Gaming PC upgrade

[tria1999GR]

Good evening!

 

I live in Greece and I'm looking to upgrade my pc for university, which I will use for gaming, games up to BF1 and MEA in terms of graphics, which i want to play at at least (relatively) stable 60 FPS, at any graphics settings, medium would be good tho (EDIT: at 1080p) (and game development, but only for learning).

My rig is:

•     Tower: Corsair Carbide 300R (without window)
•     PSU: Corsair CX600 600W 80 Plus Bronze
•     Optical media (CD / DVD etc)
•     Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB
•     HDD Hitachi HDT7210 10SLA 60 1 TB

And what I will change:

•     CPU: Intel Core i5 4570 3.2 Ghz (4 cores, 4 threads)
•     GPU: Gigabyte AMD Radeon R9 280 Windforce (with OC a few times, it's usually not worth it, I'll explain why)
•     RAM: DDR3 Corsair Vengeance 8 GB 1600 MHz
•     (It may need to be changed) Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro4 (DDR3, GDDR5, 1150 socket)

My immediate problem is the ram, which is small, but if I'm going to do a full upgrade relatively soon a ddr3 ram upgrade is not worth it because I will probably change to a mobo that supports ddr4. Usually, therefore, oc in the graphics card does not make much difference with full ram. My budget is 1000 euro, but this also includes a screen. I have a 23-inch Dell at 60 Hz refresh rate and I want to upgrade to a better refresh rate, maybe 120-144. So far I've found some good-value screens on Ebay, but I'm open to suggestions.

As for hardware, I have 2 builds in mind:

1.     Intel Core i7 7700K 4.2 GHz
2.     ASRock H270 Pro4 (1151 socket)
3.     2x8 GB DDR4 2400 or 2133 MHz, I do not know what, the 1x16 GB

Or

1.     Intel Core i7 6700K 4.0 GHz
2.     A cheaper motherboard, one that I have more choices for the 6th generation Intel CPU
3.     2x8 GB DDR4 2133 MHz, I do not know what, the 1x16 GB

For GPU I will try to get a GTX 1080 from an auction at ebay, otherwise GTX 1060 6gb or RX 480/580 or I will wait for the release of Vega. With the 2nd build I will have more money for a GPU and other stuff.

 

New proposals are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Edited June 13, 2017 by tria1999GR

[Taswell]

I would go for a 1060 right now since RX *X*80 based cards are almost impossible to get right now. I got my friends one of the 3GB cards and it has been working well for 1080P stuff.

 

 

[Jurrunio]

If you go for a k processor you will need a Z motherboard. If you don't have the money then Ryzen 5 1600 with B350 chipset mobo is better since it gives 85% of gaming performance at 60%-70% the cost.

 

Actually, since you have a Z87 mobo, upgrading the locked 4570 to 4770k/4790k is enough. This can help save some cash on a 1080.

 

Edit: Corsair CX PSUs are known for using low quality parts. Replace that if you don't want to risk your new parts.

[CatXice]

if your rig is purely for gaming get a i5-7600k on a z270 mobo and a better gpu

[TVwazhere]

5 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

If you go for a k processor you will need a Z motherboard. If you don't have the money then Ryzen 5 1600 with B350 chipset mobo is better since it gives 85% of gaming performance at 60%-70% the cost.

 

Actually, since you have a Z87 mobo, upgrading the locked 4570 to 4770k/4790k is enough. This can help save some cash on a 1080.

 

Edit: Corsair CX PSUs are known for using low quality parts. Replace that if you don't want to risk your new parts.

This is a good suggestion. A 4790k is withing a small percentage of the performance of the 6700k/7700k, and you wouldnt need to get a new motherboard either. This way you could just get an additional 8gb stick and be set. (You might also want a half way decent air cooler like a Cryorig h7, its only $35 USD. You didnt list one so I'm assuming youre using the stock intel heat sink)

 

If all you're looking for is BF1 at med settings at average 60fps, a 1060 will be more than plenty. Though, a 1080 will allow you to max the settings entirely and be more future proof, in addition to potentially going up in resolution if you so desired.

[tria1999GR]

30 minutes ago, ITheSpazI said:

I would go for a 1060 right now since RX *X*80 based cards are almost impossible to get right now. I got my friends one of the 3GB cards and it has been working well for 1080P stuff.

 

 

Will 3 GB be enough or should I go for the 6 GB edition? 3 GB might be a bit limiting, but i may be wrong.

21 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

If you go for a k processor you will need a Z motherboard. If you don't have the money then Ryzen 5 1600 with B350 chipset mobo is better since it gives 85% of gaming performance at 60%-70% the cost.

 

Actually, since you have a Z87 mobo, upgrading the locked 4570 to 4770k/4790k is enough. This can help save some cash on a 1080.

 

Edit: Corsair CX PSUs are known for using low quality parts. Replace that if you don't want to risk your new parts.

The second suggestion sounds like a good idea.

Is my PSU that big of a risk, though? Has worked fine for 4 years, everything seems in order.

20 minutes ago, CatXice said:

if your rig is purely for gaming get a i5-7600k on a z270 mobo and a better gpu

If I change mobo this doesn't sound bad, but i would prefer a slightly more significant upgrade. Looks like good VFM tho.

10 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

This is a good suggestion. A 4790k is withing a small percentage of the performance of the 6700k/7700k, and you wouldnt need to get a new motherboard either. This way you could just get an additional 8gb stick and be set. (You might also want a half way decent air cooler like a Cryorig h7, its only $35 USD. You didnt list one so I'm assuming youre using the stock intel heat sink)

 

If all you're looking for is BF1 at med settings at average 60fps, a 1060 will be more than plenty. Though, a 1080 will allow you to max the settings entirely and be more future proof, in addition to potentially going up in resolution if you so desired.

