PC Upgrade Advise please!

[Vandarth]

Hey everyone, im looking for some advice to upgrade my current PC. I would like a good computer for BF3/skyrim etc and am looking to spend around $700 AUSD.

My current specs are:
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1
Mother Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. System Model: EP41-UD3L
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
RAM: 4096MB RAM
GPU: HD 4890 1GB
PSU: 400 or 500 im pretty sure (iknow its not good enough for later cards though)

This is a build I made up on Umart:
CoolerMaster 700W Extreme Plus $88.00
Kingmax 8G(2x4G)PC-10600 1333MHZ DDR3 $59.00
Intel Core i5 2500K Processor LGA1155 3.3GHz CPU $226.00
Gigabyte GA-Z68M-D2H-B3 LGA1155 Z68 DDR3/1333 PCI-Ex16 SATA3 SATA2 USB $116.00
Gigabyte ATI HD6950 1GB OC GDDR5 DVI HDMI $280
Total $769.00

I was just wondering if the build i made on Umart is a good value for money build and will all be compatible and fast? Im not too sure about cooling though but on my PC at the moment I have like 5 fans in total so not too sure if i need a cooling device for the CPU but if i do, tell me if its needed thanks

Thanks a ton! Max.

 

[Damn_Smooth]

I would definitely get a better PSU and faster RAM. CPU cooling depends on if you are interested in overclocking or not, because the stock cooler will work fine at stock speeds.

Edit: And welcome to TPU.

Second Edit: After looking at some reviews for your PSU, it's not too bad. You should still go with faster RAM, but that's a decent system.

 

[Vandarth]

Thanks! Could you please specify what ram and psu I should get and what price they are each?

Again, thanks!

 

[Fourstaff]

1600MHz ram, timings not important, PSU Corsair, Antec, Silverstone, some XFX etc.

 

[Damn_Smooth]

Thanks! Could you please specify what ram and psu I should get and what price they are each?
Also I was wondering if that bios hack changing ati 5950 to 5970 is easy?
Again, thanks!

You are using Umart, so I am assuming you are in Australia? That's the only place I have heard of it. If so, the prices are so different down there that it is hard for me to make a good reccomendation. I will go check out the site and come back.

 

[Vandarth]

Thanks alot! yep in aus, qld

Also I was wondering if that bios hack changing ati 6950 to 6970 is easy?

 

[Damn_Smooth]

Thanks alot! yep in aus, qld

Also I was wondering if that bios hack changing ati 6950 to 6970 is easy?

I don't know what is going on here, but they don't have the RAM you have listed there when I try to build a system. I just upgraded it to Gskill 1600 Mhz, which is only around $40 here and it raised the system price to over $900. Do they charge that much for RAM down there? It doesn't sound right.

Only the 2GB 6950's can be flashed and they have to be reference, which are getting harder and harder to find.

 

[Mussels]

use PCCasegear instead of Umart if you can, their prices are often better and the service/support is definitely tons better.


dont get coolermaster PSU's, they're utter turds.
1333Mhz ram is fine, but 1600Mhz would be better (and it doesnt cost much more)
6950 is a good card, but for BF3 (not sure about skyrim) the 2GB model will make a difference for sure. some modern games are already hitting limits on 1GB cards, so it'd be a waste to not get the 2GB since you'll stick with that card for a while.

 

[Vandarth]

whats the average price difference between the 1333mhz ram and the 1600mhz ram? also what PSU would i need for a 2gb gpu?

 

[Mussels]

is the difference between the 1333mhz ram and the 1600mhz ram price huge? also what PSU would i need for a 2gb gpu?

the difference will not be large at stock clocks and with a single video card, but should you start overclocking the CPU and/or upgrade video cards later, it will make a difference.


getting the 2GB GPU doesnt up the power requirements, just go for a quality brand like corsair or seasonic and you'll be fine.

 

[Vandarth]

Ah also, the things alot of people these days is getting an extra SSD just for windows 7 to be on for extra speed, i was wondering how much speed does this add? and is it really worth the $110 for a 60gb SSD?

thanks

 

[stargazer7]

I would definitely get a better PSU.

absolutely.

