Upgrading Dell PC

[ty.sandman]

I'm upgrading my dell inspiron 660s with basically all new parts except for ram, hard drive, and processor. I wasn't sure if I was going to need a new os since I was keeping my hard drive. But I was also thinking of getting an ssd as a boot drive and for games. Heres a list of all the parts I know about in my PC and what I am upgrading. All parts with a "+" is what I am putting into the PC.

 

CPU: Intel Core i5 3330s 2.7 GHz

+Gpu: Asus Strix GTX 970

Ram: Stock dell Ram

Storage: Stock dell hard drive

+Also maybe a Kingston 126 gb sata III ssd

+Motherboard: Asrock Extreme3 Z77 motherboard

+Power supply: Corsair CX600M power supply

+Case: NZXT S340 (White)

 

If anything needs to be changed it would be really helpful if you could comment letting me know. Thank you.

 

[TheKDub]

I'd suggest getting a new cpu such as the i5 4690 or 4690K and a H97 or z97 mobo depending on if you want to OC or not. (non-K version if you don't want to oc, k version if you do.)

[JeffreyEagan]

... Dell no longer uses a proprietary board mounting system?

 

I should also mention I F***ing LOVE your profile picture.

[Geekazoid]

-snip-

You might be best to wait, save up and buy all new parts.

BTW, there's no 126GB SSDs. It's either 128GB (which you obviously meant) or 120GB SSDs.

[Aniallation]

CPU: Intel Core i5 3330s 2.7 GHz

+Gpu: Asus Strix GTX 970

+Also maybe a Kingston 126 gb sata III ssd

+Motherboard: Asrock Extreme3 Z77 motherboard

+Power supply: Corsair CX600M power supply

 

If anything needs to be changed it would be really helpful if you could comment letting me know. Thank you.

 

-No point in getting Z77 with an "S" CPU since those are low-power chips designed to be underclocked, not overclocked. 

-Get the Gigabyte 970 instead, nothing special about the Strix.

-You can more then likely get a better quality PSU for the money then CX600

[ty.sandman]

I'm probably going to stick with 3rd gen for now. Just for the fact that its saving money. Also I'm not playing too demanding of games. Like DayZ and those kind of games.

[ty.sandman]

-No point in getting Z77 with an "S" CPU since those are low-power chips designed to be underclocked, not overclocked. 

-Get the Gigabyte 970 instead, nothing special about the Strix.

-You can more then likely get a better quality PSU for the money then CX600

 

I want to keep that motherboard because I was planning on upgrading my CPU some time down the line.

[Aniallation]

 

I want to keep that motherboard because I was planning on upgrading my CPU some time down the line.

 

Then okay, good reason to keep the Z77, but the other two still apply

[ty.sandman]

Then okay, good reason to keep the Z77, but the other two still apply

What is a PSU that you would suggest? Corsair is just a trusted brand, that is why i picked that one. I'm new to building PCs so this was really the only company that i had heard of. Also i chose the strix really cause of the fan less mode but after seeing the gigabyte version, I'm defiantly choosing that one.   

[Aniallation]

What is a PSU that you would suggest? Corsair is just a trusted brand, that is why i picked that one. I'm new to building PCs so this was really the only company that i had heard of. Also i chose the strix really cause of the fan less mode but after seeing the gigabyte version, I'm defiantly choosing that one.   

Corsair is a "trusted" brand for power supplies, but it shouldn't be. It's just the bait and hook of the brand name. They don't make their own power supplies, they get other companies to make them and they stick their label on them. This isn't to say that Corsairs are terrible, but no Corsair PSU gives you solid build quality and good performance for the money. For one dollar more then a CX600M you can get this power supply, which is not only fully-modular, but is also made by Seasonic in-house, so it's much better in terms of the quality of the internal components such as capacitors and line filtering, as well as in terms of PSU performance in crucial areas such as voltage regulation and ripple suppression. Overall a much better PSU for a very similar price. http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii620bronze

 

Also the fanless mode on the Strix isn't useful for anything unless you run your PC on a test bench with no other fans aside from CPU cooler fans. When your GPU goes in your case along with your CPU fans, case fans, PSU, etc. you will not hear ANY current gen GPU at low loads in which the Strix would have the fans turned off, even a reference 290X.

