Need a little help with upgrading my PC

rhocalcam

rhocalcam

rhocalcam

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26 Jan 2016
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Hi guys, wondering if someone could point me in the right direction on how I should go about increasing the performance of my aging PC - looking to play more graphic intensive games at higher quality.

Current specs:

Intel i5 2500K overclocked to 4.0Ghz
8GB DDR3 RAM
GeForce GTX 550 Ti 1GB
Samsung 850 Pro 128GB SSD (OS install)
1TB HDD
Asus p8Z68-V LE Motherboard

I'm guessing the answer is going to be a new graphics card; would you be able to suggest a good one? I've been looking at the Asus Geforce GTX 970 Strix?

Looking to spend approx £300. How can I get my best "Bang for buck"?

Thanks in advance!
 
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You got it... Ideally the graphics card would need upgrading. I am about to purchase the MSI GTX970 as the reviews are really good. I also have friends with the same card and they are very happy with it. Hope that helps!
 
thanks guys, I have a 500watt Xigmatek PSU - Do you think this will be able to cope?

For future...once the GPU has been upgraded - CPU or RAM upgrade next?

Thanks again
 
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Which model is the Xigmatek psu? Most are poor quality and it's all very well people saying that 500w is enough but none of the Xigmatek 500w psu's are actually capable of delivering 500w on the 12v rail. Some, such as the awful X-Calibre, only have 384w on the 12v rail.
 
Yeah a better PSU would be a good idea as pasty says, xigmatic are pretty poor. The PSU is the most important component of any system, so you should be looking at a gold rated or above. A 970 is perfect for 1080, you might get a 980 if you shop around or be close to that price.
 
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OP,

Have recently upgraded from 6GB to 16GB and changed the GPU from a HIS 7950 to a GTX 970. Highly recommend the 970.

Worth every penny.

Next on my to-do-list is switch over to SSD's
 
izzop said:
OP,

Have recently upgraded from 6GB to 16GB and changed the GPU from a HIS 7950 to a GTX 970. Highly recommend the 970.

Worth every penny.

Next on my to-do-list is switch over to SSD's
Click to expand...

Best thing you could do mate, I switched and have 7 SSD's in this new system now. I just keep buying them !!! Addicted to spending money lately haha. Seriously though massive difference going to SSD
 
Thanks so much everyone - I've just "accidentally" ordered the MSI 970.

Will look into improving the PSU and RAM next; I had a feeling the PSU was a bit weak.

And yes, the move to SSD was such a big increase in speed for me. Highly recommended.

Thanks again
 
That's a awful psu and little better than a generic one. It's not 80+ certified at all and only has 372w across it dual 12v rails (that's if it can even manage that). The OEM is Solytech who makes all of Powercool's psu's and they are all tier 5 (to be avoided at all cost's) units. Do yourself a big favour now and buy a decent psu before you stick that 970 in your pc. The Antec Truepower Classic (Seasonic built) 550w is on offer this week at a cracking £49.99. You will not get better for the money. It's a gold rated psu with a single 12v rail of 540w and a 5 year warranty.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £61.09
(includes shipping: £11.10)
​



Why is the stupid new shops BBCode not working properly still?
 
pastymuncher said:
That's a awful psu and little better than a generic one. It's not 80+ certified at all and only has 372w across it dual 12v rails (that's if it can even manage that). The OEM is Solytech who makes all of Powercool's psu's and they are all tier 5 (to be avoided at all cost's) units. Do yourself a big favour now and buy a decent psu before you stick that 970 in your pc. The Antec Truepower Classic (Seasonic built) 550w is on offer this week at a cracking £49.99. You will not get better for the money. It's a gold rated psu with a single 12v rail of 540w and a 5 year warranty.
Click to expand...

That's some solid advice, and a cracking PSU. You'd do well to heed that advice OP.

I was absolutely screwing after a sub-par psu killed a £30 quid mobo of mine a few years back; If I lost a decent board (like your p67 board) or a GPU like the 970, I'd probably go super saiyan.
 
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