That time again...

lilreap2k3

Hey guys.  My last PC build was back in 2011, and I have only upgraded my video card and SSD since then.  I think it's about time I started to look into a new build for all of the latest games releasing.

Here is my current build: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/C3ZL7h

I am looking to spend around $1,500 on the new build, keeping only my SSD.  I would also like to base the build around a particular case https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D6GINF4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER.

I am looking for recommendations for the new build, so please feel free to suggest whatever you guys think is best.  A lot of new technology has released since I last went component shopping, so I really don't know what is good anymore.  Thanks.

Ridelynn

Honestly, another video card upgrade and your back near the top of the heap.

That, or rebuild essentially what you already have, only do it with Skylake/Z170 and DDR4, it will be a noticable upgrade and will scratch that itch, but it won't be a heck of a lot faster in gaming.

lilreap2k3

So, you're saying the technology hasn't improved enough in the past few years to warrant a total rebuild?  Interesting...  I figured five years would be more than enough.

Amullishan

You have a decent build, but I do have some advice to help maximize the potential of your system instead of going completely from scratch. 

The most important replacements should be as follows : 

1) CPU Fan : Get yourself a self sufficient liquid cooler. Such as the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16835181102 . They are very reliable and have used them in 4 builds with no issues. This will allow you to overclock your CPU to at least 4.0-4.1 safely and benefit you. 
2) Graphics Card : Its time to get into the NVIDIA 1000 series. I recommend with your budget to get the NVIDIA 1080 (ASUS / EVGA Brand). Otherwise the 1060 would be budget friendly.
3) Power Supply : I recommend at least a 750 to 850 Watt PSU. This is to be sure you have enough power to SLI in the future and since your upgrading everything else after 5 years your PSU warranty is most likely over. 

Otherwise if you reply with a need to still do everything from scratch I can still help since I have been knee's deep in the new stuff out there recently.

lilreap2k3

Honestly, I just like the idea of a fresh build at this point.  Isn't the motherboard and cpu holding me back if I don't upgrade those as well?

Moirae

lilreap2k3 said:

Honestly, I just like the idea of a fresh build at this point.  Isn't the motherboard and cpu holding me back if I don't upgrade those as well?

I'd say yes. Time to move beyond the i5. The problem is that the i7 hasn't exactly made a massive jump in tech. Personally, I'm getting seriously tired of the companies milking us for incremental changes. Yes, that includes in cell phones. 

However, how is your computer behaving? Gamers tend to use the heck out of their computers. If you're getting BSOD's or something, something is wrong. I replaced my gtx770 with a gtx970 and regret every second of it because nvidia lied about it's actual specs and there was a class action lawsuit against them for it. It's actually not that much farther along than my gtx770 which explains why I'm still getting stuttering (a common complaint with the gtx 970 apparently that didn't show up until after I bought it). 

Generally, I'd say it's time to replace a gaming rig after about 3 years. I wish I had the money to completely replace mine as it's been 4 years but this year has been a particularly bad one for us. 

lilreap2k3

How is AMD looking these days in comparison to the i7?  I have always went with Intel, but I have no preference if the performance is there.

Ridelynn

Intel hasn't moved CPUs forward very much at all since your Sandy Bridge - they have been focused almost exclusively on integrated graphics and reducing power consumption. CPUs have gotten faster, but mostly only been as a consequence of the power reduction and die shrinks. A brand new Skylake or Kaby Lake will beat our your Sandy Bridge, but it won't be by a huge margin, and hardly even noticeable in nearly all gaming loads. If you overclock, odds are your Sandy can match or beat out a lot of later generation chips, as Sandy was the last of the "really good" overclocking chips.

AMD has moved essntially nowhere in all that time. They have Vishera, which isn't bad, but at their best has just caught up to your Sandy Bridge. They are due to release Zen very soon - probably 1Q17, which is supposed to be a lot more competitive. But that's still a few months out.

So yeah... I can understand wanting to build a new computer. You'd get USB 3, SATA 3, M.2, DDR4, and a handful of other nice upgrades on the side, but unfortunately, it won't be a whole lot faster.

