5 year old PC upgrade or buy NEW?

[GEOrifle]

Hi.
Have 5 year old EVGA E760 Classified with cheap i7 920 Quad CPU, so wanted to upgrade to Xeon 6 Core w3680 ($160) and GPU R9 290x ($300), total $450.
Do you think it's wort spend $450 for old PC? Or by new PC?(Then instead $450 (W3680+GPU R9 290X) i need to spend ~~$1500 but will have longer life)

Thanks.

 

[vailr]

My advice: buy an all new Intel Haswell Z97 system, or else wait several months until Intel Skylake desktop systems are available.
However, you could upgrade the 920 CPU with a used Xeon 5650, 5660, or 5670, providing that the motherboard bios supports it. Determining that support may involve updating to the latest available bios version and then just hoping that it works.

 

[SKORPI0]

Check this list if the Xeon W3680 is supported using the EVGA E760 Classified (X58 LGA 1366 mobo). Not sure if a hard mod/bios update will do it.
Perhaps a Intel Core i7-980 Gulftown 6-Core 3.33GHz LGA 1366 would be better choice, but more expensive.

• X58 Series Motherboard (LGA 1366)
  • Gulftown
    • Core i7 990X - 3.46 GHz **
    • Core i7 980X - 3.33 GHz **
    • Core i7 980 - 3.33 GHz **
    • Core i7 970 - 3.20 GHz **
  • Bloomfield
    • Core i7 975 - 3.33 GHz
    • Core i7 965 - 3.20 GHz
    • Core i7 960 - 3.20 GHz
    • Core i7 950 - 3.06 GHz
    • Core i7 940 - 2.93 GHz
    • Core i7 930 - 2.80 GHz
    • Core i7 920 - 2.66 GHz
    • Xeon W3580 - 3.33 GHz
    • Xeon W3570 - 3.20 GHz
    • Xeon W3540 - 2.93 GHz
    • Xeon W3530 - 2.80 GHz
    • Xeon W3520 - 2.66 GHz
  • Gainestown
    • Xeon W5590 - 3.33 GHz
    • Xeon W5580 - 3.20 GHz
    • Xeon L5530 - 2.40 GHz
    • Xeon E5507 - 2.27 GHz
    • Xeon E5503 - 2.00 GHz
  • Nehalem
    • Xeon X5570 - 2.93 GHz
    • Xeon X5550 - 2.66 GHz
    • Xeon L5520 - 2.26 GHz
    • Xeon L5506 - 2.13 GHz
    • Xeon E5540 - 2.53 GHz
    • Xeon E5530 - 2.40 GHz
    • Xeon E5520 - 2.26 GHz
    • Xeon E5506 - 2.13 GHz
    • Xeon E5504 - 2.00 GHz
  • * Westmere
    • Xeon X5690 - 3.46 GHz
    • Xeon X5680 - 3.33 GHz
    • Xeon X5677 - 3.46 GHz
    • Xeon X5670 - 2.93 GHz
    • Xeon X5667 - 3.06 GHz
    • Xeon X5660 - 2.80 GHz
    • Xeon X5650 - 2.66 GHz
    • Xeon L5640 - 2.27 GHz
    • Xeon L5630 - 2.13 GHz
    • Xeon E5649 - 2.53 GHz
    • Xeon E5645 - 2.40 GHz
    • Xeon E5640 - 2.67 GHz
    • Xeon E5630 - 2.53 GHz
    • Xeon E5620 - 2.40 GHz
    • Xeon E5607 - 2.27 GHz
    • Xeon E5606 - 2.13 GHz
    • Xeon E5603 - 1.60 GHz
  • * Westmere processors are only supported natively on the X58 SLI3, FTW3, and Classified3 Models. A product modification may be needed for older models.
  • ** Latest BIOS update is necessary to run

 

[MongGrel]

This is my standard answer in this case these days I guess, then wait on a Skylake.

What I've been doing awhile personally.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2335636&highlight=l5639&page=95

You could slap a X5650 in there and run it up to at least 4.0 easily for $80 or less if your BIOS would support it for a Hex and have cooling all ready on air even, I'm pretty sure it will.

My two cents.

Have one in my HTPC, found a X5680 for $130 I found a few months back running in my main at 4.5

 

[GEOrifle]

Thanks, Xeon x5680 and w3680 are supported, so instead to buy new i can upgrade CPU, but which is more important for gaming and video editing CPU or GPU? My i7 920 can be overclocked up to 4GH, then i need just GPU, current one i have HD5850, so R9 290x for $300 or something used ones in crossfire like 2 x HD7970 should be fine i guess.

 

[mfenn]

I don't know that any of the Westmere chips (Xx6xx) will actually work in your board becasue of the footnote that EVGA gives, "Westmere processors are only supported natively on the X58 SLI3, FTW3, and Classified3 Models. A product modification may be needed for older models."

For games, your 5850 is definitely holding you back, especially if you overclock your 920. For video editing, the CPU does most of the work.

 

[MongGrel]

X5680's run pretty hot.

If you can find an X5675 probably better, they are the cooler TDP ones of the bunch for the speed, but more $ than the others still, usually...

Have a old 920 and a L5639 laying about on the desk these days I guess.

I don't tear them down every day, but I've played around awhile now I suppose ...

*edit* looks like a X5660 would be plenty, haven't even looked at the Xeon thread in a few days now.

I still like the X5680, not like it's going anywhere soon :biggrin:

 

[Blue_Max]

I had this very same decision and decided to get the X5650. In gaming, I just didn't see the performance difference great guys like Burpo projected. (It DID increase my resale value more than that of the processor upgrade at least!) 😀

I'd vote NO. What you have is still a good performer and will hold you a couple months longer for the new technology to come out with faster everything across the board.

 

[sm625]

x5680 would make a fine upgrade too.

 

[MongGrel]

I don't know that any of the Westmere chips (Xx6xx) will actually work in your board becasue of the footnote that EVGA gives, "Westmere processors are only supported natively on the X58 SLI3, FTW3, and Classified3 Models. A product modification may be needed for older models."

For games, your 5850 is definitely holding you back, especially if you overclock your 920. For video editing, the CPU does most of the work.

Hmm, yeah some might not do it, would have to look into your board there I suppose.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I just sold a e760 classified and it was a solid board but I replaced it with a z97 and a 4790k which smokes it all the way around.

 

[MongGrel]

I'm sure it would.

 

[GEOrifle]

Thanks guys, appreciate it.
Sell it on Ebay or Anands market?

 

[mfenn]

Thanks guys, appreciate it.
Sell it on Ebay or Anands market?

You'll move it much quicker on eBay, but you'll probably get more out of it by selling it in FS/FT here (no fees).