Have an upgrade itch, suggestions?

[balane]

I'm in the US. Play a lot of FPS, MMO & RPG games. Typical Windows stuff like Office, Web, Photoshop, etc.

I wouldn't mind spending up to $1000 to get a nice improvement. I don't have to spend all of that, and I definitely don't want to throw the money away.

My computer runs everything fine right now, I play at 1920x1200 on a single LCD. I'm upgrading only because I want to and I enjoy it.

I typically perform a reliable, non-extreme, overclock.

Current hardware;
CPU - Core i7 940 overclocked to 3.4GHz, it is not a good overclocker at all. (Corsair H50)
Mobo - Asus P6T SE
RAM - 2 of THESE KITS for 12GB total. I don't care if it all doesn't make it into the new computer, I'd like at least 8GB though.
GPU - MSI Twin Frozr HD 7950 at 1GHz, 3GB
PSU - xClio 750 Watts, it's been very good to me.
HDD - 120gb OCZ Vertex 2 plus some 1tb data drive.

If I was upgrading I was thinking along the lines of an i7-3930K and motherboard. Hopefully I can still use 8GB of the RAM I have? This would an easy upgrade.

Edit: I see now that my 1.65v RAM won't work with the later processors so I'll have to factor in some memory for the upgrade as well.

What would you recommend?

Is this a really dumb idea? Please bear in mind that I feel I WANT an upgrade but don't NEED an upgrade.

Thanks.

 

[Blain]

* SSD for sure.
* PSU before it goes out and takes some components with it.
* Good quality AVR UPS with plenty capacity for your hardware.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Biggest improvement I think would be more monitors/better monitor.

 

[balane]

* SSD for sure.

Is there something wrong with my SSD I don't know about? It has been flawless for 2 years now.

 

[lehtv]

CPU - Core i7 940 overclocked to 3.4GHz, it is not a good overclocker at all. (Corsair H50)
Mobo - Asus P6T SE

I'm convinced that the motherboard is the culprit, I have the same motherboard and an i7-920. The CPU's typical OC limit is whatever it can achieve at around 1.4V, but for me it isn't stable at any clock speed that would require more than stock voltage (1.2V), I've tried adjusting the secondary voltages as well.

Not that I recommend upgrading the mobo, just FYI

RAM - 2 of THESE KITS for 12GB total. I don't care if it all doesn't make it into the new computer, I'd like at least 8GB though.

[...]

Edit: I see now that my 1.65v RAM won't work with the later processors so I'll have to factor in some memory for the upgrade as well.

If you can get them stable at 1333MHz 1.5V, you could reuse 4x2GB in the new setup.

GPU - MSI Twin Frozr HD 7950 at 1GHz, 3GB
PSU - xClio 750 Watts, it's been very good to me.

I don't see any point upgrading the GPU. The PSU isn't very good quality, maybe it could use upgrading even though it works fine. If you were a hobbyist overclocker, I might suggest a new CPU and motherboard combo but you're not.

What's your case?

If I was upgrading I was thinking along the lines of an i7-3930K and motherboard. Hopefully I can still use 8GB of the RAM I have? This would an easy upgrade.

[...]

What would you recommend?

Is this a really dumb idea? Please bear in mind that I feel I WANT an upgrade but don't NEED an upgrade.

So you want to pay a several hundred dollars for the excitement of opening a couple of boxes of toys. Zero practical benefit.

What are your peripherals exactly? Maybe a new keyboard, mouse, mousemat, headset (and sound card)?

 

[Blain]

I wouldn't mind spending up to $1000 to get a nice improvement. I don't have to spend all of that, and I definitely don't want to throw the money away.

I'm upgrading only because I want to and I enjoy it.

HDD - 120gb OCZ Vertex 2 plus some 1tb data drive.

What would you recommend?

Is this a really dumb idea? Please bear in mind that I feel I WANT an upgrade but don't NEED an upgrade.

* SSD for sure.
* PSU before it goes out and takes some components with it.
* Good quality AVR UPS with plenty capacity for your hardware.

Is there something wrong with my SSD I don't know about? It has been flawless for 2 years now.

You haven't read about failure rates and issues people have posted in these forums?

 

[lehtv]

I've had a Vertex 2 for well over a year, no point replacing it since it works fine. If it was a failure-prone unit it'd have failed already.

 

[DSF]

Yeah I agree with the general sentiment that you're not going to see much difference in upgrading the CPU/Mobo/RAM unless you really want to push the overclock for the fun of it.

Do you have any interest in a second monitor? You have the budget to support it. Or you could get a snazzy case and a better brand PSU just to tinker.

Or you could get very nice peripherals as someone else mentioned.

Or, I dunno, a TV tuner card? The fact is the core of your system is still very solid.

 

[rickon66]

I just up graded from a I7-930 with a 5870 to the rig in my signature and DID enjoy the planning for the build and the actual build, but i don't see a night/day difference in most things I do. If I had any willpower at all I should have waited for the next big thing(haswell?). The biggest difference was the SSD fast boot compared to a disk drive, but you already have that. Resist or give in and enjoy? I spent about $1200-1300 and now I have two wait 2 years for next new rig.

 

[balane]

I love my case. Replacing the SSD is just plain silly. If it fails someday then I'll replace it but doing it now just doesn't make any sense. I like my monitor, not interested in a second. I like my keyboard/mouse...

Basically, if it's a dumb idea to upgrade my motherboard/CPU/RAM then I'm just going to keep the money in the bank. Those are really the only things I was interested in buying.

 

[balane]

So you want to pay a several hundred dollars for the excitement of opening a couple of boxes of toys. Zero practical benefit.

This is pretty much it in a nutshell. I haven't upgraded my computer in a couple of years and I miss it, that's the only reason I'm asking. I tuck money away for upgrades and I guess this isn't the best time to spend it. I'll hang tight until the next tier from Intel is released.

 

[rickon66]

Wise move!!

 

[lehtv]

That's what I'm doing with my i7 - waiting for haswell. I will probably upgrade the GPU sooner though

 

[mfenn]

Wise move!!

Seconded.

I'm kind of in the same boat. I've got a Lynnfield and a 6950 (modded to 6970) and feel zero inclination to upgrade right now. Next upgrade will probably be a new SSD because my original Agility is starting to feel a little pokey.