My 6 year old PC needs a makeover - upgrade advice

[dascoyne]

Here's my current machine:

mobo: Asus P5B Premium Vista Edition LGA775
CPU: Intel Duo Core 6700 @ 2.66GHz
Memory: 4.0 Gig RAM
video card: EVGA GTX 285
ps: Coolmax CTG-750

Lian-Li P7 Aluminum Case
Eizo Color Edge CE240W 24" LCD Monitor
Razer Lachesis mouse
Deck Legend keyboard

I do some moderate gaming. The hobby's slowed down in the past 3 years since I got married and since my lovely daughter was born.


1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
Moderate gaming is about the most intensive thing it'll be used for. Some FPS.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$700-$1000

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
No preferences

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I really like the monitor, mouse and keyboard. I'm keeping those.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
default for now.

8. What resolution will you be using?
1920x1200

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Planning to do this in the next 1-2 months.


Thanks in advance for your input and advice.

 

[Ken g6]

Well, it would help if you answered more of [thread=80121]the questions[/thread], but...

Generally, 2500k CPU (or 3750k in a month), z68 or z77 board respectively since you've done overclocking in the past, 8GB 1.5V DDR3-1600. Then consider a new video card later if you want to, preferably after the GTX 600 series is more fully released.

You should also consider a new PSU, such as a Seasonic M12II 620W for $70 AR, especially if that Coolmax is 6 years old.

 

[mfenn]

That budget pretty much buys you a whole new computer if you want. I'd say to keep your case, monitor, mouse, and KB though. Here's a build assuming that gaming is your priority:

i5 2500K $210 AP
ASRock Z68 Pro3 $105
Crucial DDR3 1600 8GB $37
7870 $350
Crucial M4 128GB $148
Seagate 1TB $100
Lite-On DVD Burner $18
Antec EA-650 $60 AP
Total: $1028

You can substitute the GPU for a 7850 or GTX 560 Ti if you want to be closer to $700 than $1000.

 

[dascoyne]

thanks. that's a good start.

 

[lehtv]

+1 to mfenn's build. personally would switch the PSU to Seasonic M12ii 620W, it's only $10 more and gets you two more years of warranty, modular cables (and more of them) and includes a power cord. Plus, I'd expect it to be slightly more reliable than a Delta-manufactured unit

 

[T_Yamamoto]

+1 to mfenn's build. personally would switch the PSU to Seasonic M12ii 620W, it's only $10 more and gets you two more years of warranty, modular cables (and more of them) and includes a power cord. Plus, I'd expect it to be slightly more reliable than a Delta-manufactured unit

Good find

 

[mfenn]

+1 to mfenn's build. personally would switch the PSU to Seasonic M12ii 620W, it's only $10 more and gets you two more years of warranty, modular cables (and more of them) and includes a power cord. Plus, I'd expect it to be slightly more reliable than a Delta-manufactured unit

Not bad AP.

 

[dascoyne]

I found the i5 2500k for $180 ... if you live near a Micro Center.


I noticed that mfenn suggested the Seagate. What's the deal with these nowadays? Last I heard they weren't very reliable.

 

[mfenn]

I found the i5 2500k for $180 ... if you live near a Micro Center.


I noticed that mfenn suggested the Seagate. What's the deal with these nowadays? Last I heard they weren't very reliable.

I go through a lot of SATA drives at work and my largish (but not huge) sample size indicates that Seagate is pretty much average. In fact, I've had the most trouble with WD Blacks recently, but that might just be a normal statistical anomaly.