Replace or keep and what to replace

[hartraft]

Budget: € 500 - 800 range
Games: WoW and any new FPS that comes on the market
Need an OS? No, running a legitimate copy of Win7 64 bit
Need peripherals? No
Resolution: 1920x1200

Current pc

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 (running at a small overclock 3600 Mhz)
Motherboard: Asus P5QL Pro
Memory: 6GB (2 stick of 2 and 2 sticks of 1) DDR2
Storage: 3x Seagate Barracuda 1Tb and 1x Seagate Barracuda 500GB
Video Card: NVIDIA Geforce 9800 GT
Case: Coolermaster Centurion 590
Power Supply: Coolermaster 460w

I haven't browsed PC forums in years now (keep getting the Tom's Hardware newsletter and never read it) so I'm turning to you guys for some help. The PC is just getting slow and newer games are slowly are starting to become a real problem (unless I want to play on the lowest settings).

I'm guessing that I'll have to replace the CPU, MOBO and Video Card. I'm rather happy with the case and storage. Any suggestions would be great, I'm mainly looking for parts that'll last me a few years.

I'm in the Netherlands btw so Newegg is regretfully not available. However links would be appreciated, I'll find similar or the exact same from local stores / websites

[Toffie]

4670k
Asus z87-a
212 EVO
Vengeance 2x4 1600 mh
7870 xt Sapphire
XFX 550

Everything from caseking.de

[Deleted]

4670k
Asus z87-a
212 EVO
Vengeance 2x4 1600 mh
7870 xt Sapphire
XFX 550

Everything from caseking.de

Doubt you need the psu?

[Toffie]

Doubt you need the psu?

Depends on the model, I doubt it's even decent.

[chazus]

Depends on the model, I doubt it's even decent.

Power Supply: Coolermaster 460w

That said... Coolermaster is a 'meh' brand at best... But without the actual model, it could range for "meh" to "actually bad"

[Deleted]

That said... Coolermaster is a 'meh' brand at best... But without the actual model, it could range for "meh" to "actually bad"

Well there are only 3 possible kinds:
http://www.coolermaster.com/product/search/460w.html

[chazus]

Well there are only 3 possible kinds:
http://www.coolermaster.com/product/search/460w.html

Therein lies the rub.

Elite = Good (FSP)
Extreme = Utter crap (Hipro/Solytech)

[hartraft]

Therein lies the rub.

Elite = Good (FSP)
Extreme = Utter crap (Hipro/Solytech)

It is of course the Extreme Power plus....

Would a Corsair CX 500WATT be a decent replacement? The cooler master elite 460 also seems to be readily available.

Thanks for the replies! All parts mentioned thus far seem to be easily obtainable

[Deleted]

Budget: € 500 - 800 range
Games: WoW and any new FPS that comes on the market
Need an OS? No, running a legitimate copy of Win7 64 bit
Need peripherals? No
Resolution: 1920x1200

Gamming Setup Recommended (KachynaEU)

CPU: Intel core i5 3450 3.1ghz turbo up to 3.5ghz 190€
Motherboard: ASUS P8B75-M LX 70€
Memory: GSKILL 8GB (2x4) DDR3 1600MHZ 60€
Storage: Keep your hard drives, not point on going for expensive SSD at the moment.
Video Card: XFX 7850 1GB DDR5 Core Edition 170€
Case: Keep your case if you happy.
Power Supply: XFX PRO 550W Core Edition 70€

This a decent setup I can recommend you. These are items that are available in european online stores with prices slightly lower than those I mentioned. I think you would be happy and it's in your budget, and it will run WoW at Ultra and modern games as well.

[Deleted]

It is of course the Extreme Power plus....

Would a Corsair CX 500WATT be a decent replacement? The cooler master elite 460 also seems to be readily available.

Thanks for the replies! All parts mentioned thus far seem to be easily obtainable

If you're gonna upgrade a 460watt psu, you might aswell get a 600+ watt psu.

[Toffie]

If you're gonna upgrade a 460watt psu, you might aswell get a 600+ watt psu.

Why would that help at all?

---------- Post added 2013-06-08 at 02:19 PM ----------

This a decent setup I can recommend you. These are items that are available in european online stores with prices slightly lower than those I mentioned. I think you would be happy and it's in your budget, and it will run WoW at Ultra and modern games as well.

No, the two build above is miles ahead of the one listed.

