Help me drop £1000

PhilGQ

PhilGQ

PhilGQ

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Joined
10 Sep 2007
Posts
683
Hi guys

I’d like some advice on an upgrade please. I have my own ideas but want to bounce them off a few other people. I can probably drop c£1000 on upgrades in the next 3-4 months.

Currently Spec (brackets are my thoughts):

i7 6700k (not worth upgrading)
16GB RAM (32GB would be ideal but not a priority)
R9 280 non-x (this is my week spot, priority for upgrade)
Samsung 250GB 950 Pro, 250GB 960 EVO, Toshiba 3TB hard disk (all fine)
Corsair HX520 (ok for now but not powerful enough long term and getting old)
Corsair H50 (getting old, but a nuisance to change as means taking the motherboard off)
Silverstone FT01 (old but fine)
This monitor https://www.overclockers.co.uk/iiya...creen-led-super-slim-bezel-mon-mo-134-iy.html
(mine may be not the B3 version)


My priorities are Gaming and also to get a second display for chat apps, Twitch etc. So these were the upgrades I was thinking of:


Graphics Card

I was thinking wait for the GF1170/1180 and maybe set a budget of £500 and then buy the best I can around launch. Even if they are not performance /pound any better than 10 series, they should at least run cooler and use less energy.


Monitor wise:

I am not sure whether to be doubling down on 1080p and buying a second 24” monitor as above or buying something 4K such as this: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/iiya...-gaming-widescreen-led-monitor-mo-119-iy.html


60Hz is obviously an issue here but I am thinking a 4K 120Hz+ is going to cost a lot more, I doubt I am going to really be concerned by being caped at 60Hz if running at 4K and I will still have the older one as well. (I picked this 4K monitor as an example because the bezel and stand would match my exiting display it does't have to be that one).


PSU
Lastly, I am thinking the PSU needs to be boosted hopefully to something that can handle a second card in the future.


Anything else I am missing or am I overthinking here.

Thoughts…
 
You could get a new graphics card and a new PSU with that cash, also look at a new AIO cooler with new case and cooler fans?

New cooler will let you overclock the CPU a bit more for more grunt.
 
Second cards don't bring that much benefit at the moment, this may change again in the future as DX12 and Vulkan API mature a bit though.

Seasonic and EVGA make some great PSUs, I would look at around 550W for single cards, 650W-750W for dual assuming you go for xx70 series.

A 1070 would be a good fit for that spec I think Vega56 might be worth considering now the prices are coming down.

I would be tempted to swap out the H50 for a high quality air cooler (Noctua) - as I've had 2 cheapish AIO with sudden pump failure.

Monitoring wise - 4k takes a serious system to make the most of, why not look at 1440p instead, notably nicer than 1080p but does not cost the earth, and if your getting NVidia GPUs then maybe look at one with gSync.

And as said above - New case could be nice addition, good opportunity for a rebuild and there's some great stuff by Phanteks and Fractal Design out that don't cost the earth.
 
Thanks guys, I think I a going to have to wait for a new case until I get a new motherboard and CPU maybe a Gen 9 i7. I have improved the air flow by pulling out the drive bays and using push pull on the H50.

I have taken a good look at the Gsync monitors, the premium might be too much if I also want a decent Graphics card. I think I have however ruled out a 4K monitor for the moment seems like I would have better time with the 1440p. Most people seem to be saying that gsync is worth the premium so I have some thinking to do on that unless I go AMD but prices aren't falling as much as Nvidia.
 
On monitors I find mixed pixel density gives me a headache trying to get everything looking right, so if going for same size I would personally pick same resolution.
 
 
PhilGQ said:
Thanks guys, I think I a going to have to wait for a new case until I get a new motherboard and CPU maybe a Gen 9 i7. I have improved the air flow by pulling out the drive bays and using push pull on the H50.

I have taken a good look at the Gsync monitors, the premium might be too much if I also want a decent Graphics card. I think I have however ruled out a 4K monitor for the moment seems like I would have better time with the 1440p. Most people seem to be saying that gsync is worth the premium so I have some thinking to do on that unless I go AMD but prices aren't falling as much as Nvidia.
Click to expand...

I think you're on the right track and if you're happy to wait 3-4 months then hopefully 1170/2070 will be available.

Also on the monitor front a lot of the manufacturers are refreshing their aging lineup this year - should see some nice new 1440P options as well.
 
bundle the notes in your hand, close your hand, turn your hand round so your knuckles face up, open you hand and watch that money fall
 
orbitalwalsh said:
My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £1,100.68 (includes shipping: £11.70)
​

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £1,011.28 (includes shipping: £12.30)
​
Click to expand...

Not much in it. Looks like I'll need more money to get the PSU as well at current prices though.
 
Squid Vicious said:
I think you're on the right track and if you're happy to wait 3-4 months then hopefully 1170/2070 will be available.

Also on the monitor front a lot of the manufacturers are refreshing their aging lineup this year - should see some nice new 1440P options as well.
Click to expand...

Hopefully prices will drop a little more too. Or 1160 will be a realistic contender.
 
 
EsaT said:
That HX520 is likely such old that would be sensible to retire it first.

Anyway high quality PSUs are now very affordable with pricing of Seasonic Focus line.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search?sSearch=seasonic+focus+plus+gold


And with multi GPU systems relying heavily on drivers being optimized you shouldn't count that as good long term upgrade plan.
Click to expand...

Its going to take me three months to save for everything anyway, the PSU I can get this month so I porbably will start with that.

I don't particularly want SLI/Xfire, I just want the option so will get a higher power one.
 
ExoMale said:
My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £993.08 (includes shipping: £18.12)
​
Click to expand...

When you put it like that it makes me wonder if the higher res and G sync is worth it. Since I already have one monitor I could save £200 on that bundle, or £160 if I get a monitor which matches the current one.
 
Also realised I am am not using the Freesync on my current set up, I swapped out the DP cable for HDMI when I some problems and never switched it back.
 
PhilGQ said:
When you put it like that it makes me wonder if the higher res and G sync is worth it. Since I already have one monitor I could save £200 on that bundle, or £160 if I get a monitor which matches the current one.
Click to expand...
well i chose a good brand with a 144hz screen that wasnt freesync and kept within budget, if you want to push 144hz on a 2560x1440 or whatever than you going to need to spend more and it doesnt matter if its a g-sync version or not.

out of curiosity what is your current monitor?
 
Last edited:
just an idea from amd point.

again choosing these 2 for reference and within budget and of course to keep them identical

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £941.67 (includes shipping: £11.70)​
​

or keeping your current screen then add this on to it if you wanted to try a higher res

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £981.28 (includes shipping: £12.30)​
​

if you wanting to keep within the apposed 1920x1080 freesync you have then you could drop to a cheaper screen and up the gpu to the vega 64.

like this for example

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £901.08 (includes shipping: £11.10)​
​

or a smaller screen if you have the typical 22-24".

if you did go nvidia then i noticed a g-sync 2560x1440 144hz for not too much more than that freesync on i first listed.
 
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