Advice upgrading current Rig

[JasonM]

This is what I would do.

1) I would get another 8GB to match your existing Kingston memory.
2) I would get a better graphics card.
3) I would upgrade the PSU but only if your upgrading to a good PSU such as the Seasonic. Whats the point in upgrading one cheaper PSU to another cheaper PSU.
4) I would wait on the SSD at least doing the other upgrades first. Those 1TB WD black drives are quiet fast (for HDD's) plus having 1TB for C drive gives so much more freedom over a 256GB SSD.

Over 16GB memory, Windows has something called standby memory where it will cache your regular files. You can have situations where a computer with 16GB & HDD can outperform a computer with 8GB & SSD, providing the data files have already been cached in standby memory. So if your playing a game and your loading the same maps, once you have loaded those maps once, the next time files will be loaded from standby memory. Standby memory will outperform any SSD you can buy, this is why it's wrong to only get the minimum amount of memory in windows computers.

 

[orbitalwalsh]

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[Ali3ta1r]

This is what I would do.

1) I would get another 8GB to match your existing Kingston memory.
2) I would get a better graphics card.
3) I would upgrade the PSU but only if your upgrading to a good PSU such as the Seasonic. Whats the point in upgrading one cheaper PSU to another cheaper PSU.
4) I would wait on the SSD at least doing the other upgrades first. Those 1TB WD black drives are quiet fast (for HDD's) plus having 1TB for C drive gives so much more freedom over a 256GB SSD.

Over 16GB memory, Windows has something called standby memory where it will cache your regular files. You can have situations where a computer with 16GB & HDD can outperform a computer with 8GB & SSD, providing the data files have already been cached in standby memory. So if your playing a game and your loading the same maps, once you have loaded those maps once, the next time files will be loaded from standby memory. Standby memory will outperform any SSD you can buy, this is why it's wrong to only get the minimum amount of memory in windows computers.

Thanks JasonM, puts a curve ball in the mix from what I was thinking. However, I'm now convinced to buy the additional 8GB of HyperX memory (1600Mhz) and also the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti WindForce X2 OC.

Just a couple of questions.

Do you think I am making the right choice on the GPU? I don't really want to go above £220 unless it really would make a noticeable bigger difference... I'm open to persuasion.

What benefit would I see in performance by upgrading per say to the SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Platinum 550W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX PSU? Which I can get for £90.

Regarding the SSD, if I were to stretch to a 500GB 850 EVO SSD would you then agree I should upgrade from my WD 1TB HDDs?

 

[Ali3ta1r]

Okay, so I have ordered the below parts based on the feedback above:

GPU: Gigabyte Nvidia Windforce GTX 1060 3GB (£184.97)
RAM: Kingston - HyperX Fury Red 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£56.63)
PSU: Seasonic Focus Plus 650W Gold (£90.46)

So all at a total cost of £332.07. And my new rig set-up is as below:

CPU Intel: Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus - Z97-WS ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Memory: Kingston - HyperX Fury Red 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Western Digital - BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB Windforce OC Video Card
Case: Cooler Master - Elite 311 (Blue) ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Lite-On - iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit
Monitor 2 (Dual) x AOC - I2369VM 23.0" 1920x1080 60Hz Monitor

Anybody see any glaring concerns with the above upgrades and new rig set-up?

Am I definitely better not getting a Samsung EVO 250GB SSD to install the Operating System on and a few core software applications?

 

[JasonM]

Thanks JasonM, puts a curve ball in the mix from what I was thinking. However, I'm now convinced to buy the additional 8GB of HyperX memory (1600Mhz) and also the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti WindForce X2 OC.

Just a couple of questions.

Do you think I am making the right choice on the GPU? I don't really want to go above £220 unless it really would make a noticeable bigger difference... I'm open to persuasion.

What benefit would I see in performance by upgrading per say to the SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Platinum 550W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX PSU? Which I can get for £90.

Regarding the SSD, if I were to stretch to a 500GB 850 EVO SSD would you then agree I should upgrade from my WD 1TB HDDs?