[ty.sandman]

Corsair is a "trusted" brand for power supplies, but it shouldn't be. It's just the bait and hook of the brand name. They don't make their own power supplies, they get other companies to make them and they stick their label on them. This isn't to say that Corsairs are terrible, but no Corsair PSU gives you solid build quality and good performance for the money. For one dollar more then a CX600M you can get this power supply, which is not only fully-modular, but is also made by Seasonic in-house, so it's much better in terms of the quality of the internal components such as capacitors and line filtering, as well as in terms of PSU performance in crucial areas such as voltage regulation and ripple suppression. Overall a much better PSU for a very similar price. http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii620bronze

 

Also the fanless mode on the Strix isn't useful for anything unless you run your PC on a test bench with no other fans aside from CPU cooler fans. When your GPU goes in your case along with your CPU fans, case fans, PSU, etc. you will not hear ANY current gen GPU at low loads in which the Strix would have the fans turned off, even a reference 290X.

Alright I'm definitely choosing that PSU. You've saved my butt with this build. Thanks a lot and are there any other suggestions you have for the build?

 

P.S.

Also here are the parts I'm using for the build. I already own the CPU and all the other components. They're all gathered from my old pc. (Its Dell): http://pcpartpicker.com/p/YxWM23

[Aniallation]

Alright I'm definitely choosing that PSU. You've saved my butt with this build. Thanks a lot and are there any other suggestions you have for the build?

 

P.S.

Also here are the parts I'm using for the build. I already own the CPU and all the other components. They're all gathered from my old pc. (Its Dell): http://pcpartpicker.com/p/YxWM23

Oh I forgot to ask, what Kingston SSD are you planning to get?

[ty.sandman]

Oh I forgot to ask, what Kingston SSD are you planning to get?

It wasn't a definite. More of which a thought, but i was thinking this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820721108&cm_re=kingston_ssd-_-20-721-108-_-Product Haven't decided if i want the 240 gb version or the 120 gb version. Also with me upgrading everything. Will i need to get a new OS for some reason? 

[Aniallation]

It wasn't a definite. More of which a thought, but i was thinking this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820721108&cm_re=kingston_ssd-_-20-721-108-_-Product Haven't decided if i want the 240 gb version or the 120 gb version. Also with me upgrading everything. Will i need to get a new OS for some reason? 

That's what I was worried about, do NOT get the Kingston V300. Kingston pulled a bitchmove with those SSDs, and they barely perform any better then WD Black mechanical drives. The price is so low as to get people that don't know better to buy them. Check out the ADATA SP600 instead.

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009SX6VLC/?tag=pcpapi-20

 

or 

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJOJJ70/?tag=pcpapi-20

[ty.sandman]

That's what I was worried about, do NOT get the Kingston V300. Kingston pulled a bitchmove with those SSDs, and they barely perform any better then WD Black mechanical drives. The price is so low as to get people that don't know better to buy them. Check out the ADATA SP600 instead.

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009SX6VLC/?tag=pcpapi-20

 

or 

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJOJJ70/?tag=pcpapi-20

Once again you manage to save my ass. But as i was saying do i need to get a new os for any reason. And are there any other motherboard recommendations cause I'm not entirely sold on the Extreme3. It doesn't sound like the best choice in my opinion 

[Aniallation]

Once again you manage to save my ass. But as i was saying do i need to get a new os for any reason. And are there any other motherboard recommendations cause I'm not entirely sold on the Extreme3. It doesn't sound like the best choice in my opinion 

You will need to reinstall your OS, yes. afaik you can re-use the key that your Dell has, as long as the same version of Windows is used. 

 

The Extreme3 is fine in terms of performance, it's just not the most aesthetically pleasing board. Black and brown is..... not great

[ty.sandman]

You will need to reinstall your OS, yes. afaik you can re-use the key that your Dell has, as long as the same version of Windows is used. 

 

The Extreme3 is fine in terms of performance, it's just not the most aesthetically pleasing board. Black and brown is..... not great

That was my problem. I'm trying to go with a blue accent color scheme but its really not too important. Sli isn't too important either. I could ask you questions all day but I'm trying too keep them at a minimum. But about the os, would you recommend wiping the drive before i do the upgrade for the sake of having fresh space and no problems?

[Aniallation]

That was my problem. I'm trying to go with a blue accent color scheme but its really not too important. Sli isn't too important either. I could ask you questions all day but I'm trying too keep them at a minimum. But about the os, would you recommend wiping the drive before i do the upgrade for the sake of having fresh space and no problems?

Well in terms of getting them brand new it seems that the next best option is the Extreme4 which is $30 more for the same ugly design, definitely not worth it. 

 

For the OS, yes, wipe the drive and do a clean install.

[ty.sandman]

Well in terms of getting them brand new it seems that the next best option is the Extreme4 which is $30 more for the same ugly design, definitely not worth it. 

 

For the OS, yes, wipe the drive and do a clean install.

Alright thank you for all your help. You've saved my ass on this build. I have your account in case i need your help with something else (I probably will since i'm new ) If there's anything else that you could tell me to help me out further that would be awesome. Apart from that thank you once again.