Can I upgrade, or should I start over

[NiteTerror]

I'm currently running a sabertooth z77 with an i7 2600k overclocked to 4.4 ghz, with a noctua nh-d14, and 16 gigs of ram in quad channel at 1600 ddr3

 

SAPPHIRE 100354OC-2L Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card

 

I built this machine originally in 2011-2012, and it did everything I needed it to, until 2016 at which point I built a better one and this got put in storage at work. Unfortunately I just got done with a messy divorce, and my ex wife put a dozen screws into my laptop, and sprayed salt water over my desktop while it was running which fried everything, including the hard drives and boot sad. so I'm back to my first build, which she couldn't get to. 

 

Am I good to just upgrade my graphics card and possibly my ram with this build, to continue gaming, or should I look to start over from scratch and just let my girlfriend use this one

[Dedayog]

Well you're already starting over, so I applaud you there. 

 

Use the money you got out of her for the property destruction and upgrade it all.  You COULD just get a GPU if you're gaming at 1080p/60 but I'd go ahead and just come into i7 8700K land with me.  You can keep tabs on the i9 stuff but I just don't see it being a big enough upgrade for the money.

[NelizMastr]

That CPU is dual channel only, btw. 4 slots doesn't equal quad channel  

 

Enough with the nitpicky stuff. You'll get a great experience with just a GPU upgrade. Up to a GTX1070 should pair well if you want 1080p, up to a 1070Ti/1080 for 1440p.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, NiteTerror said:

I'm currently running a sabertooth z77 with an i7 2600k overclocked to 4.4 ghz, with a noctua nh-d14, and 16 gigs of ram in quad channel at 1600 ddr3

 

SAPPHIRE 100354OC-2L Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card

 

I built this machine originally in 2011-2012, and it did everything I needed it to, until 2016 at which point I built a better one and this got put in storage at work. Unfortunately I just got done with a messy divorce, and my ex wife put a dozen screws into my laptop, and sprayed salt water over my desktop while it was running which fried everything, including the hard drives and boot sad. so I'm back to my first build, which she couldn't get to. 

 

Am I good to just upgrade my graphics card and possibly my ram with this build, to continue gaming, or should I look to start over from scratch and just let my girlfriend use this one

I'd see what your girlfriend has that you can spray some water on, and do so....

 

XD, don't do that.

Edit:

Or get her to pay for your broken stuff, also, don't give her anything. Sell it.

[Picklestine]

if you chuck a 1060 6gb or above in there you would hardly notice a difference gaming compared to your old rig. if you upgraded to a i7 8700k you would only get another 20-30fps more for what would be almost $800usd I guess. other cpu tasks you might notice its age a bit 

[Dedayog]

6 minutes ago, NelizMastr said:

That CPU is dual channel only, btw. 4 slots doesn't equal quad channel  

 

Enough with the nitpicky stuff. You'll get a great experience with just a GPU upgrade. Up to a GTX1070 should pair well if you want 1080p, up to a 1070Ti/1080 for 1440p.

As a guy who went thru a divorce a few years ago.... NO.  Absolutely not.

 

You need to upgrade it all, at least spend $1500 (break $2k if you get a bad motherf*cking monitor too).  That is a present to yourself, your freedom, and the PC Master Race.  Do not skimp, cuz it is cheaper than massage parlors at the end of the day.  Divorce Presents are a thing, do it!!!!

[SolarNova]

The 2600k is still a beast, just upgrade the GPU.

 

Also as som1 else mentioned, make sure you take action for the destruction of your property so you not out of pocket.

[GoldenLag]

Get a new GPU

 

And RX 580 8GB or 1070 for 1080p

 

1070/vega56/1070ti/1080 for 1440p

[Dedayog]

Just now, Finwillwin said:

Why that one, Ryzen offers amazing value.

Ryzen does, but if he's just gaming why not get a better gaming CPU for similar money?  $325 USD gets either.

[Guest]

Just now, jstudrawa said:

Ryzen does, but if he's just gaming why not get a better gaming CPU for similar money?  $325 USD gets either.

But the extra cores are useful for streaming or watching video's in the background, or for windows to update stuff.

[homeap5]

I agree with all who recommend upgrading GPU first.

You risk nothing. If you'll be still not satisfied, you can upgrade your CPU and motherboard later. And still using your upgraded GPU - so buying GPU is risk free.

[NelizMastr]

21 minutes ago, jstudrawa said:

Ryzen does, but if he's just gaming why not get a better gaming CPU for similar money?  $325 USD gets either.

The 8700K is more like $500 now with the shortages. Bad value chip. 

[Dedayog]

Where are you all shopping?  Are you saying $500 USD or your own currency?

 

I mean I get that Intel is slowing production of them to raise pricing and make people look at the i9 line but...  at $359 it's more than it was at release but still not near $500.  Motherboard combo is good deal as well.

 

[NiteTerror]

Unfortunately the ex. is Canadian, and I'm an American, she has no social, and it's proven difficult to sue her. Or even press charges, as the local police appear to be lazy as hell. All her money had her mommy's name on it too, so when she went into the divorce she had no assets. All I got out of the divorce was 16k behind on the mortgage that she refused to pay for, despite the court order. 

 

And at the moment I haven't fully decided on a budget, need to work out how to keep my house first. If I do decide to do a full rebuild, I'll aim for 1500 to 2k on it, though if a new gpu will suffice, I'd like to stay below $1k usd 

[Dedayog]

14 minutes ago, NiteTerror said:

Unfortunately the ex. is Canadian, and I'm an American, she has no social, and it's proven difficult to sue her. Or even press charges, as the local police appear to be lazy as hell. All her money had her mommy's name on it too, so when she went into the divorce she had no assets. All I got out of the divorce was 16k behind on the mortgage that she refused to pay for, despite the court order. 

 

And at the moment I haven't fully decided on a budget, need to work out how to keep my house first. If I do decide to do a full rebuild, I'll aim for 1500 to 2k on it, though if a new gpu will suffice, I'd like to stay below $1k usd 

Totally understandable.  It is easy to say sue her, but the reality is never easy and it can cost more to do than to just wash your hands of it all.

 

Either way, the GPU's listed above are good to look at. Nothing outside of the 2080Ti will cost you over $1000, and you'd be fine spending under $300 really.

[grss1982]

3 hours ago, NiteTerror said:

I'm currently running a sabertooth z77 with an i7 2600k overclocked to 4.4 ghz, with a noctua nh-d14, and 16 gigs of ram in quad channel at 1600 ddr3

 

SAPPHIRE 100354OC-2L Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card

 

I built this machine originally in 2011-2012, and it did everything I needed it to, until 2016 at which point I built a better one and this got put in storage at work. Unfortunately I just got done with a messy divorce, and my ex wife put a dozen screws into my laptop, and sprayed salt water over my desktop while it was running which fried everything, including the hard drives and boot sad. so I'm back to my first build, which she couldn't get to. 

 

Am I good to just upgrade my graphics card and possibly my ram with this build, to continue gaming, or should I look to start over from scratch and just let my girlfriend use this one

Ouch. She's harsh on the hardware.

 

In any case, Hardware Canucks did a two-part review a few months backs that compared an i7-2600k and an i7-8xxx series that basically included using the fastest GPU on both, a 1080 Ti:

 

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=hawrdwarecanucks 2600k review&qs=n&form=QBVR&sp=-1&pq=hawrdwarecanucks 2600k&sc=0-22&sk=&cvid=D4553F3C84B542D8940D5576013637B1

 

Maybe the reviews can give you an idea on the performance you get with just a GPU upgrade or ultimately do a full on upgrade.