Upgrade Suggestions for 2012 PC

[ukk1d]

Hi All,

I purchased a gaming PC in 2012, it was a pretty good spec for the time, but haven't really used it much in the past couple of years due to having a kid. I'm keen to get back into it and wanted some help/suggestions on some upgrades. I'd like to keep the upgrades under £400, not including monitor (I'm in the UK).

Current setup:

i7-3820 Quad-Core 3.60 GHz (Asetek 510LC Liquid Cooling System 120MM Radiator & Fan)
16GB (4GBx4) DDR3/1600MHz
GIGABYTE X79-UP4 Intel X79 Chipset Quad Channel DDR3 ATX
GTX 660 Ti 2GB 16X PCIe 3.0 Video Card
240 Gb Samsung SSD
2Tb HDD
Corsair CX 750 Power Supply
Windows 10

Possible Upgrades:

1) Updated GPU, I was thinking about the Gigabyte Nvidia GTX 1060 WF2 6GB GDDR5 PCI-E.
2) New Case, the current one got damaged moving house.
3) I'd like a 4k Monitor as I do some photo/video editing too.
4) Formatting SSD and reinstalling Win10.

Questions to the experts:

1) Should I overclock my CPU as it's a bit old now?
2) Is it worth upgrading the RAM to 2x 8GBs?
3) Is anything I'm suggesting/asking going to be an issue with the motherboard I have?
4) Am I missing anything?

Thanks very much in advance, I appreciate any feedback!

 

[NdMk2o1o]

1. It's a non k chip all you can do is set the maximum multiplier across all cores to overclock
2. No benefit in going from 4x4Gb to 2x8Gb
3. No issues upgrading the gpu with current motherboard or psu, 1060 will be a good step up
4. Nope it's still a very capable rig with your current processor and ram so a new gpu and you'll be set for another couple years

Bare in mind the 1060 will struggle to run games at 4k so you'll need to lower the resolution, why do you want to format and reinstall Windows? I wouldn't unless you have issues with it, Windows 10 runs fine on ssds even over time unless the installation becomes corrupt or sluggish due to crap being installed or accumulated over time which you'd be hard pressed to do.

 

[alucasa]

Just upgrade GPU to something like 1060 and call it done. No need to touch anything else.

Less RAM sticks will mean better RAM OC but that hardly changes anything.

Edit: Ninja-ed by an angry monkey.... What a sad day.

 

[ukk1d]

1. It's a non k chip all you can do is set the maximum multiplier across all cores to overclock
2. No benefit in going from 4x4Gb to 2x8Gb
3. No issues upgrading the gpu with current motherboard or psu, 1060 will be a good step up
4. Nope it's still a very capable rig with your current processor and ram so a new gpu and you'll be set for another couple years

Bare in mind the 1060 will struggle to run games at 4k so you'll need to lower the resolution, why do you want to format and reinstall Windows? I wouldn't unless you have issues with it, Windows 10 runs fine on ssds even over time unless the installation becomes corrupt or sluggish due to crap being installed or accumulated over time which you'd be hard pressed to do.

Thank you!

In regards to reinstalling Win10: My computer is currently not running smoothly, it's slugging and seems buggy. I think there is just loads of crap on it bth. I'm keen for a fresh clean start. I'll bring all my movies, photos and work over on the HDD, but want to start from scratch with programs and games etc.

 

[m&m's]

1. It's a non k chip all you can do is set the maximum multiplier across all cores to overclock

It is a non K CPU but it's a Sandy Bridge E which supports 100MHz, 125MHz, 166MHz and 250MHz BCLK settings. The chip can be OCed to 4.5GHz+.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

Thank you!

In regards to reinstalling Win10: My computer is currently not running smoothly, it's slugging and seems buggy. I think there is just loads of crap on it bth. I'm keen for a fresh clean start. I'll bring all my movies, photos and work over on the HDD, but want to start from scratch with programs and games etc.

In that case that's a good call, id be inclined to do the same

 

[HD64G]

Easiest thing is format and reinstalling OS. Try that 1st and if not enough, ask again.

 

[jboydgolfer]

Isn't it nice when you make the right choices the first time when you build a PC? By your own admission you've been away from that PC for five years with limited usage and still its a viable machine, furthermore a capable pc. Id say thats a decent enthusiasts pc. A Quick GPU upgrade & your good 2 go

 

[64K]

A GTX 1060 6GB is a very nice upgrade from that 660 Ti 2GB but it's not going to be enough for 4K gaming unless you want to turn the settings way down which kind of defeats the purpose of buying a more expensive 4K monitor for gaming imo.

