Upgrading computer..

Heku

Member
Hey guys, i've been thinking about updating my computer in the beginning of next year.. but what parts should i upgrade... i want to keep the case, since like it! (well, though about putting a windowed side panel to my case).. but what parts should i update? any ideas will be though of (brands, models, types etc...)! i dunno how much money i'm still gonna spend..

My computer atm:
MoBo : ASRock AM3 AMD880G
Case : Cooler Master HAF 912 PLUS
CPU : AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition OC @ 3.6 GHz
GPU : Club 3D GTX 550TI PCIE 1536MB DDR3 HDMI
PSU : CORSAIR CX600 Watt 12CM V2.23 80+
RAM : Valueram/4GB 1333MHz DDR3 Non-ECC DIMM x2
CD/DVD Drive : SMG DVDROM 16X Black SATA Bulk
HDD : WesternDigital Desktop Black 500GB
 
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well, i use my computer mostly for gaming, photoshop, and watching series (sometimes all at same time).. dual screening with a DELL monitor and a Samsung 24" TV.. and for budget, depends if i get my car sold to my sister (for 1150e).... max 700e (gonna move away from home, so need some money to keep living too.
i was thinking like SSD, new gpu, and processor (mobo at same?)..
 
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would these parts be any good? :
Mobo: Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 990FX (126,53€)
CPU: AMD FX-6350 6C 125W AM3+ 14M 4.2G (108,79€)
GPU: ASUS GTX660-DC2OCPH-2GD5 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-E 3.0 192bit (144,35€)
SSD: KINGSTON SSDNow 120GB V300 (66,05€)
 
Wouldn't be an update for the CPU. They're not much different.

The 660 is better, but not worth the money for the whole system.

Look 2500k, 1155 board, gtx770, evo ssd.
 
the site from which i'm buying didn't have any 2500k's :(
how about Z77 or 990FX boards?
and max price 500€... don't wanna spend all too much.. since i'm moving and gotta buy stuff to my new apartment too (forgot it in the earlier post...)
 
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I would really say
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3
RAM: Kingston HyperX/Corsair Vengeance 2x8GB 1600MHz
SSD: Samsung 840 Evo 120/250GB
CPU cooler: Coolermaster 212 Evo
GPU: The best you can afford

AFAIK the CPU you have is better than the FX ones clock for clock. So overclock the one you have to 4GHz and it should be better than a FX-4300 at 4GHz.

EDIT: Oh wait, read it as you only had 1x4GB RAM. RAM not a priority then... that much.
 
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for the mobo, i found GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 for 20e more, so i'd think it's better than the 970, am i right?
i could think about about keeping this processor, but for more OC i would definitely need a better cpu cooler.. the 212 Evo costs 31,38€, but how about Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 (28,14€), not much cheaper, but dual fan possibility..
about the SSD, well the Kingston V300 is 20€ cheaper (Samsung 100€), and a top seller on the site...
for the GPU the best i can afford is a GTX760 / GTX770... but gotta think about that still (i'm more a nVidia fan than ATi/AMD)
 
The Evo comes with mounting for a second fan. I have one running push-pull with 2 of the fans (I often buy the 212 Evo for builds, so I installed one with another fan and kept the stock one :D). Both fans are running off a molex -> 3-pin fan 12v with a 12v -> 7v adapter. They're dead quiet and never ramps up or down and keeps an AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition 3.2GHz overclocked 4.2GHz and it never goes above 50C (same socket and architecture as your CPU, just a dual core instead).
The main difference between the two motherboards is the ability to run dual graphics on the FXA version.
Samsung makes all the parts of the SSD themselves, while Kingston buys parts from other people and assemble them. This gives Samsung the advantage of being able to keep the good chips and controller to themselves. I would really recommend the EVO over the V300, unless the price difference was larger.
I read an article a few days ago, showing results of various SSDs that has been tested for a very long time continuously and depicting how much they deteriorate.
The ranking was like this: Corsair > Samsung > Rest (if I remember correctly, Corsair was definitely #1)
 
here's the list of the new parts i've been thinking:
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 (dual graphics FXA might be good for future) [103,14€]
GPU: ASUS GTX760-DC2OC-2GD5 (pretty much the best i can afford) [217,66]
SSD: SAMSUNG 840 Evo Series 120GB SSD SATA3 (samsung for better performance) [86,01€]
CPU Cooler: CM HYPER 212 EVO (if this has the dual fan possibility) [31,38€]

