Upgrade or go Intel?

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 19:24

So recently I've decided to sell my Halo 4 Xbox 360 and with some other cash alongside it I'll have around £400 to spend. I'm planning to use this money for a PC upgrade however I wasn't sure whether it was worth switching to Intel and picking up a i3570k with a Z77 mobo using my GTX550TI or upgrading to a FX8350 and 7950 GFX card. Obviously the i3570k is the better choice for the processor, but would I see a much better performance increase from getting a AMD cpu with a new GFX card?, bearing in mind I will also have to get windows again or use the 90 day Windows 8 trial if I were to switch to Intel due to my OEM windows key.
Edit: Mainly play games such as BF3, WoW, CS:GO, Crysis 3 when its launched and some minor video rendering.
Any input appreciated

Cheers Sneak

Idleman · 27 Jan 2013 at 19:33

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £167.99
1 x **B Grade** Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7850 OC Windforce 2X 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card w/ Nexuiz, Sleeping Dogs & Dirt Showd (GX-100-GI) £129.95
1 x Asus P8Z77-V LX2 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £67.99
Total : £377.33 (includes shipping : £9.50).

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 19:38

Cheers for the reply Idleman. I never actually got around to an upgrade last time due to spending the money on some other things if you remember that thread lol.

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 19:50

Would that mobo be good for OCing that 7850?
Edit: I actually meant the CPU lol.

Idleman · 27 Jan 2013 at 19:56

The mobo will give your Cpu a decent OC. The Gpu OC is not dependent on the mobo.

Martini1991 · 27 Jan 2013 at 19:56

GPU ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-312-SP
CPU ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-404-IN
BOARD ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BG-252-GI

I could never recommend an i5 3570k and B-grade 7850 over an FX8350 and a brand new 7950.

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:00

Would a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev 2 CPU Cooler do the job for OC'ing the i3570k?

Martini1991 · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:00

I can't see the LX being great at overclocking the CPU, wouldn't surprise me if it didn't have voltage control either, I'm not sure on the Z68 I linked to however.

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:02

Martini1991 said:
GPU ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-312-SP
CPU ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-404-IN
BOARD ; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BG-252-GI

I could never recommend an i5 3570k and B-grade 7850 over an FX8350 and a brand new 7950.

Yeah I wasn't sure myself what would be better, hence the thread

. Cheers for the input

Idleman · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:15

Martini1991 said:
I can't see the LX being great at overclocking the CPU, wouldn't surprise me if it didn't have voltage control either, I'm not sure on the Z68 I linked to however.

It does have voltage control. Not in the same league as the GB D3H, but would still give you a decent OC.

Martini1991 · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:17

Idleman said:
It does have voltage control. Not in the same league as the GB D3H, but would still give you a decent OC.

Even still, B-Grade GB D3H and a brand new 7870XT over that LX and a B-Grade 7850 2GB

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:18

Yeah, I'm not too concerned about OC features etc, As long as its possible to do and good enough then its fine. I think I'll pick up one of these too with the purchase > Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev 2 CPU Cooler.

Martini1991 · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:20

Save some money, get the OEM 3570K and then a better cooler.

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:21

Martini1991 said:
Save some money, get the OEM 3570K and then a better cooler.

True. Also with the B-Grade boards do they come with an I/O shield?

Idleman · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:24

Martini1991 said:
Even still, B-Grade GB D3H and a brand new 7870XT over that LX and a B-Grade 7850 2GB

Agreed.

Did`nt see the "B" grade D3H.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Sapphire HD 7870 XT rev2.0 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £179.99
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £167.99
1 x **B Grade** Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £60
Total : £419.38 (includes shipping : £9.50).

Martini1991 · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:27

Sneakze said:
True. Also with the B-Grade boards do they come with an I/O shield?

When I got one of them Z68's they did.
But there's always the chance you don't.

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:29

Yeah, I'll have to look around for one If I end up picking a B-Grade. I can always scrape the barrel for more cash If need be.

Sneakze · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:44

Idleman said:
Agreed.

Did`nt see the "B" grade D3H.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Sapphire HD 7870 XT rev2.0 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £179.99
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £167.99
1 x **B Grade** Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £60
Total : £419.38 (includes shipping : £9.50).

I'll get the build Idleman recommended but change the i3570k to OEM and use the Windows 8 90day trial.
Cheers for the help guys

dacads · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:56

How long is OEM warranty though, Retail is 3 years

Martini1991 · 27 Jan 2013 at 20:57

dacads said:
How long is OEM warranty though, Retail is 3 years

A year.
But how often do you hear of a CPU dying?