Desktop Upgrade - Need Adivce

[niv13]

I'm planning to do a CPU + Mobo + RAM upgrade within these two weeks to take advantage of the special sales, but I'm getting a lot of conflicting suggestions from friends and sales personnels. I figured that I should make a post here and have you guys critic my current selections before I put the money down.

The rig is meant to be a gaming desktop
Budget is around $400-$500
Intention: Gaming (Start Citizen, X Rebirth) & Live Online Streaming

Current parts intended for upgrade:
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.4GHz (4CPUs)
P5QL/EPU
Dual OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (PC2 6400)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Summarized suggested:
Intel i5 Quads
Mobo with model Z67 or ASUS P67 mobo
any DDR3 RAM set up for Dual Channel
SSD 120 GB

I've been reading up on the hardware and I have some experience building my own PC, but I'm at a complete loss for what I should consider for good upgrades within budget. Suggestions pls?

I have updated my system specs in my forum profile.

 

[niv13]

I've just got another suggestion for the following combination:
Intel Core i5-4670K Processor
Asus Z87-A (SLI) Socket 1150 Haswell Motherboard
supposedly priced at around $400

 

[SKBARON]

Do you intend to overclock? If yes, then the haswell config will be allright but you should look into getting a better cooler. Anyways you should go with the newest platform, forget about z68 and p67. If you don't intend to overclock, buy a non k cpu and a h87 motherboard.

 

[niv13]

what is the difference between the Z and the H model? Yeah I probably will get a cooler cause I will indeed by over clocking the CPU. Suggestions for the cooler?

 

[camoxiong]

what is the difference between the Z and the H model? Yeah I probably will get a cooler cause I will indeed by over clocking the CPU. Suggestions for the cooler?

Z - overclock
H - no overclock

A CM Hyper 212+ or EVO should do it

 

[satindemon4u]

Alright here is what I have come up with. Good news is, it comes out $40 under your max budget. Total cost is around $460. That doesn't include shipping. Which I can't see being a whole lot.

Processor:
Same one you chose. The i5- 4670k. For another $100 you could kick it up the i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116899

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131981

Ram:
I believe that you said you wanted 4GB? If that's the case you can also change this but I figured with the room in your budget why not go for 8?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

 

[niv13]

I saw a good deal on this mobo:
GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-D3H

how would the Gigabyte one compare to Asus Z87-A (SLI) Socket 1150 Haswell?

 

[satindemon4u]

I saw a good deal on this mobo:
GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-D3H

how would the Gigabyte one compare to Asus Z87-A (SLI) Socket 1150 Haswell?

Personally I am a sucker for Asus. I love there stuff. In my last build I used an Asus motherboard and never once had a problem with it. As far as comparing them goes it looks as if the Asus one can handle a wider range of things. As far as memory and processors goes.

 

[niv13]

so you are saying that it should theoretically stay compatible with things that gets released in the future too? Can you explain why you think it can handle a wider range of things. I tried the compare the specs but I can't make heads and tails of the acronyms and the numbers.

 

[...PACMAN...]

I have a very cheap H81 board and it has allowed me to overclock my 4670K. I'm at 4.4 with 1.25v. Only thing is a gimped ring bus but performance is fantastic. The board was $69 CAD lol but something to bare in mind. Sometimes a cheap board can give you everything you need.

 

[niv13]

it's all about buying exactly what you need within budget. I know what you mean Pacman

 

[n-ster]

An i5 4670k a z87 and a 2x 4GB ddr3 kit 1600-1866mhz seems like a good bet

If you can somehow include a 120GB SSD that would be awesome or do that upgrade later

 

[niv13]

Right on! I just got a 120GB SSD offer on Craiglist for only $50.00. I didn't hesitate to contact the owner. Going to pick it up tomorrow. Fingers crossed that it is in good condition.