Ali3ta1r, the better quality PSU's such as the Seasonic you have ordered are often quieter in operation, they also tend to have better regulation so can make your computer more stable.

In regard to SSD, I'm not saying don't get an SSD, however I would fit the components you have ordered and see how you get on. The main thing with SSD's is load and write times, however if your prepared to wait for your computer to load and settle (windows pre fetch to work) having an SSD won't make a vast different to you. So if your someone who's computer is left on for hours, or you standby your computer, then keeping your 1TB WD Black is still a valid option.

 

[southernorth]

Okay, so I have ordered the below parts based on the feedback above:

GPU: Gigabyte Nvidia Windforce GTX 1060 3GB (£184.97)
RAM: Kingston - HyperX Fury Red 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£56.63)
PSU: Seasonic Focus Plus 650W Gold (£90.46)

So all at a total cost of £332.07. And my new rig set-up is as below:

CPU Intel: Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus - Z97-WS ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Memory: Kingston - HyperX Fury Red 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Western Digital - BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB Windforce OC Video Card
Case: Cooler Master - Elite 311 (Blue) ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Lite-On - iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit
Monitor 2 (Dual) x AOC - I2369VM 23.0" 1920x1080 60Hz Monitor

Anybody see any glaring concerns with the above upgrades and new rig set-up?

Am I definitely better not getting a Samsung EVO 250GB SSD to install the Operating System on and a few core software applications?

SSD is definitely worth it. Makes your entire PC more responsive, boots up quicker, apps and games load quicker.

Even better, Samsung give you a free copy of Assassins Creed: Origins if you buy one (e.g. 850 EVO 250GB). Unfortunately OCuk are not participating in this promo, so you'll have to buy elsewhere, but it is a great offer:

http://www.samsung.com/uk/offer/assassinscreedorigin/

 

[Ali3ta1r]

Would a 250GB SSD be enough? Also, just thinking what your thoughts are on JasonM's above comments?

 

[orbitalwalsh]

If you can afford it, get the biggest drive you can, even if it's not Samsung but you'll lose the free game !
Always keep your hard desk ! Specially for stuff like work docs etc that keep getting rewritten over. Not sure if you know the workings of an SSD but the more times to write and delete, performance will down grade. Often best to fill them up, and then wipe in one go and start again etc etc , have a larger size avoids doing this often and increases the life. Having said that they have massively improved cell life and smart trim features along with windows 10 being a god send !
Go big and bold !

Even if you have to change order and downgrade to 550w PSU , which is fine for a gtx 1080 !

GPU is solid and if you have any issues with the card, and the reseller you got it from is/was pants, reps on here will gladly help out

 

[southernorth]

Would a 250GB SSD be enough? Also, just thinking what your thoughts are on JasonM's above comments?

If you're also using that 1TB HDD then you would have enough space. Use the 250GB SSD for your OS, apps and most played games.

 

[JasonM]

There is something else that's an option, Ali3ta1r could install Intel Smart Response technology

https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/architecture-and-technology/smart-response-technology.html

It actually makes quite a bit of scene since he already has the 1 TB wd black drive, he only has to get a relatively small SSD to use as cache.

 

[Ali3ta1r]

JasonM, actually I recently downloaded this when doing a full Windows re-install and it came from the ASUS website when downloading a SATA Driver for my Z97-WS motherboard.

I am not really sure how it works or what it does... after installing it just seems to sit in my task bar and there is very little functionality of anything I can do with it when opened.

I bought a SSD 250GB Samsung EVO this morning. So what do you propose I do?

 

[JasonM]

I am not really sure how it works or what it does... after installing it just seems to sit in my task bar and there is very little functionality of anything I can do with it when opened.

I bought a SSD 250GB Samsung EVO this morning. So what do you propose I do?

The smart response is a caching system where it moves regular files over to an SSD to speed up a hard drive, its useful if you have a small SSD.

I recommend however now you have ordered the 250GB SSD just go with what everyone else said, and install your OS on the SSD as normal, then use your 1TB HDD's as separate drives for extra storage.