Can you help me upgrade my PC?

[gercan63]

Hello guys,

Could you please help me upgrading my desktop? I had this comp about 4 years now and I think its time for some upgrades.. Graphic card doesn't support new direct x so I can't play new games

Give your opinion that it could take me at least 3 more years on newer games as smooth as it was before please.

thanks

System Manufacturer/Model Number
custom
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) CPU 965 i7 extreme edition @ 3.20GHz

Motherboard
EVGA 132-BL-E758

Memory
6.00 GB ddr3

Graphics Card(s)
(1) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 (2) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 (SLI)

Sound Card
(1) Realtek High Definition Audio (2) Logitech G930 Headset

Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung Syncmaster p2370
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
(1) OCZ SSD 120gb 2 partitions
(2) WDC WD3200AAKS-00L9A0 750gb
PSU
corsair tx 850 watt

Keyboard
razer lycosa

Mouse
razer naga

Case
932 HAF

 

[ignatzatsonic]

That's still a pretty strong CPU.

On the Passmark CPU benchmark, it scores 5846--which is in-between an Intel i5-2400 and an Intel i5-2500.

PassMark Intel vs AMD CPU Benchmarks - High End

The socket is out-dated, so if you wanted to upgrade the CPU, you'd be looking at a new motherboard.

Only 6 GB of RAM, but I don't see a lot of complaints about that on gaming questions.

Maybe you can do a pretty good upgrade by concentrating on the graphics?

A single GeForce GTX 295 scores 1033 on Passmark's GPU benchmark. The card is about 5 years old.

That compares to these video card scores, ignoring your SLI:

PassMark - GeForce GTX 295 - Price performance comparison

 

[gercan63]

I'm definitely thinking to buy a new graphic card. Just need some suggestions, and it can come up with motherboard and cpu as well.

 

[Layback Bear]

I believe ignatzatsonic is correct. Unless you want to go whole hog with cpu and motherboard ect.

Upgrading your graphics card would do wonders.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm definitely thinking to buy a new graphic card. Just need some suggestions, and it can come up with motherboard and cpu as well.

What's your absolute maximum budget for the parts?

What vendor will you use?

How soon do you need to do it?

 

[gercan63]

I'm not in a hurry..

I was thinking these two parts before opening these thread;

MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G GeForce GTX 970 4GB 256-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support G-SYNC Support Video Card - Newegg.com

ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AM3+ AMD 970 + SB950 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS - Newegg.com

Idk.. 6gig ram was always enough until this time. I had no problem with ram while playing games

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Budget is what?

Are you pretty much leaning toward AMD processors for whatever reason?

I wouldn't assume you can continue to use your existing RAM without knowing more about what you have now.

 

[gercan63]

my budget can go up to $ 1000 - 1500 for now. I will check my rams tonight and let you know but yes probably they might need to be changed as well...

I don't live in U.S anymore and comp parts are extremely high in here this country. You throw up your ideas please, I will try to balance my budget according to those..

 

[ignatzatsonic]

my budget can go up to $ 1000 - 1500 for now. I will check my rams tonight and let you know but yes probably they might need to be changed as well...

I don't live in U.S anymore and comp parts are extremely high in here this country. You throw up your ideas please, I will try to balance my budget according to those..

What is "this country"?

You still haven't said anything about a possible vendor. Do they have a web site?

Are you or are you not strongly leaning toward and AMD CPU for whatever reason? The standard choice would be to go with Intel UNLESS you have to hold the cost down.

$1000 in the US for just a CPU, motherboard, and graphics card would make a very strong PC.

What is the most demanding game you are likely to want to play?

 

[gercan63]

Country is "Turkey"

VATAN BİLGİSAYAR - Türkiye'nin Teknoloji Hiperstore'u

I would like to go with Intel if its possible... I'm most likely a FPS gamer. So I would say Watchdog, COD, crysis 3

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Core i5 4690K Soket 1150 3.5GHz 6MB Cache 22nm Ä°Å

Intel i5-4690K CPU for 704 lira.

GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 Intel Z97 Soket 1150 DDR3 3200MHz(O.C) HDMI&DVI Anakart - Vatan Bilgisayar

Gigabyte GA-Z97X gaming motherboard for 522 lira

Those 2 would be a good start.

Total price somewhere around $550 to $600 I think.

I don't read Turkish language, so I am limited in my searching at that site.

Add in a graphics card. I don't game, so someone else will have to help you with that.

I did not look at RAM. At most, you'd need 8 GB of new RAM.

If you have no interest in overclocking your processor, you could certainly step down to an Intel 4690 CPU and a cheaper motherboard with an H97 chipset rather than the Z97. That would save you 200 or 300 lira.

Do those prices for the CPU and motherboard sound OK to you?

An SSD would be strongly suggested if it fits into your budget.

 

[gercan63]

Thank you!! You did much better than I thought on that website which doesn't support English language

CPU is perfect (price - performance comparison)

what do you think about this motherboard
Is this one going to be enough for me?

Msi Z87-G45 Gaming İntel Z87 Soket 1150 Ddr3 3000Mhz(O.C.) Sata 3.0 Usb 3.0 Anakart - Vatan Bilgisayar


I do have 120gb SSD right now.. Maybe will get one more later.

for those who is going to suggest a GPU, I have this on my mind;

MSI GTX980 GAMING GDDR5 4GB 256Bit Nvidia GeForce DX12 Ekran Kartı - Vatan Bilgisayar

what do you think?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Thank you!! You did much better than I thought on that website which doesn't support English language

CPU is perfect (price - performance comparison)

what do you think about this motherboard
Is this one going to be enough for me?

You first need to decide if you might want to overclock the CPU.

If you don't: look for the 4690 CPU rather than the 4690K. Look for a motherboard with an H87 series chipset rather than Z series. You will save money. A K series processor is pretty much a waste of money if you are not overclocking.

If you do: you would need a K series processor like the 4690K and you would need a motherboard with a Z chipset. A Z87 would be fine.

You don't need an H97 or Z97 chipset motherboard with a 4690 or 4690K "Haswell" processor. The 97 series chipsets allow you to use a "Broadwell" processor, which are slightly newer than "Haswell".

That MSI Z87 would be fine, but I don't have any personal experience with it and you don't need the Z if not overclocking. It would work, but you don't need it.

If you do want to overclock, you would probably also need to buy another CPU cooler. The cooler that comes with Intel processors is fine for a non-overclocked system, but not fine if you want to do more than a little bit of overclocking.

 

[gercan63]

Got your point..

I wasn't thinking to Overclock since I have never done before. But my budget seems enough to have get extra cooler for CPU so I think I will go with K series processor and Z87 motherboard. Then I will need some professional help to overclock

You have been really helpful... thanks

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Got your point..

I wasn't thinking to Overclock since I have never done before. But my budget seems enough to have get extra cooler for CPU so I think I will go with K series processor and Z87 motherboard. Then I will need some professional help to overclock

You have been really helpful... thanks

OK. Go with a K processor and a Z87 chipset.

You could go to a Z97 chipset that would allow you to use a "Broadwell" CPU, but I don't think they have actually been released yet. But if you aren't going to buy for 6 months, you might want to consider it.

After you have decided on the motherboard, then you need to find out if your existing RAM is compatible. You would need DDR3, but I don't know if the DDR3 you have now is necessarily compatible DDR3. Maybe or maybe not.

The Coolermaster Hyper 212 is a good and inexpensive overclocking CPU cooler if available to you.

For the last $30 to $50, you might want to buy some new case fans.