Upgrade or do a new rig

[krusty_dc]

Can you help me decide if I should upgrade the parts or just buy a new pc. The specs of my pc are:
Intel i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series 2.0 GB
Gigabyte Z77-D3H
Generic DD3 16G B 1333 MHz
Western Digital 500GB HDD

Aside from the HDD to be replaced with 240 GB SSD I was thinking of upgrading the graphics card to GTX 980. I am using this rig mainly for CAD and some occasional gaming. Because of my line of work I do need a descent processor in which I do have the I7-3770 is OK. The memory I know I need to change to higher speed. I do need it to last me for at least 3 more years if I do just an upgrade.

[DXMember]

just get a new GPU

[Skiiwee29]

2 minutes ago, krusty_dc said:

Can you help me decide if I should upgrade the parts or just buy a new pc. The specs of my pc are:
Intel i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series 2.0 GB
Gigabyte Z77-D3H
Generic DD3 16G B 1333 MHz
Western Digital 500GB HDD

Aside from the HDD to be replaced with 240 GB SSD I was thinking of upgrading the graphics card to GTX 980. I am using this rig mainly for CAD and some occasional gaming. Because of my line of work I do need a descent processor in which I do have the I7-3770 is OK. The memory I know I need to change to higher speed. I do need it to last me for at least 3 more years if I do just an upgrade.

I think the upgrade the GPU is really all you would need. You should look at getting a 980ti insted of just a normal 980 though to use those extra cuda cores depending on the CAD program you use. 

[krusty_dc]

I use it for finite element calculation in which the processor does a good job. I am bottle necking with my graphics card when I try to do some gaming. 

 

If I choose to change the card to 980 or 980 ti would it last me for at least 3 more years?

[DXMember]

1 minute ago, krusty_dc said:

I use it for finite element calculation in which the processor does a good job. I am bottle necking with my graphics card when I try to do some gaming. 

 

If I choose to change the card to 980 or 980 ti would it last me for at least 3 more years?

is your CAD workflow accelerated by GPU in any way? OpenCL, CUDA, QuickSync?

should probably chose the GPU accordingly

[Skiiwee29]

2 minutes ago, krusty_dc said:

I use it for finite element calculation in which the processor does a good job. I am bottle necking with my graphics card when I try to do some gaming. 

 

If I choose to change the card to 980 or 980 ti would it last me for at least 3 more years?

As long as you only planning on staying at 1080p for new titles. You might be able to get away with 1440p in the short term. 

[krusty_dc]

It does but not as much as it need the CPU and the amount (not the speed) of memory to do the calculations. I saw some guys just using a normal GPU not a worstation GPU for it thats why I was thinking of getting the 980TI or if it is cheaper the AMD RX 480.

[krusty_dc]

2 minutes ago, legacy99 said:

As long as you only planning on staying at 1080p for new titles. You might be able to get away with 1440p in the short term. 

Yeah I am not planning to do 4k gaming because I don't need a bigger monitor. 

Would a 500watt PSU support the newer GPUs?

 

[krusty_dc]

Sorry for stupid questions, here's another one. I checked my motherboard's manual and it says:

Support for DDR3 2800(OC)/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules

 

So I cannot use a 2800MHz natively and is 1600MHz still worth the upgrade?

[don_svetlio]

6 minutes ago, krusty_dc said:

Yeah I am not planning to do 4k gaming because I don't need a bigger monitor. 

Would a 500watt PSU support the newer GPUs?

 

What PSU exactly?

 

3 minutes ago, krusty_dc said:

Sorry for stupid questions, here's another one. I checked my motherboard's manual and it says:

Support for DDR3 2800(OC)/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules

 

So I cannot use a 2800MHz natively and is 1600MHz still worth the upgrade?

Check your motherboard for that

 

9 minutes ago, krusty_dc said:

It does but not as much as it need the CPU and the amount (not the speed) of memory to do the calculations. I saw some guys just using a normal GPU not a worstation GPU for it thats why I was thinking of getting the 980TI or if it is cheaper the AMD RX 480.

RX 480 at about 230-250$ is a good deal. 980 Ti/1070s start at 450$

[krusty_dc]

6 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

What PSU exactly?

 

Check your motherboard for that

 

RX 480 at about 230-250$ is a good deal. 980 Ti/1070s start at 450$

The PSU is Gigabyte Greenmax 550 watts.

[don_svetlio]

1 minute ago, krusty_dc said:

The PSU is Gigabyte Greenmax 550 watts.

Definitely need a new one. Gigabyte PSUs are comparable to fire crackers

[krusty_dc]

Ok I will check that on my list.

My list list would be like:

240 GB SSD - not specific brand yet

GTX 980 or RX 480 - depends on which is more cheaper

32GB - 1600 MHz RAM - I do need a bigger amount than the raw speed for my computing.

750 watts PSU - no brand yet also

 

 

[Devin92]

2 hours ago, krusty_dc said:

Ok I will check that on my list.

My list list would be like:

240 GB SSD - not specific brand yet

GTX 980 or RX 480 - depends on which is more cheaper

32GB - 1600 MHz RAM - I do need a bigger amount than the raw speed for my computing.

750 watts PSU - no brand yet also

 

 

I am not sure how CAD related software works, but I believe most of the software are ONLY utilized with CUDA core, an AMD GPU may not give you a lot of boost. You need to check with the software you are using.

 

RAM wise, I dont really think the higher frequency and capacity is worth upgrading. Unless your CAD tool is memory hungry.

 

You dont actually need a 750W PSU, just a 600W ish good quality one. Such as Coair CXM, EVGA GS,G2, or others like Seasonic and XFX.