent (but not flagship) SSD to speed things up and some fans to quiet things down is really all you need, save your money for other useful things.

"Rawr XD"

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3070905
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Besides SSD, I'd change PSU to the modular one just for aesthetics, or add 8gb, even if it's not needed, but if you have exta cash to spend, why not? :)

| CPU: i7 3770k | MOTHERBOARD: MSI Z77A-G45 Gaming | GPU: GTX 770 | RAM: 16GB G.Skill Trident X | PSU: XFX PRO 1050w | STORAGE: SSD 120GB PQI +  6TB HDD | COOLER: Thermaltake: Water 2.0 | CASE: Cooler Master: HAF 912 Plus |

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3070921
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Tower coolers will fit, but there is quite a limited height restriction. 

I guess my post wasn't clear enough to begin with but what i meant to say was that it can not fit high profile coolers like the 212, it can still fit tower coolers, but they'd have to be low profile.

 

Edit: internet research says that towers higher than 120mm will not fit. With that said you need to use a 92mm or smaller tower cooler.

My System Specs: (Short list) i7 4770k, GTX 780, many SSD's, a 2 TB HDD(deceased :( ), Corsair 650D. Full list: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kchriz6097/saved/8dh7YJ

Upgrade Plan: Acquire some Black Noctuas then add 16 or 32GB of 2133MHz memory

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3070941
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

meh, i would get the case and maybe something else to make it look better, and some silent fans :) looks and silence is a worthy upgrade, maybe a low profile noctua cooler for te cpu to get rid of a loud stock one.

Proud Member of the Glorious PC Master Race

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3070942
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Also another thing to mention is that getting most of those low profile coolers to work you run into compatibility issues with how your motherboard is laid out and where the case can fit it. :/ in other words its either full cooler or stock with me :P

My System Specs: (Short list) i7 4770k, GTX 780, many SSD's, a 2 TB HDD(deceased :( ), Corsair 650D. Full list: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kchriz6097/saved/8dh7YJ

Upgrade Plan: Acquire some Black Noctuas then add 16 or 32GB of 2133MHz memory

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3070960
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

1) $109.99 http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-2-5-Inch-Height-SDSSDHII-240G-G25/dp/B00M8ABEIM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

2) $200 http://www.amazon.com/Nvidia-Geforce-Gddr5-Express-Graphics/dp/B009QH8SDY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

About $10 over your budget.  SanDisk SSD 240GB for less than .50 cents a GB.  Cheapest 660Ti I could find, SLI them!  Best $300 upgrade investment I could think of.

"You're my dearest friend & my love. You lit my path through darkness & I'll stand with you...to whatever end." -Leliana (DAO).

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3071041
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

212 evo will not fit in the Hadron. From my knowledge only low profile coolers will fit in it.

 

I know, but these are just items I am looking at, I don't know which I'll buy.

 

850 Pro isn't worth what it costs, neither is the Hadron.

 

If a 660 Ti is still great for you then there's not really much to upgrade. A decent (but not flagship) SSD to speed things up and some fans to quiet things down is really all you need, save your money for other useful things.

 

Well the Hadron actually makes a lot of sense for me personally because those dimensions fit perfectly in my cabinet (Prodigy won't fit in it) plus I think the size would be a blessing since I might be going to LANs and things like that in the future.

 

1) $109.99 http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-2-5-Inch-Height-SDSSDHII-240G-G25/dp/B00M8ABEIM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

2) $200 http://www.amazon.com/Nvidia-Geforce-Gddr5-Express-Graphics/dp/B009QH8SDY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

About $10 over your budget.  SanDisk SSD 240GB for less than .50 cents a GB.  Cheapest 660Ti I could find, SLI them!  Best $300 upgrade investment I could think of.

 

I really don't need any more GPU horsepower and I don't honestly want to pay $200 for another GPU I probably won't fully utilize.

 

Anyway my reasoning for going with the Samsung SSD is simply the longevity of the 3D nand. I feel if I buy this I probably won't need to get another storage device for a long time.

"If you do not take your failures seriously you will continue to fail"

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/224201-300-upgrade-budget/#findComment-3071714
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing New Builds and Planning

×