 

[niv13]

I found two interesting RAMs for sale. What are your guys opinion. Bigger number seems to mean better performance. I'm not too sure though.
G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-8GAB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231546
$82.99
$7.34 Shipping

G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop Memory Model F3-2400C11D-8GAB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231665
$81.99
$10.49 Shipping

 

[satindemon4u]

so you are saying that it should theoretically stay compatible with things that gets released in the future too? Can you explain why you think it can handle a wider range of things. I tried the compare the specs but I can't make heads and tails of the acronyms and the numbers.

Here is what I was comparing on the two...

Asus board:
Memory Standard:
DDR3 3000(OC)/2933(OC)/2800(OC)/2666(OC)/2600(OC)/2500(OC)/2400(OC)/2200(OC)/2133(OC)/2000(OC)/1866(OC)/1800(OC)/1600/1333

GIGABYTE Board:
Memory Standard:
DDR3 2933(O.C.)/1600/1333

As you can see with the Gigabyte board you are limited to a maximum speed of 1600. As where with the Asus board you could go all the way up to 3000 (OC) which is nuts. haha

Also, as far as the memory goes the second one posted is technically faster. But between the two you wouldn't notice much of a difference at all. If you have the extra 3 or $4 for shipping then go ahead and get it. If not, then go for the cheaper one.

 

[niv13]

is this RAM OC? I didn't know that you can actually OC ram too. lol. I think I will save up for the cheaper one like you suggested. Boxing sale is right around the corner. I pray that there will be some special sales in Rip-Off Canada.

 

[Vario]

Get the 2400 ram. Also all the modern mobos can run over 1600, especially if its supported XMP.

2400 ram is slightly faster than 1600. You would probably want to not run 1.65v through your IMC as Intel recommends 1.5v, however you can probably run 1600 with very low volts with same ram (2400 ram underclocked). The timings on modern Intels doesn't really matter, the frequency speed is everything. 2400 > 1600.


However, I'd look for some ram that has 1.5v and 1866 or better as its XMP. How about these:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550

• 
  
  
  • DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900)
  • Timing 9-10-9
  • Cas Latency 9
  • Voltage 1.5V

When you get everything lego'd together, select the XMP profile in the memory area of the bios to get the proper speeds. Easier ram overclocking that way. XMP is Extreme Memory Profile, which has a preset for an overclocked (greater than 1600) speed.

 

[n-ster]

Here is what I was comparing on the two...

Asus board:
Memory Standard:
DDR3 3000(OC)/2933(OC)/2800(OC)/2666(OC)/2600(OC)/2500(OC)/2400(OC)/2200(OC)/2133(OC)/2000(OC)/1866(OC)/1800(OC)/1600/1333

GIGABYTE Board:
Memory Standard:
DDR3 2933(O.C.)/1600/1333

As you can see with the Gigabyte board you are limited to a maximum speed of 1600. As where with the Asus board you could go all the way up to 3000 (OC) which is nuts. haha

Also, as far as the memory goes the second one posted is technically faster. But between the two you wouldn't notice much of a difference at all. If you have the extra 3 or $4 for shipping then go ahead and get it. If not, then go for the cheaper one.

That's not how RAM speeds work on a mobo.... Both would support the 2400 RAM without problem usually

 

[satindemon4u]

That's not how RAM speeds work on a mobo.... Both would support the 2400 RAM without problem usually

Did they decide to just shorten the list then on the GIGABYTE one? Wasn't sure if that was the case or if what was listed was all it could take up to.

 

[n-ster]

usually the supported RAM speeds on a mobo you can basically ignore. what matters is the bus speeds and the multiplier and how good the mobo's RAM controller thingy. Usually by now any z87 mobo should do 2133 with ease

 

[satindemon4u]

usually the supported RAM speeds on a mobo you can basically ignore. what matters is the bus speeds and the multiplier and how good the mobo's RAM controller thingy. Usually by now any z87 mobo should do 2133 with ease

I gotcha. Good to know! Personally then I would go with the Asus board still, just for the fact that I have had one (different model of course) and loved it. If it comes down to pure cash though, GIGABYTE I suppose.