Fair point, all the above.

[TVwazhere]

1 minute ago, tria1999GR said:

1. Will 3 GB be enough or should I go for the 6 GB edition?

2. Is my PSU that big of a risk, though? Has worked fine for 4 years, everything seems in order.

3. If I change mobo this doesn't sound bad, but i would prefer a slightly more significant upgrade. Looks like good VFM tho.

1. Definitely 6GB. IIRC, the 3GB version also is slower than the 6GB (by nvidia)

2. I have the same PSU (modular version) running it on a 4790k and a GTX970. For the most part I've not had too much issue with it, but I'm not OC'ing the card past EVGA's factory overclock and the CPU is only set to 4.4ghz no voltage offset, but everything is rock solid

3. Theres no reason to consider the i5 series anymore with Ryzen R5. Definitely stick in the i7 series.

[Gaurav S Rao]

Really a 7700 "K" in a H270 Motherboard? get a 7700 not k since it will be a waste of money and 6700k is no less than a 7700k and it is cheaper

 

But about upgrades,

 

No need to upgrade to a whole new platform,It is good enough for gaming and other tasks

 

Reasons a Full Upgrade is not Worth it:
 

A 4790K is not so much behind a 7700K/6700K and will be cheaper,an upgrade from a 4570 to a 4790K is recommended by me

DDR4 is basically no-better than DDR3

Z87 is still good

 

One Thing I wanted to Pin-Point that should be changed

 

THAT HITACHI HARD DRIVE

[tria1999GR]

1 minute ago, Gaurav S Rao said:

Really a 7700 "K" in a H270 Motherboard? get a 7700 not k since it will be a waste of money and 6700k is no less than a 7700k and it is cheaper

 

But about upgrades,

 

No need to upgrade to a whole new platform,It is good enough for gaming and other tasks

 

Reasons a Full Upgrade is not Worth it:
 

A 4790K is not so much behind a 7700K/6700K

DDR4 is basically no-better than DDR3

Crap, i didn't look if the mobo allows overclocks. That's what you are talking about, right?

[Gaurav S Rao]

 

EDIT TO THE EMPTY POST:Above Post Is Updated and Edited

[Gaurav S Rao]

20 minutes ago, tria1999GR said:

Crap, i didn't look if the mobo allows overclocks. That's what you are talking about, right?

Yeah,Check that first,H270 Cannot Overclock,rather everything Except the "Z" Series cant overclock

 

With the Z87 mobo,it can overclock and is no less with that 4790k with a GTX 1080 instead of a 7700K

[Gaurav S Rao]

Just now, Gaurav S Rao said:

 

 

Sorry for the empty mistakenly done post,sorry  

[Jurrunio]

20 minutes ago, tria1999GR said:

Is my PSU that big of a risk, though? Has worked fine for 4 years, everything seems in order.

People who actually took it apart found capacitors with lower than usual temperature rating. You might get lucky to use one that doesn't fail, but that's down to how willing you are at taking risks

 

22 minutes ago, tria1999GR said:

Will 3 GB be enough or should I go for the 6 GB edition? 3 GB might be a bit limiting, but i may be wrong.

3GB is indeed limiting. Most cards at this range need 4GB minimum, but nvidia only provides 3GB or 6GB. That's why it's better to go 6Gb.

Don't mind about those with"9GBps" vram. Hardly makes any difference with standard 7GBps ones. Just treat them as if you don't see the labels.

[Gaurav S Rao]

1 minute ago, Jurrunio said:

People who actually took it apart found capacitors with lower than usual temperature rating. You might get lucky to use one that doesn't fail, but that's down to how willing you are at taking risks

 

3GB is indeed limiting. Most cards at this range need 4GB minimum, but nvidia only provides 3GB or 6GB. That's why it's better to go 6Gb.

Don't mind about those with"9GBps" vram. Hardly makes any difference with standard 7GBps ones. Just treat them as if you don't see the labels.

Maybe,but it might have the 7 yr warranty,IDK.

 

Definately,Get a RX 580 4 GB or 8 GB,but why even do with cards like that? Throw in a 4790K,GTX 1080/1080TI and definately definately change that HDD,if it is a TravelStar,it is definately a CrapStar

[tria1999GR]

20 minutes ago, Gaurav S Rao said:

Definately,Get a RX 580 4 GB or 8 GB,but why even do with cards like that? Throw in a 4790K,GTX 1080/1080TI and definately definately change that HDD,if it is a TravelStar,it is definately a CrapStar

I got the HDD from a friend of mine, used, for 20 euro. And i can say it was good VFM!

I will still keep it, for storage of files etc, but i may buy another HDD, for games and programs, and keep my SSD for windows and essentials.

[CatXice]

u want a 6gb 1060 or a 8gb 480/580 if your rig is for gaming you dont need an i7 the price to performance makes no sense so get a i5-7600k and a z270 mobo and the £100 u save not getting a i7 would buy u a 1070...

i5-7600k + 1070

or

i7-7700k + 1060 

the i5 would be way better your other option is to got for a ryzen 1600 build depending which is the better vaule the 1600 or the 7600k

[tria1999GR]

So, it seems I will go for the 4790k, so I will start by buying the RAM I need, the part I want most at the moment. Thank you for your advice, have a nice day!

(you can keep posing your opinions, I will read them)