Upgrade advice

Claudio

Claudio

Claudio

Associate
Joined
4 Oct 2018
Posts
29
Hi Everyone,

I am currently running this:

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80 92 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus P8P67 Deluxe ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Memory: Patriot Sector 5 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£84.99 @ Corsair UK)
Storage: Samsung 860 Evo 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£127.68 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Western Digital Black 500 GB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£50.49 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£35.48 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6 GB AORUS Video Card
Case: Thermaltake Element G ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower XT 875 W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
Monitor: BenQ ZOWIE XL2411P 24.0" 1920x1080 144 Hz Monitor (£173.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £472.63

Cpu Oc @ 4300mhz, gpu Oc @ 2100mhz on core & 4400mhz on memory.
Gpu has been updated more than a year ago, but obviously, recently it’s getting to the point of “not being enough” to play AAA titles at a frame rate that can justify a 144hz monitor at 1080p.

So first of all I’m torn between intel and amd. Trying to get as much future proofing for the price. (And I think straight away to amd; but I have not been with amd since I was a teenager and I have nightmares of the temps that I was experiencing back then)
Originally I was thinking of either a cpu update first or gpu; but either way I will be probably end up with quite a bit of bottlenecking on cpu/gpu; which will not give me much improvement to the current situation.

Will be still gaming at 1080p, budget wise, probably I’ll be splitting the new machine in 2 time frames purchases (ie. everything apart from gpu, and gpu to follow; this will depend on how much the end build will end up to)

What can you recommend?

thanks in advance!
 
New GPUs are few months away and should bring major update, especially to raytracing capability.
If having to update one side at time better to upgrade CPU now.
There's very good hardware available at good prices and AMD also has upgrade path options.
At least expensive GPU now doesn't make sense if you're wanting long time return for money.

Next-gen consoles bringing 8 cores/16 threads as base level means that in few years heaviest games will be demanding lots of cores.
AC Odyssey can scale past 8 cores:
https://youtu.be/vVjdhXAdKE0?t=1m50s
Hence if you're looking for getting 5+ years of life from same platform without complete overhaul, Intel just doesn't have anything being stuck on dead end upgra path max 8 core platform.

What kind budget you were thinking?
 
Thanks for your reply, and I agree with you! Budget wise I have put together lots of setups on partpicker to have an idea on pricing; say I’d keep case, psu, ssd, gpu (temporarily) and go for this below:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 3.9 GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 CHROMAX.BLACK 82.52 CFM CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming ATX AM4 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z Neo 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory

This is very reasonable, and if the new nvidia series will come out soon, I will then think of a gpu upgrade. I believe however that while equipping the 1060 I will just end up having a fancy rig hugely bottlenecked by the gpu.
What do you think about this? Shall I get a new psu considering the old one is going for it’s 7th/8th birthday? Also, an m2 drive will be something to think about but not a priority right now.
Thanks again!
 
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Would be better to stop naming (+remove names) of OcUK's competitors.
Naming and linking competitors is forbidden in forum rules.

3800X isn't worth any notable price extra over 3700X.
Performance difference is at best percent or two.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/amd-...hz-socket-am4-processor-retail-cp-3b7-am.html

Neither do those just 8 cores need any top cooler.
Arctic Freezer 34 would be very competent for 8 core Ryzen.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/arctic-freezer-34-cpu-cooler-120mm-hs-077-ar.html
Besides Scythe Mugen 5 is only step behind that Noctua for less than half the price at £43.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/scythe-scmg-5100-mugen-5-rev.b-cpu-cooler-hs-046-sy.html


Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite would have very heavy overkill VRM for just 8 cores and very balanced feature set for reasonable price.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/giga...4-x570-chipset-atx-motherboard-mb-57w-gi.html
Actually chipset cooler is better than in any Asus X570, which have it straight under graphics cards and bathed by its heat.
Asus corrected VRMs from B450 fiasco, but facepalmed in chipset cooling which is among the least sense making X570 boards.

