Upgrade, or build new PC?

[creeper287]

So, it is about time that I upgrade my PC. Here is my current part list: 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-930 2.8GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($94.99 @ Memory Express)
Motherboard: Asus - P6X58D Premium ATX LGA1366 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair - XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($69.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: HIS - Radeon R9 270X 2GB IceQ X² Video Card
Case: Antec - Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case  ($79.80 @ shopRBC)
Power Supply: EVGA - 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($59.85 @ shopRBC)
Total: $304.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-27 13:37 EDT-0400

 

I've been looking at upgrading the RAM, probably to 16GB in a dual-channel configuration, the video card to either a 1060 or 580, and probably getting an SSD eventually. My dilemma is that I don't know if it is even worth upgrading such a old PC, when it might be more feasible in the long run to build a new one. If I were to build a new PC, it would probably be similar to this:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1400 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($215.25 @ shopRBC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($36.75 @ Vuugo)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-AB350-GAMING 3 ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($144.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($154.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($229.98 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: MSI - Radeon RX 580 8GB GAMING X Video Card  ($335.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Case: Phanteks - Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case  ($139.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA G2 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($129.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1387.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-27 13:44 EDT-0400

 

 

[DocSwag]

I would build a new pc, but recycle the cooler, case, and hdd.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor  ($280.25 @ shopRBC) 
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Motherboard: MSI - B350 PC MATE ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($126.00 @ Vuugo) 
Memory: Team - Dark 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory  ($149.99 @ Newegg Canada) 
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($114.99 @ Amazon Canada) 
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC GAMING ACX 3.0 Black Edition Video Card  ($515.98 @ DirectCanada) 
Case: Antec - Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA G3 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($129.98 @ NCIX) 
Total: $1317.19
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-27 13:59 EDT-0400

 

You can get am4 mounts for the CPU cooler here

http://noctua.at/en/nm-am4-mounting-kit

[Vapare]

If money might be an issue, the best thing you can do is to go ahead and just update your GPU. There will be a bottle neck, however, the 930 still isn't that bad. It's old, but not like, 25fps all the time, old. You should receive a decent gaming experience with that GPU and CPU combination. Around 60ish FPS at 720 to 1080 depending on the game. I had a Q9550 paired with an EVGA 1050ti SC and I was playing Rise of the Tomb Raider High settings 1080p around 50ish FPS. The Q9550 is older and less powerful than your i7. You can stretch the life of your current PC a little longer while you save up, and then finally upgrade the rest of your hardware when you need to. I've always been budget minded, so prolonging things that I already own is always a goal for me. 

 

Any other upgrade, except the GPU and maybe a SSD, shouldn't really be considered. Save that money and when the time comes, upgrade.

[creeper287]

1 hour ago, Kirito24 said:

If money might be an issue, the best thing you can do is to go ahead and just update your GPU. There will be a bottle neck, however, the 930 still isn't that bad. It's old, but not like, 25fps all the time, old. You should receive a decent gaming experience with that GPU and CPU combination. Around 60ish FPS at 720 to 1080 depending on the game. I had a Q9550 paired with an EVGA 1050ti SC and I was playing Rise of the Tomb Raider High settings 1080p around 50ish FPS. The Q9550 is older and less powerful than your i7. You can stretch the life of your current PC a little longer while you save up, and then finally upgrade the rest of your hardware when you need to. I've always been budget minded, so prolonging things that I already own is always a goal for me. 

 

Any other upgrade, except the GPU and maybe a SSD, shouldn't really be considered. Save that money and when the time comes, upgrade.

What about upgrading the RAM? Some games, like Forza Horizon 3 require 8GB of RAM, and when I tried running it on my current PC, the RAM usage was maxed out at 5.98GB used. I'm sure not very many games are like this, but I think some more RAM probably wouldn't hurt.

[Vapare]

8 GB of ram.... Damn lol. If you can't play a game that you purchased because of a RAM limitation, then a RAM upgrade would be a good. You have freaking 6 DIMM slots so, get like a 4 GB kit. So you'll have a little bit of head room. Shouldn't cost too much. $40 or so. If that.

[Vapare]

Correction: Get a matching set of your RAM so you can have the proper channel settings. 

 

That's what I would do in your position. RAM, SSD, GPU. Upgrade those and save your money for the future.

[creeper287]

1 hour ago, Kirito24 said:

Correction: Get a matching set of your RAM so you can have the proper channel settings. 

 

That's what I would do in your position. RAM, SSD, GPU. Upgrade those and save your money for the future.

Unfortunately, Corsair no longer makes the RAM kit I originally used in 2009. I actually don't know if anyone makes triple channel DDR3 kits anymore.

[Vapare]

https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225. Found one that would match with the same timings and voltage. It's a few dollars cheaper too :).