Upgrade or start from new?

Kesz

Kesz

Kesz

Associate
Joined
24 Feb 2009
Posts
527
Hello,

I built my PC back in 2009 and I've not upgraded it since then. I'm now looking to do something with it, but it's quite slow with gaming and I wondered if it's worth upgrading or starting over?

The specs of my current PC are ;

-Intel Core i7 920 2.66Ghz (Nehalem) (Socket LGA1366)
-Corsair Dominator 3GB (3 X 1GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 (1600MHz) Tri-Channel
-Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
-EVGA GeForce GTX 260 "Core 216 55nm" SSC 896MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)
-LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive
-Samsung SH-S223F/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer ReWriter
-Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU Cooler (Socket LGA1366)
-Coolermaster HAF 932 Case - Black
-Coolermaster Real Power 700w Modular Power Supply

I'm looking at buying http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-430-OE&groupid=43&catid=2475&subcat=2487

Any opinions would be appreciated!
 
Last edited:
It would give you a nice upgrade and you'd definitely see a performance increase. How much are you looking to spend? Can you build yourself?
 
I could go about £600 ish, I'd like to stick to intel and nvidia.

Truth be told I've been out of the PC scene for quite a few years and I'm not clued up as to what's good anymore.
 
Haven't changed much in terms of rigging it together. Would you want to just upgrade the gpu first to see if your gaming needs improve? Maybe a 770 or 760? Everything else seemed OK. Oh and ram too if you could get it cheap
 
- Overclock your CPU to at least 180 BCLK.
- Get some more RAM. It doesn't have to be 'triple channel'. (at least 6Gb)
- Get a decent video card. At least NV760/AMD280.

With your current CPU over-clocked and a decent video card you shouldn't have any issues with games.
 
The cheapest thing to possible do upgrade the gpu to 760 or 770 and like above post has said overclock cpu. But I had friend who did this and yeah he could play games better with good fps but he found that his pc was still slow.

But if you have 600 to 700 pound to spend then that riq will be big upgrade. The only thing I would do is swap that 750ti for something like a 760 or 770 4gb cards and see if get ssd for it.

Either option good just down to you :)
 
1. Get your RAM up to 6GB
2. Buy a new GPU, e.g. 770
3. Buy a 256GB SSD
4. Do a clean Windows install
5. Overclock your CPU

That'll play everything on near max.
 
You'll get more bang for your buck if you build it yourself. If you want it too last you as long as your last one did you should go for the 4790k Haswell refresh. The reason being even if your not wanting to overclock your getting a 4ghz base clock that boosts to 4.4 and you've got hyper-threading. I think that 3 or 4 years from now a 4670 will probably be struggling a bit where as the 4790k won't be. If not at least get a build with a Z97 board so you'll be able to maximize it's life with an upgrade when you do find the 4670 or it's Z97 equivalent struggling.
 
billysielu said:
1. Get your RAM up to 6GB
2. Buy a new GPU, e.g. 770
3. Buy a 256GB SSD
4. Do a clean Windows install
5. Overclock your CPU

That'll play everything on near max.
Click to expand...

This ^^^

Although I'd get a 780 rather than the 770.

@OP Are you adamant that you wouldn't get an AMD GPU? Better bang for buck something like a 290 would be perfect.
 
Kesz said:
Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated.

I was wondering how these two systems compare?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-430-OE&groupid=43&catid=2475&subcat=2487

Vs.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-018-OG&tool=3

With this build I'd add; 250gig SSD, Radeon R9 270X 4096,

Which ever one I go for I'd need to get windows, but I have a mouse, keyboard, monitor and sound system.
Click to expand...

Tbh that AMD CPU is godawful - massively slower compared o the 4690.
 
Kesz said:
Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated.

I was wondering how these two systems compare?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-430-OE&groupid=43&catid=2475&subcat=2487

Vs.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-018-OG&tool=3

With this build I'd add; 250gig SSD, Radeon R9 270X 4096,

Which ever one I go for I'd need to get windows, but I have a mouse, keyboard, monitor and sound system.
Click to expand...

As mentioned above, you don't really need a new system. If you overclock your current i7, and get a new gpu, more ram, and stick a SSD in for the operating system/programs/games.
 
Something to consider is that the system in your OP has ports at the side of the case. This may restrict placement. A very similar case is the Aerocool DS which has the ports at the top front.

Anyway, here's what I suggest you do:

First, try to overclock your CPU. If you cannot - and overclocking is never guaranteed - then it's time to build a new system.
If you can get a decent overclock, then add memory, SSD, and GPU and have done. I would purchase 8 GB, giving you a total of 10 GB.

You might also be on the lookout for a cheap second-hand i7-990X or Xeon W3690 (alas, ebay is not encouraging, but your workplace may be chucking them).
 
billysielu said:
1. Get your RAM up to 6GB
2. Buy a new GPU, e.g. 770
3. Buy a 256GB SSD
4. Do a clean Windows install
5. Overclock your CPU

That'll play everything on near max.
Click to expand...

+1.

Run like this until 2016 and squeeze out your current hardware, by then DDR 4 memory / platforms will be common and have a big upgrade.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom