Choosing an upgrade path - GPU or CPU+MOBO+RAM?

[Rezza]

Currently running a set-up I got back in 2012.

It's served me very well and I couldn't be happier with my 2500k. I love this chip.
The problem is that is starting to get outdated and I'd love some new tech...

So i've just come into a bit of cash (500 euros) which will either allow me to upgrade my GPU or upgrade the CPU, mobo and ram - I just don't know which way to go.

My current, important, specs are -
i5 2500k @ 4.5ghz
Asrock Extreme4 z77
8GB 1866 corsair vengeance
GTX670 clocked and performing about the same as a stock GTX680.

I've made up my mind that I want the new intel 8 series chips (yes i know about how good ryzen is but i dont want it based on the overclocking/tweaking side of the chip) and that id like a 1070ti

A) I get a brand new 1070ti to bang in my system -
Pros: Miles better than my GTX670
Cons: May be bottlenecked until I upgrade the rest of my system, slightly more expensive due to the mining situation...

or

B) Upgrade to the i5 8600k, 16gb G.Skill Ripjaws V 3000mhz RAM and an MSI Z370 Gaming Plus mobo.
Pros: Nice brand new shiny system that I can tweak and OC
Cons : Gaming performance will be gimped due to the GTX670, I don't believe in its current pricing

I'd really appreciate some advice on this, i don't know which to go first. I can wait and get it all at the same time, but I don't know how long I will be waiting and i'd like some form of performance increase for the meantime.

I've also looked at the Ryzen 5 1600x and I can see the benefit with it - mainly how future proof it will be. Im just not super keen on it because of its overclocking abilities and that is something that is important to me in a build, along with gaming.

tldr : Do i upgrade my current system with a new 1070ti or do i upgrade the CPU,MOBO,RAM?

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Buy the GPU. A 2500K @4.5 will not bottleneck it.

Edit: Well, maybe I spoke too quickly. You're not even at 1080P, so the CPU will bottleneck that GPU. But, upgrading the CPU/motherboard/Ram will result in almost no gaming performance improvement.
Maybe the GPU and a 3570K/3770K to maximize your current platform.

 

[Jetster]

GPU without a doubt

 

[Rezza]

Buy the GPU. A 2500K @4.5 will not bottleneck it.

Edit: Well, maybe I spoke too quickly. You're not even at 1080P, so the CPU will bottleneck that GPU. But, upgrading the CPU/motherboard/Ram will result in almost no gaming performance improvement.
Maybe the GPU and a 3570K/3770K to maximize your current platform.

Ah yes, with the current screen it probably will be. I'll still get a good bump in fps from it though?
I have a 1080p screen that I'll be 'borrowing' from my brother.

I think I'll deal with the bottleneck for the time being. Bumping in a 3 series proc may be false economy imo, unless I can find on dirt, dirt cheap

The sensible part of me is saying to go for CPU, ram, Mobo because it should increase my productivity and it's a new thing to tweak, but the gamer in me is saying go for the gpu for an fps bump

 

[Durvelle27]

What’s your budget

 

[Jetster]

Intel and AMD are in a price war. Waiting on the CPU is a smart move right now

 

[Rezza]

What’s your budget

500 euros - Which is fine for a big GPU. I have 650 in all, but I want to split it 50/50 and dont really want to go over 500 on the GPU. I think I can get the whole in at about 1000 euro if i take into account potential price drops whilst saving.

Intel and AMD are in a price war. Waiting on the CPU is a smart move right now

I thought that may help. Get the GPU now and sit on price drops whilst I save.

 

[Durvelle27]

If it were me

I’d scrap the 1070 Ti and go for a GTX 1080 since the price difference isn’t that large while performance will be in favor of the 1080 especially if OC’d

And the rest of the system I’d hold out until have Ryzen+ drops and prices should come down as well and intels other chipsets just be launched by than as well so the plateform won’t be as expensive to adopt.

 

[dirtyferret]

Your OC 2500k with a GTX 1070 offers the same performance as an OC ryzen 5 so i would hold onto it a bit longer and just get the GTX 1070

https://www.techspot.com/review/1474-ryzen-vs-older-budget-cpus/page2.html

 

[Rezza]

Whilst I can see the merits of Ryzen, i won't be choosing any of the lineup. I like the oc'ing side that is possible with intels chips and ryzen just doesnt seem to offer that.

Your OC 2500k with a GTX 1070 offers the same performance as an OC ryzen 5 so i would hold onto it a bit longer and just get the GTX 1070

https://www.techspot.com/review/1474-ryzen-vs-older-budget-cpus/page2.html

This link makes for very interesting reading. Thank you!

I'm kind of leaning towards a GPU upgrade after reading that. Also thinking screw it and stumping up the extra for a gtx 1080.

 

[jaggerwild]

Over clock the 2500K to 4500(maybe a better cooler?) then get a good monitor for now.

 

[Rezza]

Over clock the 2500K to 4500(maybe a better cooler?) then get a good monitor for now.

It is overclocked to 4.5, on water. I said that in my original post

I'm currently looking at the Palit Jetstream gtx1080. Read some really good things about it. Size isn't a concern for me as I'll never sli

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Buy the most expensive GPU you can afford.

 

[Rezza]

Buy the most expensive GPU you can afford.