If you do buy a 1060 make sure you get the 6GB model as it has not only more VRAM but also has 11% more shaders than the 3GB 1060 which will be significant at 4K.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

Just seen your budget is 400 as you don't need anything else invest in a 1070 would be a lot better for your proposed monitor upgrade

 

[jboydgolfer]

A GTX 1060 6GB is a very nice upgrade from that 660 Ti 2GB but it's not going to be enough for 4K gaming unless you want to turn the settings way down which kind of defeats the purpose of buying a more expensive 4K monitor for gaming imo.

If you do buy a 1060 make sure you get the 6GB model as it has not only more VRAM but also has 11% more shaders than the 3GB 1060 which will be significant at 4K.

Just seen your budget is 400 as you don't need anything else invest in a 1070 would be a lot better for your proposed monitor upgrade

these posts are good points @ukk1d

 

[P4-630]

With a GTX1060 you won't be going 4K gaming though and I think the games will look like shit if you set the resolution at 1080p on a 4K monitor....

Also I still wouldn't buy a GTX1070 for 4K gaming.... Unless you're ok with lower details ingame and ~40fps.

If you really want to game at 4K and if you have the cash, buy a 1080Ti.

Edit: If you buy a GTX1060 , use a 1080p monitor for gaming.

 

[ukk1d]

Thanks everyone, great feedback.

I might have been a bit optimistic with 4k gaming right now. I might wait a couple more years to take that leap.

I currently have a Dell 24" monitor from about 3 years ago. What would be your thoughts on getting the GTX 1060 (6Gb) and getting one of those 29" ultrawide monitors. Would those be better suited to each other?

 

[P4-630]

What would be your thoughts on getting the GTX 1060 (6Gb) and getting one of those 29" ultrawide monitors. Would those be better suited to each other?

That would be a better option than 4K for sure with that card.
To get the best ingame fps I'd stay at (regular) 1080p with that card.

 

[kajson]

If your samsung ssd is a 840, make sure you have the latest firmware on there before reinstalling, it also suffers from performance deg if the data isnt rewritten over time, samsung magician has a manual function to do this.

I think you should just think of a future strat for monitor and gfx together. Go cheaper now and stick with a non 4k monitor, I recently went up from 1080p to 1440p, made a big difference for me, oc'd it from 60hz to 75hz too. Unless you're willing to fork over serious cash, don't even bother to look at 4k.

So I'd go with 1070gtx and down the line a 1440p or higher refresh. Or just upgrade with a 1060 and save up for a monstrous upgrade later on.

 

[Caring1]

I'd think about replacing the 5 year old A.I.O. cooler with a decent tower cooler with fans, that way if you do overclock the existing CPU it will cope.

 

[ukk1d]

Hi all,

Final question, is this worth the extra money?

£274:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IOPQ1VO/?tag=tec053-21


£215:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IOWT538/?tag=tec053-21

Thanks.

 

[Grings]

Hi all,

Final question, is this worth the extra money?

£274:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IOPQ1VO/?tag=tec053-21


£215:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IOWT538/?tag=tec053-21

Thanks.

Not really, nvidia lock the chips from being very overclockable, so all boards perform pretty much the same, though the evga being small is probably a lot noisier at full load

I really wouldnt spend 270ish on one at this point, the 1070 can be had for not much more, £338 on overclockers today, and i have seen them at £310-320 on aria supersavers a few times

 

[basco]

what others said and i would first try a gpu-but dont go cheap(so no 1060 with 3gb).
if later ya see you need moar power for video\photo editing or gaming there is the option with a 3930k or 4930k six core overclockable prozessor buying it used for cheap.
but really 1st focus on your primary task which is getting back to gaming or what your 1st task is.

 

[EarthDog]

Thanks everyone, great feedback.

I might have been a bit optimistic with 4k gaming right now. I might wait a couple more years to take that leap.

I currently have a Dell 24" monitor from about 3 years ago. What would be your thoughts on getting the GTX 1060 (6Gb) and getting one of those 29" ultrawide monitors. Would those be better suited to each other?

overclock that cpu and get a better gpu than a 1060.. id go no less than a gtz 1070 for 1080p gaming now and a couple more years ahead. A 1080 if you can swing it.

