Recommend an upgrade path

Halestorm

Halestorm

Halestorm

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Joined
2 Dec 2011
Posts
518
Location
Sheffield, UK
Hi Guys

Can someone help me out with a recommended upgrade path for my PC

Current Specs

Case: Zalman Z9+
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth 990fx r2.0
CPU: AMD fx8-8530
GPU: ASUS 6770 Direct CU
SSD: OCZ Solid 3 120GB
HDD: 500GB Seagate Barracuda
PSU: Generic winpower 700w fully modular

edit: forgot the RAM - 16gb corsair dominator 1600mhz

Im thinking PSU and GPU upgrades definatly come first, I probably have a budget of around £150 this coming month because my birthday is coming up
and probably between £50-£80 a month each month after (obviously saving over the month I can roll it over)

What would you guys recommend?
 
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Psu first. Winpower is a terrible brand and you are lucky it has'nt blown up yet!! If you are going to stick with a single gpu then a quality 500w psu such as the Seasonic S12II 520W would be enough. If you want modular it will cost more. OCUK have stopped stocking most of the XFX psu's for some reason. They were the most commonly recommended units as they are a quality psu built by Seasonic and were a very good price.

Gpu wise, depending on the res you game at, take a look at the cheap GTX670's and AMD 7950's. Just make sure you replace that awful psu first.
 
I figured the PSU should be the first thing to go. I've asked for OCUK vouchers as birthday presents so i might have a higher budget. I game at 1080p, I was looking at perhaps something like the 670 as the prices seem to be coming down day by day at the moment. Maybe the AMD gpus might come down too if they ever release the new generation of cards
 
Also, the model numbers start to get confusing for me...is a 670 better than a 760? as there is only a few quid difference would i be better getting the 7 series over the 6 series?
 
The 760 while newer, is slower than the 670 in most things. The £162 deal on the 670 has finished now anyway. OCUK has some good deals on pre-order 7950's though.
 
Whats the views on EVGA powersupplies? OCUK have some "b-grade" stock of a 80plus gold 650w here
Are they any good? or are they something that might explode my house?
 
Halestorm said:
Whats the views on EVGA powersupplies? OCUK have some "b-grade" stock of a 80plus gold 650w here
Are they any good? or are they something that might explode my house?
Click to expand...

They look good quality though never had one myself, as much as i like B grade i wouldn't get a B grade PSU, the idea of someone returning a PSU "just because they don't like it" doesn't make sence to me, makes me think there more to it, like coil whine or something of that description.. (though obviously that may not be the case)

I'd personally go for something less wattage, like:

500W Strider (Silverstone PSU's are really nice): http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-229-SV&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=2283

Antec 520W (there is also a 620 verison): http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-147-AN&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1088

Or the Seasonic PSU specced above. :D
 
I thought B-Grade was mainly things like open-box or damaged packaging, didn't know some of them where returns.
The 550w Seasonic G series are looking good to me aswell, brand new for about £80, anyone got one?
 
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