Where to start upgrading?

[Frazzledoodle]

Hi guys, long time reader - first time poster

 

So I'm a second year Product design student in the UK and I use my PC for solidworks and photoshop, but also for gaming. I want some better performance on both bases - so where to start spending my money?

 

Current specs:

 

i5 760 (Socket 1156LGA) Quad core @ 2.8GHz (Not currently overclocking)

 

2 x 4GB of DDR3 PC3-12800 RAM

 

Quadro 600 1GB graphics card

 

Asus P7H55-M/USB3 Motherboard

 

Lancool PC-K7B Black Case (Stock cooling)

 

Thermaltake PurePower RX 500W

 

Things to note:

-If you suggest changing my graphics card it needs to have DisplayPort

-Will your overclocking idea require a change of case?

-Changing to more recent 1155 socket CPU's means a change in motherboard to be added to the price - will my RAM work with this motherboard?

-UK prices are best found on Scan, Amazon UK or Overclockers

 

I'd like to avoid putting a budget, but I wouldn't want to spend more than £200-400, to keep this rig going for a year or so until I can afford to start from scratch.

 

Thanks in advance, 

Fraser

[xvantok]

Either Pick up a nice £200 - £250 GPU (r9 280x/r9 290/GTX 770) or pick up the i5 4960k for £170 and a solid mother board for ~£70 (I suggest the as rock anniversaries ATX motherboard)

Note if you go for the mobo/CPU combo, pick up a evo 212 for £25 then you can oc

[VincentiusIV]

The cpu is a little too old, i would invest in a more recent i7 4790(k) which will help alot in both photoshop and solidworks.

And yes, upgrading to this cpu you'll need a new motherboard. I recommend asus z97-k or z97-a. Depends on the features you need.

The ram will still be compatible, as 1150 still uses ddr3.

This costs around 400 - 450 euros. Im guessing around 400 pounds in the UK.

[Pooherino ツ]

Tough question. If u wanna game then, i would spend most if not all of ur budget on a new gpu. I would suggest a gtx 970. Most high end gpu have dp so u dont have to worry about that, especially the 970 and 980 they will definitely have dp. I dont think u would have to change the case but getting an aftermarket cooler is a must to oc ur cpu. I think the ram will work, as long as its ddr3.

[Profquast]

I'd start with a better GPU like the GTX970 or the R9 290 and overclock your CPU to somewhere around 3.5GHz (you might need an aftermarket cooler for this). The GPU will be bottlenecked a bit but it isn't much and you can keep using that GPU when doing a complete overhaul since it's plenty powerful.

[Frazzledoodle]

So from my last 3 hours of research I think I might have to keep my quadro 600, there aren't any workstation grade graphics card (that I can afford) that stack up to it in Soldiworks, and I don't play the most recent (or most intensive) games anyways  - Having a look at the i5-4690K CPU & a suitable mboard atm

[RichardsD]

I am pretty sure you can have both say a 970 and a Quadro in your system, and just select which to use for specific apps.

[Frazzledoodle]

Suggestions for motherboard and heatsink for the i5-4690K please,

Need optical audio output on board and suitable for light overclocking in the future

[xvantok]

For the heat sink, the hyper 212 evo will be a good bet (£25)