I also do not suggest ultrawide for gaming... there are many titles which do not support the resolution amd cam stretch the image...and logic tells you its more pixels than 1080p so that 1060 surely wont do it as well as 1080.

4k and 1060???? Lolnochamceomg.

 

[Cvrk]

New gpu. Done. A GTX 1060.

 

[Komshija]

I might have been a bit optimistic with 4k gaming right now. I might wait a couple more years to take that leap.

I would advise you the exactly the same thing.

I currently have a Dell 24" monitor from about 3 years ago. What would be your thoughts on getting the GTX 1060 (6Gb) and getting one of those 29" ultrawide monitors. Would those be better suited to each other?

Instead of GTX 1060 6GB, get an Sapphire RX 580 Pulse 8 GB: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202278 . It's slightly faster card than GTX 1060 6GB and costs pretty much the same.
Apart from that, you can save some money and search for the RX 480 8 GB. Some sellers will certainly offer discounts.

I would also advise you to stay away from ultra wide 21:9 monitors because they require very powerful GPU's to keep up with such resolutions. Folks with GTX 970's (which is slightly slower than GTX 1060) had major drop in performance with such monitors/resolutions. So, unless you plan to get an GTX 1080 or dual RX 570's, I would advise you to stay away from these monitors.

 

[qubit]

That's still a great rig you've got there, so you don't need to change the CPU and RAM. I've got the less powerful 2700K and it still plays every game I throw at it, well. It's beginning to show its age a bit now, but not seriously. Overclock the CPU if you want to, but watch the temperatures very carefully.

Get a new graphics card for it, a GTX 1080 at the very least for 4K if you change your mind. At 1080p or 1440p, it will blast through all your games and with the recent price reductions, they're expensive, but still affordable at around £500-£550. I don't think the huge cost of around £700 of the 1080 Ti is worth it, especially as Volta is due out in 2018, likely in the first half. I know that this is above your budget of £400, but you can downsize from there if you absolutely can't go above it.

It would be a good idea to get an SSD as your system drive, as that will make it noticeably more responsive and quick to boot. Keep the 2TB drive for data only.

It looks to me like you have the OS and data mixed together on that one 2TB drive. This is BAD - they should always be on separate drives, or partitions at the very least.

The one thing that you absolutely do need to do before anything else is to put a backup regime in place. This means buying another HDD and backing up your data to it and it doesn't matter what your budget is, just do it or you will lose your data eventually. You can use the free Karen's Replicator to back up your data to it quickly and easily. The program is old, but it works just fine with the latest version of Windows 10 and I use it daily.

https://karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator

 

[Vayra86]

Thanks everyone, great feedback.

I might have been a bit optimistic with 4k gaming right now. I might wait a couple more years to take that leap.

I currently have a Dell 24" monitor from about 3 years ago. What would be your thoughts on getting the GTX 1060 (6Gb) and getting one of those 29" ultrawide monitors. Would those be better suited to each other?

I'll let you in on a tiny little secret: for most moving images, static resolution numbers mean very little, and that includes gaming for a large part. 4K is currently a high price point, generally a slow response time panel, TN more likely than IPS, or if you want to tick all the boxes for a decent monitor you'll be paying way too much. Meanwhile in the 1080p/1440p segment there is a lot of choice right now, for fast panels with good panel tech (not TN).

Have a look at good VA offerings, especially if you go ultrawide, consider VA with a curve, because thats a really good match and VA > IPS most of the time unless you want color accuracy for prof. work.
Also, 120-144hz panels are worth the investment for gaming. Finding a panel that has everything will drive up the price. So consider what you're really looking for the most A perfect monitor sadly doesn't exist, still.

 

[Kanan]

I didn't read whole topic I'm just inserting my suggestions here.

CPU you could either overclock to 4300 MHz or more if you want to try bclk overclocking, but 4300 should be enough anyway. But if you plan to go high end gaming opt to buy a 6 core 3930k or 3960X/3970X instead, that would give you a healthy boost in CPU power (I did the same and had the same CPU at 4300mhz).

That GPU upgrade should be healthy. I would go for it. 4k monitor is a possibility too but don't expect the gpu to drive it as it's mostly good for just 1080p gaming.

Edit: Seing now that you limited yourself to 400 bucks, id simply just upgrade the gpu and maybe buy that 4k monitor you need for work as well. See the other things I mentioned as "optional" for the future upgrades.