Total Price: 438,19€

i think this is a pretty good set up! but since the GPU itself takes 500W, should i need to update my PSU at the same?
 
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The GPU doesn't even come close to 500W. What you've most likely read is the recommended PSU wattage for an entire normal system with a GTX 760. And they set these high.
The Steamboxes are going to have the option to run a i7-4770 with a GTX Titan and they run on a 450W PSU. You'll be fine with a 500W :)

Here's a build of mine (still in progress) featuring all AMD and red LED fans :)
The stock fan is a black one that's really silent, but I've replaced it with two red LED fans. The included fan comes with the mounting pre-attached and there's a second kit in the box that you can use on any standard mounting fan.

cwgCtHrD.jpg
 
well, i dunno if i'll get a much better CPU.. becuz i'm thinking on spending the most on the GPU, and i think the CPU i now have is pretty decent.. so i don't really know if i would upgrade CPU. But if you have any good suggestions i'll listen.
more thinking on buying new CPU Cooler (stock atm) to OC the one i have now (CPU).

i don't really have that much to backup, since most of my programs/games/movies etc. on my external hard drive (2TB).. mostly windows files etc. on HDD.
 
You definitely shouldn't upgrade your CPU at your budget :)
Cheapest Intel option would be $200+, while the cheapest AMD would be ~$130, where you would need a new motherboard too.
You could find a second hand six-core that would fit your mobo, but it would yield next to no performance difference.
 
Price Update:
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 103,14€
GPU: ASUS GTX760-DC2OC-2GD5 198,30€
SSD: SAMSUNG 840 Evo Series 120GB SSD SATA3 86,01€
CPU Cooler: CM HYPER 212 EVO 29,76€
Total Price: 417,21€

hopefully prices will drop in the beginning of next year (as they usually do?), then i might think about changing some parts maybe (if the prices drop)
 
If your not upgrading your CPU, its useless buying the 990FXA. Is your Asrock the 880G Pro3 or 880G Extreme 3? A FX 6350 is a better processor then the Phenom II 955.
 
The list looks good, but you could drop the motherboard down to a GA-970A-UD3.
Exactly the same, except it cannot run multiple graphics cards. And you would have to upgrade the power supply if you wanted a second GPU.
And Strangle, while an FX-6350 might be a bit better, it's still stupid to upgrade the CPU when he has a decent (true) quad core that he can then overclock with his new cooler.
That said, if you have ASRock 880G Pro3 or Extreme3, I probably wouldn't bother buying a new one. They seem alright, and then you wouldn't have to reinstall your OS, then you can just clone it to the SSD and format the HDD.
 
And Strangle, while an FX-6350 might be a bit better, it's still stupid to upgrade the CPU when he has a decent (true) quad core that he can then overclock with his new cooler.

It was a statement, not telling him to buy one. But saying that, if I had a 955, (I) would not have a problem buying one. But even saying that, with new builds I don't buy AMD FX X4 or X6. The price different from them and the 8 core makes them not worth buying since they are all unlocked. Like now the 8320 is just 20 bucks more then the 6350, plus the 8320 has a 20 buck promo making them the same price.
 
Jiniix, i think my mobo is Pro3..
concidering the 970 serie...
i've been browsing the internetz and some say that Gigabytes UD sereis have had some problems (but don't know anything more about that)... so i've been thinking about parts (once again)....

Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3 [82.18€]
or
Asus M5A97 EVO R2.0, AMD 970 Socket AM3+, ATX [76.53€]
 
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