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Upgrade guidance

Alzir
By Alzir
in New Builds and Planning
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Hiya, so currently I have the following build: Partpicker Link

i5 2500k

GTX 970

8GB Ram

 

I have saved enough for a reasonable upgrade, I only really use my rig for gaming at 1080p on AAA titles and looking for some advice based on the following:

 

1) Want to future proof as much as possible (who doesn't)

2) Motherboard options

3) Best options for DX12

 

So I am thinking of moving up to skylake.

Looking at getting:

i7 6700k

16GB Ram

New mobo

 

So my main questions are

Will an i7 have benefits with DX12 games, or would I be better off with an i5 and putting the extra away for a new GPU at a later date (maybe a GTX 1070 once the prices settle down)?

Any recommendations on a Z170 mobo? I would like to be able to do mild overclocks (only air cooled), been looking at Asus Z170-A and Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 5 (or about that price range). Don't seem to be having much luck on finding reviews on these lower end mobos, we cant all afford flagships which a lot of reviews seem to be guilty of only including. (or I am having no luck finding any).

 

Thanks in advance for any advice :)

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Im not very familiar with 1151 sockets, but apart from that 16gb its more than enough, i suggest you invest in a 10-series gpu if you want really future proofing when it comes to gaming, the CPU will work fine with it. Also make sure your PSU is still reliable.

CPU: Ryzen 7 3800X 4.4GHz | GPU: RTX 3070 FE | RAM: Corsair Dominator RGB 4x8GB 3600MHz DDR4 | MoBo: ASUS Crosshair Hero VIII  | Case: Corsair 5000D AF | CPU cooler: Corsair H150i Capellix | PSU: Corsair RM850x |

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Maybe something like this:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-Z170 Gaming-K3 EU-1151 4x-DDR4 Max/dp/B01AUSEBHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466547817&sr=8-1&keywords=Z170&tag=linustechtips-21

For the Mobo, and whatever the K skew i5 is for skylake.

You don't really need an i7 for gaming.

Save the rest for the best GPU you can afford.

REMILIA Mk.IIIG CPU: Ryzen 7 5700X3D, Cooler: Gelid Sirocco (Arctic MX6), RAM: 4x 8Gb sticks of Patriot Viper Steel Series 3600 CL17, Mobo: AsRock X570 Taichi, GPU: Inno3D RTX 3080 iChill x4 10G, Storage: 1TB Intel 670p NVME SSD boot drive, a few 1TB and 512gb SATA/NVME SSDs for game storage, 6 hard drives:2-12 TB, PSU: Montech Century II 850W, Case: Silverstone FLP02, PCIE Cards: Cheap Chinese Marvell 88SE9215 4 port SATA card, Sonnet Allegro USB3.2 Card Monitors: ViewSonic Elite XG270QC (165hz, 1ms MPRT, 1440p, VA, Freesync PP, pneumatic stand), electriq 27qhd180i (IPS, 180hz, 1440p, 1Ms), iiyama G2530HSU-B (75Hz, Freesync, one in landscape, one in Portrait, all on pneumatic monitor stands).

 

Mic: iSK UPM-1 USB XLR interface with Neewer NW700, Audio: Sabaj A3 160W DAC/AMP + Wharfdale Diamond 220 + Mission MS6 Sub, Fiio K11 R2R DAC + Douk P5 (Toshiba Tubes), Sendy Peacock, Mouse: Glorious Model I, Keyboard: Glorious GMMK ISO with Mengmoda MMD Tactile (main) and Kailh Box Navy (Function keys), Tribosys 3203 brush lubed, Taihao Green forest caps.

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2 minutes ago, Alzir said:

Hiya, so currently I have the following build: Partpicker Link

i5 2500k

GTX 970

8GB Ram

 

I have saved enough for a reasonable upgrade, I only really use my rig for gaming at 1080p on AAA titles and looking for some advice based on the following:

 

1) Want to future proof as much as possible (who doesn't)

2) Motherboard options

3) Best options for DX12

 

So I am thinking of moving up to skylake.

Looking at getting:

i7 6700k

16GB Ram

New mobo

 

So my main questions are

Will an i7 have benefits with DX12 games, or would I be better off with an i5 and putting the extra away for a new GPU at a later date (maybe a GTX 1070 once the prices settle down)?

Any recommendations on a Z170 mobo? I would like to be able to do mild overclocks (only air cooled), been looking at Asus Z170-A and Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 5 (or about that price range). Don't seem to be having much luck on finding reviews on these lower end mobos, we cant all afford flagships which a lot of reviews seem to be guilty of only including. (or I am having no luck finding any).

 

Thanks in advance for any advice :)

The best thing to do for "future proofing" your computer setup is to upgrade your peripherals instead of the core parts.

 

A good keyboard, mouse, speakers, headset, monitor, case, and so on will ALWAYS be good, even if its not current.  But by telling you to get a CPU, there are no telling what advancements will cause it to lose its appeal.  Same with RAM, Video Cards, and especially Storage.

 

Now, if you're just looking to upgrade your shit because you want a bigger ee-peen then you're on the right track.  Skylake is a great platform.  The ASUS Z170-A is my go to motherboard in the Skylake lineup.  Additionally, I personally would go for the i7-6700K but its not a necessity.

 

Please spend as much time writing your question, as you want me to spend responding to it.  Take some time, and explain your issue, please!

Spoiler

If you need to learn how to install Windows, check here:  http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/324871-guide-how-to-install-windows-the-right-way/

Event Viewer 101: https://youtu.be/GiF9N3fJbnE

 

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PSU should be fine ( EVGA SuperNOVA G2 650W 80+ Gold), only replaced that a few months ago after my wifes PSU gave up the ghost which was the same make etc and bought at the same time as mine and didn't want mine going pop with the chance of taking something else with it. O.o

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I would have thought a 970 and an i5 2500k would be fine for 1080p, what games are you struggling with? 

 

JefferyD90 is spot on, peripherals are a superb investment. (with the exception of monitors at the moment- they are changing a lot) 

 

i have a 3770k and the platform is already out of date when it comes to nvme.. personally if you already have the money saved, leave it in the bank while your machine still performs well enough for you, there is always something around the corner that you can splash the cash on when you really need to. 

 

I too would have an i7

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