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New CPU Upgrade

Pipster2797

Pipster2797

Pipster2797

Associate
Joined
16 May 2011
Posts
41
Location
Cramlington
Hi

I currently have a Gigabyte H61M-HD2 motherboard with just a basic Celeron CPU in it as the system has only been really used for xbmc. Ive decided however to invest a bit of cash in and upgrade the cpu and add in a graphics card.

Budget for all is around £400 and I was thinking this for the cpu

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-404-IN

and that will leave me with the scope to add in a new graphics card for around £200-£230 (Which I'm going to post in the graphics card section for advice). I'm not going to use the system for anything like video editing or anything. I would maybe like to play Battlefield 4 and a few other games. It will leave me scope to overclock the cpu and upgrade the cooling system on it if I need to overclock but I don't think I will need to overclock at first and from what I have read the stock fan is adequate for the cpu

Rest of my current system is

2x4GB DDR3 Ram (I am planning on upgrading to 16GB in a couple of months)
64GB SSD Hard Drive
3TB Sata Hard Drive


What do people think of the cpu or any advice for an alternative would be grateful for around the same price.
 
Currently have a Corsair CX430 power supply.

Thanks for that info as didn't realise it couldnt be overclocked. (Might look at the option of upgrading the motherboard to allow me to overclock. Probably won't need this at first though but could be an option in a few months.)

That is the graphics card that I had been looking at too
 
mickyflinn said:
I would get a new psu if you get the 280x , 550w is recommended.
Click to expand...


Well in truth I had picked up the Corsair CX430 last weekend when I bought a new case. It was an impluse buy while out shopping and knew the psu from the old xbmc wouldn't fit. I had thought 430 watt would be enough. Think I may just take it back and exchange it for 650 or 750 even for a little extra.

How about get a Z97 mobo (about 80-£100+) and Pentium K G3258 (52.99 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=CP-531-IN)
Also get a new GPU 280x or whatever then a 4670k or 4690k at a later date?
Although a decent GPU on that PSU is close to the edge.
You might even find that CPU is enough at the moment if you can get it to about 4.5ghz.
Click to expand...

I might well think about that or even a better cpu straight away and stretch the budget a bit further. Not sure
 
mickyflinn said:
I would get a new psu if you get the 280x , 550w is recommended.
Click to expand...

Just been to exchange the psu for the cx750. Had to pay an extra £35 but same price as overclockers.

I'm tempted now to go for the new motherboard and concentrate on the CPU, mobo and graphics card. I had planned to keep some money aside to get a new 27" HD monitor. I'm currently using an old DVI HP w20 monitor but also have a Samsung 20" Full HD TV P2270HD.

Do you think it would maybe be wiser to upgrade to a 27" HD monitor later on and just use the monitor or TV and use the money to buy a better cpu, graphics card and mobo?

So go for

1 x XFX Radeon R9 280X DD Black Edition 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (R9-280X-TDBD) £199.99

New motherboard and cpu with a combined budget of £370 - £400. Possibly then go for an i7 4790k or i5 4690k and the remainder on a new motherboard?

Total budget for all 3 would be £600 as wouldn't be upgrading to a 27" monitor until later on.
 
I know I'm new, but if you wanted to do all three at once you could...

Second hand xeon e3-1230 v2 and current motherboard and second hand r9 280x. Looking at overclockers website they have a rather lovely 27" monitor on sale right now too should bring you to around £620 (roughly).
 
I don't really want to buy 2nd hand only because I wont know if the cpu had been overclocked or pushed too far and for it to die on me. I would prefer the guarntee of a warranty because as I said I don't plan to overclock straight away but having the option to at a later date is something that appeals to me.

I've been doing a fair bit of reading up today on different posts and thinking the new mobo 1150 with overclocking ability with a new cpu i5 or 17 and the r9 280x graphics card then buy a new 27" monitor in a month or so.
 
For me the cost of buying these older components new , really defeats the object but i can understand your reasoning. :D

I would save a bit more first, then just completely sell all you have. Buy a cheap z97 board and a i5 4670/4690K cpu. At least you would have another route to upgrade to broadwell alone the line and you would be getting the latest platform for your money. But if your set on the 3570K the look second hand as you will save loads.
 
Well found this bundle for £265 Gigabyte Z97X-SLI - Devils Canyon Core i5 4690K Bundle http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-006-GI

Plus £200 for the r9 280x would still leave me around £140 to either put towards a monitor or go for 16GB of decent ram.