"eXtreme Power Plus 400W - 650W:
These are garbage, ACBel's cheapest, shoddiest units, and they're everywhere. Not one of the EPP line can deliver more than 2/3s of its rated wattage. Even at their "real" ratings they're poor, barely keeping in spec in most cases. I place the eXtreme Power lineup only one tier above generic units from Leadman or Linkworld or Sun Pro. No one should buy these. However, they're one of CoolerMaster's best selling lineups, because they're so cheap and they're stacked a score high in every retail store in the country. I've been into a Microcenter that had a literal 5 foot pyramid of eXtreme Power Plus 500W units; a shame I didn't have my camera. Don't let the CoolerMaster brand name fool you, these are the types of power supplies that you hear horror stories about."

this one can easily power anything you throw at it for a couple years

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_226&products_id=5434

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=58

kinda overkill but its one of the best. you can even tri-fire on it, that platform peaks very well with overrated Sckottsky rectifiers. the tpq-1200 can pull 1500-1800w

 

[Mussels]

Ah also, the things alot of people these days is getting an extra SSD just for windows 7 to be on for extra speed, i was wondering how much speed does this add? and is it really worth the $110 for a 60gb SSD?

thanks

i've got a 120GB SSD, and while it does make a difference its not that huge. it requires more knowhow to setup, since if you just leave it at stock that 60GB will fill up really fast with your documents and desktop (and installed programs), and wear out fast too.

 

[Vandarth]

Ah, does this ram sound better?
G Skill 8G(2x4G) DDR3 1600Mhz PC12800 RL 9-9-9-24(CL9D-8GBRL) $69
and this PSU: Thermaltake Litepower 700W ATX PSU $80

keep in mind trying to keep price low and i will only ever have a single GPU and 1920x1080 computer screen

 

[Mussels]

for PSU its a quality brand or dont bother. a corsair 500W will be as good as a thermaltake 700W, and thats not a joke.

the G skill ram should be fine.

 

[Vandarth]

I thought it all depended on the amount of watts really? like for a 6950 it says recomended 650watt i think? so how will 500watt be enough? wont it over heat and wear out fast?
also, is the mother board i listed (Gigabyte GA-Z68M-D2H-B3 LGA1155 Z68 DDR3/1333 PCI-Ex16 SATA3 SATA2 USB $116.00), a value for money one? or what could be a better one?
again im not too great at computer knowledge

 

[stargazer7]

^ err nope, quality of a psu is what matters first. not wattage.

yeah, Litepower's are kinda crap. old channel well overrated units. this one's better than Corsairs of that caliber as well. i mean the CX series

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_220&products_id=8920

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=134

 

[Vandarth]

so 600watt is enough for a 6950 pre overclocked?
also found this: Corsair TX-650 650W ATX Power $115

 

[Mussels]

I thought it all depended on the amount of watts really? like for a 6950 it says recomended 650watt i think? so how will 500watt be enough? wont it over heat and wear out fast?
again im not too great at computer knowledge

those reccomendations are based on crap power supplies. they're covering their ass because if they say "400W quality PSU" then how will the consumer know what brands are quality?



your system will be fine on a 500 to 650W PSU from corsair/seasonic/etc (theres more good brands, google/forum search will find them. those are just the two i stick with)

 

[stargazer7]

so 600watt is enough for a 6950 pre overclocked?
also found this: Corsair TX-650 650W ATX Power $115

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-6950-6970-review/11

the TX is also an old psu. its a little weak by todays standarts.

the silent pro 600 is a considerably strong design. its built well and performs well. its a strong budget unit, take a look at the Jonnyguru review

 

[Vandarth]

Ok, this is my revised layout:
Corsair TX-650 650W ATX Power $114.00
G Skill 8G(2x4G) DDR3 1600Mhz PC12800 RL 9-9-9-24(CL9D-8GBRL)$69.00
Sapphire ATI HD6950 2GB GDDR5 PCI-E $300.00
Intel Core i5 2500K Processor LGA1155 3.3GHz CPU $226.00
Gigabyte GA-Z68M-D2H-B3 LGA1155 Z68 DDR3/1333 PCI-Ex16 SATA3 SATA2 USB $109.00

Total $818.00

comments?

also do i rly need the 2gb GPU if im just running a single screen at 1920x1080?

 

[stargazer7]

and 750W corsair used PSU is not worth buying IMHO

Its good, but I can trip mine with a sandy bridge CPU and single 580. So does not really live up to its 750W rating.

if you're going to get a Corsair, stay away from TX. look for a HX.

 

[Vandarth]

i need to save cash, is it a huge difference between tx and hx?

 

[Mussels]

i need to save cash, is it a huge difference between tx and hx?

TX are the older designs, HX are modular.


and yes the 2GB card matters - we're at the point where big name titles are starting to use more than 1GB, and its a trend that is only going to continue. why buy a new system if you're going to get something borderline acceptable now, let alone for future games?

 

[stargazer7]

oh, sorry. i was thinking you were looking at the old TX. theres this new TX called v2. its much better and is the one you are looking for i think right?

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_354&products_id=17211r

if so, go for it...

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/TX750_V2/8.html

if not, then go with the HX cause the old TX has a little crap control