This is advice to live your life by

I've decided to push the buget to 1080's but I've heard the Palit Jetstream performs very well and overclocks very well - due to its massive cooler. The good part is that its one of the cheaper 1080's.

 

[Recca29]

GPU + PCIe SSD.
and when are you thinking of upgrading your monitor? otherwise GPU upgrade is a waste.

 

[Rezza]

GPU + PCIe SSD.
and when are you thinking of upgrading your monitor? otherwise GPU upgrade is a waste.

Maybe a PCIe ssd at a later date, but i've recently upgraded to the 850 evo and its pretty good. Im happy with it for the moment

I have a 1080p monitor, just need to get it from my brother. I know I wont be using the card to its maximum potential on the current screen, but until I get the monitor any bump in fps will be welcomed

 

[Zyll Goliat]

Also you might consider to sell your CPU and get instead I7-2600K that also have 4 cores but 8 threads and you can keep your mobo,then sell that GTX 670 and with the rest of the money get the best GPU you can get and at least+ 8gb of RAM.....just my 2 cents

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I vote upgrade the GPU

 

[Rezza]

Also, please keep in mind that I plan on keeping a build for the long term. I've had my current setup since probably the beginning of 2012. So i would hopefully get 5 years out of this upcoming build.
Anyway the point im trying to make is the graphics card may seem like overkill for the time being (as my current screen isnt 1080p) but it isn't overkill when you take into account the long game and the screen upgrade that will be coming.

Im quite set on the Palit Jetstream. No frills, good cooler, good oc potential, not to noisy, not covered with god awful RGB lighting and its a decent price (540 euros).

Im not going to be buying temporary chips that will last me only a few months etc as that does seem like a waste of money to me.

Last EDIT: I appreciate the input from everyone so far

 

[BarbaricSoul]

The 2500k is still a very capable CPU as far as gaming performance goes. The difference in performance is negligible. If you feel 4.5 GHz is not fast enough, OC it to 5 GHz. A lot of the 2500k and 2600k CPUs could OC that far. Unless there are features with the new chipsets that you are wanting, IMHO, you're wasting money replacing an i5 with another i5.

You keep mentioning how long you plan to keep/use the build, but you're replacing a build that still has life left in it.

 

[Rezza]

The 2500k is still a very capable CPU as far as gaming performance goes. The difference in performance is negligible. If you feel 4.5 GHz is not fast enough, OC it to 5 GHz. A lot of the 2500k and 2600k CPUs could OC that far. Unless there are features with the new chipsets that you are wanting, IMHO, you're wasting money replacing an i5 with another i5.

You keep mentioning how long you plan to keep/use the build, but you're replacing a build that still has life left in it.

Unfortunately for me, no matter what I do, my 2500k will not run stable at anything above 4.5ghz I've tried numerous times since first getting it.

The 2500k does still have some life in it.. but how long? It's hard to deny the fact that it is starting to show its age. Mine has had a good run for 5 years, but i think now is a good time to look to upgrading.
An 8 series chip appeals to me - overclocks well, 6 cores, newer platform and will provide a noticable increase in performance (when paired with the 1080).
It will also suit my needs - which have changed since I first got my 2500k. Before it was just for gaming, but now i do a lot of big simulations etc, so the extra cores will be a useful addition.

I have decided on a new GPU for the meantime though. A 1080 will be a good addition and a small motivation to renew the other parts of my system. It wont be fully utilized in the beginning, but will offer a nice boost. Ill be able to get everything cranked up, with an acceptable framerate.

Saving for the rest of the parts will hopefully coincide with drops in price for each, which will give better value. In the past i have been in a position where value mattered and i needed a good price/perf and very carefully watch what i spent, but now I can get some really nice hardware, that will also last a while (probably longer) and not have to matter about it so much - so why not?

 

[Zyll Goliat]

Unfortunately for me, no matter what I do, my 2500k will not run stable at anything above 4.5ghz I've tried numerous times since first getting it.

B) Upgrade to the i5 8600k, 16gb G.Skill Ripjaws V 3000mhz RAM and an MSI Z370 Gaming Plus mobo
An 8 series chip appeals to me - overclocks well, 6 cores, 12 threads, newer platform and will provide a noticable increase in performance (when paired with the 1080).

Well...srry but you are wrong here I5 8600k have 6 cores 6 threads no hyper-threading......Sure it´s awesome single core performance but honestly I think it´s a waste of money in your case......you will be better if you stay with your 2500k or as I suggest go for 2600k and get better GPU and more RAM......

 

[Rezza]

But you're missing my point. It just a minimal upgrade to old tech. To me it is a waste of money to spend 80ish euros on a 2600k and also 100ish euros on ddr3 memory. It will last me 3 months at most. Total waste.

I dont want to always be stuck in a loop of waiting, or holding off. I'd like something new and with the release of the 8 series, i think its a good time to start moving funds to aquire it.

edit:fixed post, mixed up with 8700k

 

[Zyll Goliat]

So now is I7 8700k+mobo+RAM for 500€???.....Good luck with that man...

 

[Rezza]

Ill be using an 8600k.

I've managed a build come in at 620 euros. This will come down over the coming months.

With all 4 components gaming perf will be increased over the current system with the 680. The real benefit will come with productivity tasks.