Im glad I posted today though as feel Im getting better gear for my money than I would have if I hadn't of posted/
 
Its a much better option in my opinion :)

Though going by your OP of £400 budget ,,,

The bundle is £264.58 inc VAT and the 280x is £200 = £464.58 and thats without shipping. Though for now your 8GB will do the job fine. The basis of that system will be excellent. I would stress about getting a better cpu cooler as the stock intel one is garbage.
 
McstylisT said:
Its a much better option in my opinion :)

Though going by your OP of £400 budget ,,,

The bundle is £264.58 inc VAT and the 280x is £200 = £464.58 and thats without shipping. Though for now your 8GB will do the job fine. The basis of that system will be excellent. I would stress about getting a better cpu cooler as the stock intel one is garbage.
Click to expand...


Sorry I had put a budget of £400 but had held a further £170-£200 back to buy a 27" HD monitor. If I wasn't to buy the monitor straight away and use either my current HP20w monitor or even my Samsung 20" FullHD TV P2270HD it would leave me that extra money to put towards the better cpu, mobo and gpu along with some decent ram.

I would then hang on a month or 2 before buying a 27" HD monitor

I was thinking about a new cooler for it but trying to keep the price of that out of the budget :D Its an excuse to put a little extra in for the cooler
 
Pipster2797 said:
Sorry I had put a budget of £400 but had held a further £170-£200 back to buy a 27" HD monitor. If I wasn't to buy the monitor straight away and use either my current HP20w monitor or even my Samsung 20" FullHD TV P2270HD it would leave me that extra money to put towards the better cpu, mobo and gpu along with some decent ram.

I would then hang on a month or 2 before buying a 27" HD monitor

I was thinking about a new cooler for it but trying to keep the price of that out of the budget :D Its an excuse to put a little extra in for the cooler
Click to expand...

Oh I see now :D:D Sounds like a plan. Good things come to those who wait :p

Forgot to ask , which size platform you looking to use ? ATX MATX or MITX

If your going to use your current case etc we need to know exactly so you dont encounter any problems. :)
 
Current case is an ATX. My current mobo in it looks ridiculously small with it being a micro ATX.

I picked the case up an Antec 25 as got it for £35 and thought it was a decent size for the price. I hadn't gone out to buy a case that day and was an impulse buy. Bought it though because it could take a mini, micro and an ATX board along with USB 3.0 ports at the front.
 
Pipster2797 said:
Current case is an ATX. My current mobo in it looks ridiculously small with it being a micro ATX.

I picked the case up an Antec 25 as got it for £35 and thought it was a decent size for the price. I hadn't gone out to buy a case that day and was an impulse buy. Bought it though because it could take a mini, micro and an ATX board along with USB 3.0 ports at the front.
Click to expand...

LOL ,, hate it when that happens !!

At lest you have a variety of options. Though as you have the case ATX looks the best option to go with. That bundle you linked will be fine. :)
 
Yeah think that's what I will do. That bundle along with the r9 280x and tempted to go with a new 16GB ram with it now for the last £140 and then it will be a total of just over £600. Then just wait for a new monitor and use current one of fullHD TV

Thanks for the help
 
Pipster2797 said:
Yeah think that's what I will do. That bundle along with the r9 280x and tempted to go with a new 16GB ram with it now for the last £140 and then it will be a total of just over £600. Then just wait for a new monitor and use current one of fullHD TV

Thanks for the help
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a good idea now ? ;)

Though if you do need to control the funds the 8GB memory you currently have will do the job for the time being. 16GB will not give you massive advantages tbh , unless your into photoshop programs etc. Most desktop and gaming users find 8GB plenty. ;) Though if you can and want to go 16GB then why not. :D
 
Ill not be using photoshop or anything like it. Occasionally Ill use to Handbrake to convert my dvds to allow me to watch on my Galaxy S5 but thats it

Just a case of either looking at the 16GB or Ram or a new larger HD monitor sooner
 
Pipster2797 said:
Ill not be using photoshop or anything like it. Occasionally Ill use to Handbrake to convert my dvds to allow me to watch on my Galaxy S5 but thats it

Just a case of either looking at the 16GB or Ram or a new larger HD monitor sooner
Click to expand...

16GB of faster rated memory could help speed up handbrake encodes, but nothing major I would think.

Sacrifice now for more gain later as they say. :)

Oh and thought i may as well add this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-014-AS&groupid=701&catid=6 Its a similar bundle though Asus based board but another £10 cheaper. ;) But depends if you prefer the Gigabyte though.
 
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