H0urg1ass

Absolutely agree with Ridelynn here, if you OC your 2500k, then you'll be fine.  The 2500K overclocks like a damn beast.  None of the newer chips OC nearly as well.   People have been getting very stable, IBT and Prime95, 4.5 OC's with that CPU on the same motherboard you have for years.

AMD is still shit for gaming and I would only use one on an ultra budget build and even then I might just get a dual core intel.

Get an H100i water cooler, it will beat your current air cooler by ten miles. and weigh a ton less on your motherboard.  Plus your OC won't overheat on water cooling.

Get a 1070 or 1080 Nvidia card and a Samsung Pro SSD as your boot drive.

The XFX Series Power Supplies are actually rebranded Seasonic PSU's, so no need to upgrade there as they almost always put out even more power than they are rated for and are solidly built.

skeaser

Still rocking a 2600K on my desktop. Threw a 980 in it last year and it's beastly again.

Vrika

lilreap2k3 said:

Honestly, I just like the idea of a fresh build at this point.  Isn't the motherboard and cpu holding me back if I don't upgrade those as well?

It might be holding you back a bit, but upgrading wouldn't give you that much more performance. Here's a comparison to I5 6600K:
   http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-6600K-vs-Intel-Core-i5-2500K/3503vs619

Even something like I7 6700K would struggle to give even 50% increased performance:
   http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-6700K-vs-Intel-Core-i5-2500K/3502vs619

Upgrading everything would give so little extra performance for so much money spend, that it's better to avoid that alternative if you can.


I'd recommend just getting a new GPU, and seeing how well that would work for you. At your budget, I'd recommend GeForce GTX 1070 or 1080. Then you could also see how well your processor overclocks, you should be able to do some overclocking even with that cooler.

If you're not happy with performance you get that way, then you can start planning a more complete rebuild, and use the new GPU you've bough as part of that rebuild. You won't lose any money by testing how well your current build would work with a better GPU, but you might save a huge amount that way.

lilreap2k3

So, if I get a 1070 or 1080 and the H100i to do a nice overclock on my 2500k, then I should see a decent performance boost?

I've never used liquid cooling before, and the H100i looks like it has a big fan block that needs to sit somewhere.  Where does that block need to fit in the case?  I just want to be sure everything will fit alright before I order.

Ridelynn

The H100 takes up the same amount of room as 2x120mm fans, and wil have 2 fans mounted on the radiator itself.. It has a bit of flexible hose that carries the coolant between it and the waterblock/heatsink that's long enough to reach into most places of a midtower case.

13lake

My advice get a 1070 or 1080 depending on budget and push that cooler master v8 to its limit
Around ~70 degrees celsius under load is what you should be aiming at. Hopefully that will will translate into ~1.35v (1.4v max) for the cpu and ~4.5Ghz speed.

rojoArcueid

Moirae said:

lilreap2k3 said:

Honestly, I just like the idea of a fresh build at this point.  Isn't the motherboard and cpu holding me back if I don't upgrade those as well?

I'd say yes. Time to move beyond the i5. The problem is that the i7 hasn't exactly made a massive jump in tech. 

then it's not yet time to move beyond i5? If a new GPU will give him a few more years of running with games with good settings and performance, then i don't see a reason to change everything. Only a compulsive buyer would throw money away like that. My opinion.

sacredfool

My advice is:

Get a GTX 1080.

See if the results are satisfying. If they are, play and don't worry.

If you still find you can't play games how you want (noticeable FPS drops or high settings, etc) consider further upgrades.

You can always use that 1080 in the new build AND you'll save money if you figure you don't need a new PC.

lilreap2k3

I think I am going to grab a 1070 or maybe a 1080 and the H100i water cooler and see how it goes.  Thanks for all of the suggestions guys.

13lake

If you can get the cpu to round at around 70  degrees with summer room temperatures, and around 1.35v give or take, and that gives you good overclock, you don't even need the H100i