And without firm plan to upgrade to 12/16 core, £100 MSI B450 Tomahawk would be well enough.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/msi-b450-tomahawk-max-socket-am4-ddr4-atx-motherboard-mb-33t-ms.html


That price is way too much for just 16GB.
Good highly overlocking 2x16GB set costs only £154
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cruc...b-kit-2-x-16gb-ddr4-3200-udimm-my-20d-cr.html
(those are routinely clocked to better clocks/latencies than most 3600MHz kits)

80+ Bronze efficiency was low end already decade ago and 80+ Gold has been standard for better for nearly as long.
PSU is actually the best value holding part (after the case) and 10 year warranty of better ones tells about intended usage life.
But if you'll be using such very basic graphics cards even 550W would be overkill.
650W PSU is enough for very high end gaming PC.
Very few of those having component power draw exceeding 350W

Good for gaming PC 1TB NVMe drive costs £110.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/wd-b...-solid-state-drive-wds100t2b0c-hd-56l-wd.html
With limited nubmer of NVMe slots smaller one doesn't make much sense.
 
An example of @EsaT's brief above.

You could easily swap out the Fuma for the Mugan 5 which is in stock and ~£5 less and you can get crucial e-die 3600 kits now for similar price if you don't want to play - but it's a very simple process to clock the 3200 kits (the 3600 kits are more window case friendly too, if that's important to you):

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £709.00 (includes shipping: £11.10)
​
 
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Thanks for your recommendation, just a couple of tweaks on my end, removed the m2 ssd for the moment as not urgently needed, had to pick another psu as the one pointed out was oos, and I would really like the fume2 but it’s pre-order, with no indication of timing for delivery...I guess I could start off with the stock cooler?
My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £618.01 (includes shipping: £11.10)​
​
 
Claudio said:
Thanks for your recommendation, just a couple of tweaks on my end, removed the m2 ssd for the moment as not urgently needed, had to pick another psu as the one pointed out was oos, and I would really like the fume2 but it’s pre-order, with no indication of timing for delivery...I guess I could start off with the stock cooler?
My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £618.01 (includes shipping: £11.10)
​
Click to expand...
No problem with using the stock cooler.

If the Hyper isn't guaranteed b-Die (not mentioned in description) - i would sub it out for the Crucial E-Die which clocks easily to 3600 or buy the Patriot 3600MHz set in the sale. The grey/black would complement the FUMA...:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
​
 
Oh gosh I did not realised I have put them rgb stuff, might have slipped while typing!

Would you recommend going for 32gb of the crucial for future proofing?(as I am not going for the m2, there’s room for some improvement, maybe on something else though)
 
Claudio said:
Would you recommend going for 32gb of the crucial for future proofing?(as I am not going for the m2, there’s room for some improvement, maybe on something else though)
Click to expand...
I would save the ~£80 and put it towards your future GPU purchase - much, much bigger gains. You can always add memory - and it would be overkill at present (i.e. no performance gain for present games).
 
Right, thanks for this!

And re gpu, if nvidia will be doing the usual 30xx, (60/70/80/80ti) for a flawless 1080p gaming should I be aiming at something on the line of the 2070 super?
 
*I should add you can source the the RM Series PSU elsewhere - similar price, fully modular and has 10 year guarantee (worth the slight inconvenience).

Claudio said:
And re gpu, if nvidia will be doing the usual 30xx, (60/70/80/80ti) for a flawless 1080p gaming should I be aiming at something on the line of the 2070 super?
Click to expand...
2060Super would suffice - 5700XT has similar performance to that of the 2070Super with a more palatable price - but both geared towards 1440p gaming (sweetspot with 27" screen). But would wait for new releases as you have to wait anyway...

How old is your monitor/refresh?
 
*Just noticed you monitor in your opening post - a 1080p with high refresh rates the 5700XT/2070Super would be comfortable fit (not totally necessary - but would maintain high frame rates).
 
Yes same as I thought, I can put up with it for a few months, and let’s see what happens. This Coronavirus situation might also make prices go way higher as everything comes from Asia! So I better get the main bits while prices are stable.
 
Claudio said:
This Coronavirus situation might also make prices go way higher as everything comes from Asia! So I better get the main bits while prices are stable.
Click to expand...
Ther'e already starting to rise - PSUs will too. If you're definitely upgrading i would buy sooner rather than later - price bumps already occurred today on CPUs.

With a 3700X and perhaps a future 2070Super/similar - i would consider a 27" 1440p monitor in your future too.

*Now pandemic has 'finally' been officially announced - school closures are probably imminent (they're discussing it) - and if this happens prices will get hit again.
 
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