Desktop Upgrade


  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
       #1

    Desktop Upgrade


    Hi, I am not an expert on pc building, but would like your opinion on these components I think I will buy.

    • Mother board : Asus Maximus VII Ranger
    • CPU : Intel Core i7-4790
    • RAM : 2 X 4GB Corsair Vengeance 3XS PC1600 (will add 2 more in the future)
    • GPU : 4GB MSI Twin Frozr V GTX 970

    Already have
    • Seagate Barracude 1TB HDD
    • Samsung SSD 840
    • Coolermaster PSU 500W (should be enough for the GPU as it's the recommended)

    Main use of my PC
    • Software Developing programs (Netbeans/Eclipse with glassfish or Visual Studio with SQL server, multiple chrome tabs (sometimes different types of browsers open), MS Word, PDF) - 8gb should be enough as thats how much I have right now but DDR2 and rarely gets full
    • Gaming

    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5,915
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #2

    drinu16, welcome to the forums. Looks like a great setup. I would go a little higher on the PSU, 650-750 watts.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi, yes, I am trying with the 500w for now since I already have it in my current build.

    If it gives me trouble will go for a higher wattage.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    Why that motherboard with a Z97 chipset that supports overclocking with a 4790 processor that is not overclockable?

    Does that motherboard have some features unrelated to overclocking that you need?

    Or do you actually want to overclock?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hi, Thanks for your reply.

    Actually my intention was not to be able to overclock and no there arn't any specific feature why I chose that.

    So in other words I should find a CPU which is overclockable, if in the future I might overclock?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #6

    If you want to overclock, you need an Intel processor that ends with a K. If you don't, a non-K such as the 4790 is excellent and very strong.

    I think there is a 4790K.

    Any significant overclocking would likely require you to buy another CPU cooler. The stock Intel cooler is fine otherwise.

    If you want to overclock, you do need a motherboard with a Z97 chipset, like you have chosen. If you don't want to overclock, you may not have any use for a Z97 chipset board unless it supplies some features unrelated to overclocking that you still want.

    I think that particular board is over $300, which is quite high. You can find quality Z97 boards for much less, but again that board may have some peculiar feature that a $175 dollar board does not have that appeals to you.

    If you chose it for no particular reason, you might want to reconsider unless budgets mean little or nothing to you.

    The advantage of an i7-4790 over a high level i5 model for gaming purposes is minimal, but again if money is not a factor, go ahead on. Maybe the slight extra speed of the i-7 is useful to you for non-gaming purposes?

    A good 500 watt PSU is generally fine for any single graphics card PC, but I don't know who built that Coolermaster or if it has a lot of hours on it. You might want to consider a known good brand like Seasonic or XFX as a replacement. You could probably finance that by stepping down to a high-level i5 processor if necessary.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Yes there is a 4790K which is €40(~€50) more than the 4790 and its 4Ghz unlike the 4790 which is 3.6Ghz

    As for that motherboard i chose it because from what the shop has it was a little over the average by having :
    • USB 3.0 Header for a front usb option in future instead of buying pci card for usb 3 extension to front of case
    • supports both Crossfire(not that important) and SLI and has on Board Graphics which is very handy to test if a problem is from the GPU or monitor quickly or to switch to onboard if something happens to the GPU and you still need to use the PC.


    As for the CPU cooler I already have the Coolermaster V8 which should be enough i think if i will overclock

    The price of the motherboard is ~$214

    Actually budget do mean to me xD but I wanted a build which will serve me well over 5 years just as I did with my current build. I had build it about 7 years ago and kept on with it until it couldnt support any games and that time is now, altough I did some upgrades along the way such as more ram and ssd, but thats it.

    I think it should be possible, unless gaming technology skyrockets.

    Yes, the power supply do have some hours on it, changed it about a year or so ago.

    EDIT : Just checked a bit i5-4690k vs i7-4790k and found out that hyper threading on the i7 will increase performance, not in games but in software which is CPU hungry (in my case, Android development can be quite CPU hungry at times - at least it does on my current build (CPU - AMD Athlon X2 3GHz))

    Thanks
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #8

    The Intel 4790 processor and most other current generation Intel processors have built in graphics that work quite well for non-gaming purposes. This is irrespective of the motherboard. Anyone with such a processor can choose to use a separate video card or use the processor graphics alone. That's what I do. I haven't had a video card in several years.

    I say this only so you will know that you don't need the graphics capability built into some motherboards.

    Nevertheless, you may still want that board for other reasons.

    If your general plan is to build once and then pretty much not replace anything barring a breakdown for at least 5 years, then maybe it makes sense to squeeze out every last bit of processor speed you can get now--which would point toward the 4790 rather than an i5. You just have to decide if the extra expense is worthwhile.

    The last I heard, Coolermaster uses 6 or 8 different companies to manufacture power supplies and then just puts the "Coolermaster" name on them. They vary in quality depending on the specific model.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hmmm.... so which motherboard would you recommend keeping in mind quality , "build once" plan and that it wouldn't be a bottle neck for CPU, RAM, GPU etc ?

    What I would like from a motherboard :
    • USB 3 at back and header for future front of case USB extension
    • Supports SLI for future
    • Obviously Sound, Lan and PS/2 keyboard port
    • Overclocking features (just in case :) )
    • and that I can use CPU graphics instead of GPU in case something goes wrong.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #10

    I don't have any specific recommendations.

    When I saw your first post, I did a quick search on the Asus Maximus VII Ranger and saw a price of $310, which I felt was unnecessarily high.

    But you say you can get it for $214, so the price is not so bad.

    If I were you, I'd choose from Asus, Asrock, and Gigabyte and look for a socket 1150 motherboard that has the Z97 chipset since you want to be able to overclock. I'd narrow that list down according to the features you want. Some won't have a PS2 keyboard port, some may not have the right USB ports, etc.

    I'd get a list of maybe 3 or 4 top candidates and then make a new thread in the gaming forum on this site and ask the gaming guys which of those they'd choose.

    There are $400 and $500 motherboards out there, but you'll have to decide if all those so-called extra features are actually worthwhile unless you are trying to break a world record for overclocking, like to have bragging rights, or pay attention to stuff that is "cool" that has no practical utility.

    Here's a list of motherboards at Newegg for your reference. Just 3 brands, all Z97, all socket 1150. Price range is 90 to 370.

    Computer Hardware, Motherboards, Intel Motherboards, ASUS, GIGABYTE, ASRock, LGA 1150, Intel Z97 - Newegg.com
      My Computer


 

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