Upgrade Advice

emergency

emergency

emergency

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Joined
20 Dec 2010
Posts
23
Hi guys,

A friend of mine is considering buying a new PC but his budget is limited. I am considering passing down my current PC to him at a reasonable price. This actually happened with my last PC around 4 years ago, which lasted him well since then and only cost him £100!

Anyway I need advice for my own upgrade.
Here are my current specs:
  • i5 2500k
  • 8GB DDR3
  • 560TI
  • 1TB WD HDD 7200RPM

I actually have a 780GTX but I am going to keep that and replace it with my old 560TI which is still knocking about.

So, I am looking for advice in a number of areas.

Should I upgrade to Haswell?
Presumably 8GB DDR3 will still be enough, and not limit me in any way.
Any case recommendations. It needs to be big enough to hold a 780GTX.
I'd like a motherboard with space for a relatively chunky after market cooler - or perhaps just a low profile after market cooler would be better? I had a friend who bought a large AMC and it was too large for either of other motherboards - hitting the RAM.
Finally, a reasonably priced powersupply with 2x8Pin's for the graphics card would be idea. My current one only had 1x8Pin and 1x6Pin which I had to adapt using Molex connectors into an 8pin.

Thanks in advance.
 
There is no point in upgrading to Haswell from Sandybridge as the performance increase won't be worth the outlay.

If you are selling your current spec to your friend then that is a different matter.

8GB Ram is still fine for gaming.

I would look at the Superflower Golden Green psu range.

The Bitfenix Ronin is a good value midi case.
 
Big aftermarket coolers are very good, the reason your mate had a problem is because he picked silly RAM (ill be 90% confident it was Corsair Vengaence he was using)..

You need to pick low profile RAM in order to use big coolers...

Personally id look secondhand and pick up some Ivybridge ware, as Haswell isn't much of an improve on your Ivy or you're current rig.

Im sure you'll be able to get a 3570k and Z77 motherboard pretty cheap. Also grab a cooler with it, the K2 (which is only £50 on OCUK) would be my shout...

As for the case, the Ronin (as said) is a lovely little windowed number. :)

The 650W Green PSU is a great choice.
 
lee32uk said:
There is no point in upgrading to Haswell from Sandybridge as the performance increase won't be worth the outlay.

If you are selling your current spec to your friend then that is a different matter.

8GB Ram is still fine for gaming.

I would look at the Superflower Golden Green psu range.

The Bitfenix Ronin is a good value midi case.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I figured the upgrade leap wasn't that much but going forward it may be better to get Haswell when essentially I would be buying new. Thank you for the recommendations.

Doomedspeed said:
Big aftermarket coolers are very good, the reason your mate had a problem is because he picked silly RAM (ill be 90% confident it was Corsair Vengaence he was using)..

You need to pick low profile RAM in order to use big coolers...

Personally id look secondhand and pick up some Ivybridge ware, as Haswell isn't much of an improve on your Ivy or you're current rig.

Im sure you'll be able to get a 3570k and Z77 motherboard pretty cheap. Also grab a cooler with it, the K2 (which is only £50 on OCUK) would be my shout...

As for the case, the Ronin (as said) is a lovely little windowed number. :)

The 650W Green PSU is a great choice.
Click to expand...

I believe you are correct, I am not sure what he is using but I am currently using Corsair Vengeance RAM. I will look for low profile RAM as well. Thank you for the recommendations :)
 
emergency said:
I believe you are correct, I am not sure what he is using but I am currently using Corsair Vengeance RAM. I will look for low profile RAM as well. Thank you for the recommendations :)
Click to expand...

You could always go for an all-in-one watercooling unit such as corsair H100 and then you can use any ram you want :) but of course the case has to accommodate the cooler if going for a dual radiator size.
 
WalderX said:
You could always go for an all-in-one watercooling unit such as corsair H100 and then you can use any ram you want :) but of course the case has to accommodate the cooler if going for a dual radiator size.
Click to expand...

And not to mention the cost, twice as expensive as the K2.
 
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