Got a job so I can finally upgrade my PC after many years. ~$600 budget. - Hardware & Software

I've wanted to upgrade my PC for a while but money has always been an issue. I have a pretty good PC (I think) that runs most of the things I throw at it but it's just not enough for some games like Battlefield 3. I use my PC for more than just games though. I do most of my school work and some occasional video rendering and map compiling (source sdk). Some of my parts are about 4-5 years old because they were taken from my old PC (CPU and RAM), so I definitely need to upgrade them. [B]- USA - $600 (more if needed)[/B] [B]Here's what I have right now:[/B] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/mrl7Y.jpg[/IMG] [U]CPU:[/U] Intel Q9300 Quad @ 2.5GHz [U]CPU Cooler[/U]: I don't even know. [U]RAM:[/U] 8GB DDR2 [U]PSU:[/U] 750W [U]Motherboard:[/U] Gigabyte EP45-UD3P (Socket 775) [U]GPU:[/U] [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125338"]GTX 470 SOC [/URL] [U]Monitors:[/U] 2x [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001317"]Samsung SyncMaster 2343[/URL] @ 2048x1152 [U]Case:[/U] Coolermaster HAF 932 [B]Here's what I would like to upgrade:[/B] [U]CPU:[/U] [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID="]Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz[/URL] ? [U]CPU Cooler[/U]: ? [U]Motherboard:[/U] something with 2 PCI x16 slots? [U]RAM:[/U] 4-6GB? [U]GPU:[/U] Should I buy another GTX 470? [I]Thanks in advance. I will appreciate any help I can get on this because I'm not an expert on this.[/I]

[IMG]http://puu.sh/Z7VY[/IMG] Use the promo code - MSIAF822828 to get a couple bucks off the mobo. New to this setup building stuff, so if I did something wrong, correct me.

Don't get a 550 ti, spend a bit more and get a 6850, get an asrock pro4 z77 for $109 and save a bit more. [editline]26th August 2012[/editline] Actually don't get a 6850, don't get a new GPU period. Cut out the GPU, buy a an ASUS Z77 and re use your 470 for awhile. [editline]26th August 2012[/editline] Reason I say this is because the 470 is still good for now and performs around the same as a 6850 so you wouldn't get much of an upgrade.

If it's not gonna be a big upgrade then I think I'll keep my 470. I'd rather put the rest of the money into other parts.

Thats what I said... Unless you're agreeing with me.

Yep I'm agreeing.

Thanks LMFAO for the build. Can someone else confirm that the G.Skill RAM and the Cooler Master CPU Cooler is good enough? I would rather spend a little more if I knew there was something better.

Oh yeah dude, its fine. I'd personally get corsair vengeance for aesthetics but its your choice.

There are so many versions of this to chose from. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006519&isNodeId=1&Description=z77&x=0&y=0[/url]

This one [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820[/url] [editline]27th August 2012[/editline] It really doesn't matter that much anyway, it mainly matters on what features you want, how many ports, etc. I like that one cause its the basic Z77, not the cheaper LK or the retardedly expensive deluxe. It has everything you need, Though if you want to spend a bit more for the pro version it comes with a few extra things.

I would also recomment a 6850 over a 550. Graphics is not something you want to scrimp on.

CPU: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504[/url] Mobo: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157296[/url] Memory: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144[/url] Heatsink: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099[/url] GPU: Either keep your 470 or get a 6850 [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157296[/url] Pretty basic stuff, this should come out to around $600.

At this low of a budget, I would also agree on just upgrading only CPU/mobo/ram. There isn't enough to make a gpu reasonable. You will see a fps increase just with a new cpu. I had a q9400 + gtx260 a long time ago, and when I went to my i5 2500k, I no longer had a bottleneck on my gtx260 and could now use it to it's full potential. Your in the same situation I was in, but starting with a worse cpu and better gpu.

You guys are late, and why would you pick an asrock over an asus when he can afford it?

What is the point of upgrading when your current build isn't that outdated, at least not compared to the hardware you would be buying with that kind of budget. I would think that it would better to save up till you have around $1000/$1200 so that you can build a nice standard rig with nice medium/high level components. But that would just be my opinion, I find that as I get older I realize that if it does what you do well then there is no reason to upgrade. I've spent many thousands of dollars upgrading for the newest games and ultimately not really playing them, at least not enough to justify the expenditure. Sometimes it is better to hold out on upgrading a system because the longer you wait, the more money you have and the better components are available.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;37429373]What is the point of upgrading when your current build isn't that outdated, at least not compared to the hardware you would be buying with that kind of budget. I would think that it would better to save up till you have around $1000/$1200 so that you can build a nice standard rig with nice medium/high level components. But that would just be my opinion, I find that as I get older I realize that if it does what you do well then there is no reason to upgrade. I've spent many thousands of dollars upgrading for the newest games and ultimately not really playing them, at least not enough to justify the expenditure. Sometimes it is better to hold out on upgrading a system because the longer you wait, the more money you have and the better components are available.[/QUOTE] I would usually agree to this except this is exactly what I'm doing. I'm holding out on the graphics department and upgrading everything else (CPU, Mobo, RAM). When I get more money I will get something like a 670. It will add up to round $1000 when I upgrade everything. [QUOTE=Evilan;37429215]CPU: [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504[/URL] Mobo: [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157296[/URL] Memory: [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144[/URL] Heatsink: [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099[/URL] [/QUOTE] So I think this is what I'm going with. Adds up to around $425 without shipping or taxes. Saving the rest for future GPU upgrade. Do you guys have any other recommendations for a CPU Cooler? I just want to consider others before I buy anything.

The hyper 212 is just fine, performs very well. I'd seriously get the ASUS Z77 though.

[QUOTE=Zerokateo;37431912]The hyper 212 is just fine, performs very well. I'd seriously get the ASUS Z77 though.[/QUOTE] Forgot to edit it. But yeah, I'll be getting the ASUS Z77.

Asrock isn't bad by all means if that's what you guys are thinking.

Oh I know that, but I like to think of Asrock as the budget version of ASUS. And since he can easily afford the ASUS then why not? I was originally going to get an asrock cause my budget was about $700 for EVERYTHING. And then I got some cash.

I know it's pretty late but I would've recommended this motherboard over the Pro4 for a few extra dollars: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293[/url] Also I recommend against getting stupidly tall heatsinked ram. For 4GB: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104203[/url] For 8GB: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173[/url] All branded RAM of the same specifications are pretty much the same but I still recommend getting them from well known brands. It really depends on what appeals to you aesthetically as long as it's running at 1.5V and has a lifetime warranty with practically no price difference. You're really free to look around. Also you should keep your 470.

[QUOTE=GreenDolphin;37479989]I know it's pretty late but I would've recommended this motherboard over the Pro4 for a few extra dollars: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293[/url] Also I recommend against getting stupidly tall heatsinked ram. For 4GB: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104203[/url] For 8GB: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173[/url] All branded RAM of the same specifications are pretty much the same but I still recommend getting them from well known brands. It really depends on what appeals to you aesthetically as long as it's running at 1.5V and has a lifetime warranty with practically no price difference. You're really free to look around. Also you should keep your 470.[/QUOTE] Read the rest of the thread. The OP took everyone's advice.