[hartraft]

I'm gathering the parts you mentioned Toffie. Is there a big difference between the Asus z87-a you mentioned and the Asrock Z77 Pro4-m that Catbeef came up with? Both are readily available

[Deleted]

The z87-a is the new chipset, so it is supporting the new generation CPU's, which would be wise to go for. So the build that is recommended by Toffie would be better as it is more up to date.

[Toffie]

Remember to place the code : 202b03 to get free shipping

[Tahapenes]

If you're gonna upgrade a 460watt psu, you might aswell get a 600+ watt psu.

Only if you plan on SLI/XFire later. For most systems with a single card, 500W is sufficient (the dual processor cards like the GTX 690 or 7990 are the exception).

[Deleted]

Why would that help at all?

---------- Post added 2013-06-08 at 02:19 PM ----------



No, the two build above is miles ahead of the one listed.

No what? Lol. I never said the setups above weren't better. And no, they are not miles away, they are simple better options. But let's not forget they are more expensive as well... Like I mentioned the prices I listed are highly overpriced. So it all comes down to price and what you really need...

But yes, the 3570k is probably the best gaming CPU out there, but it's only worth the extra money if the user is planning to O.C..

About RAM Corsair and G.Skill are both excellent quality memory manufacturers. You can't go wrong with either one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231445 Are very appealing though . Although, for myself I opted for the Corsair Dominator.

The Mobo I mentioned is like half price the ones mentioned above. And I can assure you the performance gain ain't double.

As for the 7870 over the 7850 I can say, the later is less expensive, so it's normal the first will perform better. Still, if I was working on a budget, I would have to consider which one I can get for a better bargain. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/549?vs=548

[chazus]

And no, they are not miles away, they are simple better options. But let's not forget they are more expensive as well
But yes, the 3570k is probably the best gaming CPU out there, but it's only worth the extra money if the user is planning to O.C..
As for the 7870 over the 7850 I can say, the later is less expensive, so it's normal the first will perform better.

Actually, they -are- miles apart. The 3450 is usually only about $10-15 bucks cheaper than the 3570K, and overclocked, the 3570K destroys the 3450. Also, OC'ing is pretty much mandatory these days, budget allowing. If you have a $230 budget for a cpu, a 3570K is mandatory. People saying "I don't want to OC" is synonymous with "I'd rather get less performance than I'm paying for".

If you go to the deli and ask for a pound of meat for $7, which it's listed, and the butcher says "Sure. BUT, today, I can give you 3/4 pound for the same price, how's that sound?" and you go "That's a fair deal, sir." That's not overclocking in a nutshell.

And you're confusing the 7850 and 7870... with the 7870 XT. Two very, very different cards. And the XT is over as cheap as, or cheaper.

So yes, they are miles apart, and I'd never recommend a 7850, 7870, or 3450. If they absolutely can't overclock, or won't ever upgrade... You get a 3470, since it' both faster AND cheaper than 3450.

[Deleted]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (€210.10 @ Amazon Deutschland)
CPU Cooler: SilenX EFZ-120HA5 86.0 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler (€26.99 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (€88.10 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card (€235.03 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (€88.72 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Total: €648.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-09 08:54 CEST+0200)

With two of These HyperX Blu sticks comes to ~€707. Case and HDDs are fine, but If you can stretch to €900, then definitely get a Samsung 840 SSD (probably the 250GB one). Note that I've used amazon.de for the parts mostly. That's because Komplett didn't seem to have some of the parts in.

[Deleted]

Actually, they -are- miles apart. The 3450 is usually only about $10-15 bucks cheaper than the 3570K, and overclocked, the 3570K destroys the 3450. Also, OC'ing is pretty much mandatory these days, budget allowing. If you have a $230 budget for a cpu, a 3570K is mandatory. People saying "I don't want to OC" is synonymous with "I'd rather get less performance than I'm paying for".

If you go to the deli and ask for a pound of meat for $7, which it's listed, and the butcher says "Sure. BUT, today, I can give you 3/4 pound for the same price, how's that sound?" and you go "That's a fair deal, sir." That's not overclocking in a nutshell.

And you're confusing the 7850 and 7870... with the 7870 XT. Two very, very different cards. And the XT is over as cheap as, or cheaper.

So yes, they are miles apart, and I'd never recommend a 7850, 7870, or 3450. If they absolutely can't overclock, or won't ever upgrade... You get a 3470, since it' both faster AND cheaper than 3450.

If he has O.C. in mind, then you are definitely right. I give you that. You say it's mandatory, I don't agree with you and I am on my right here, most people don't even O.C. and there is not special need to do it.

If is not looking at costs then we should go for the 3570k, but it's still more expensive than the rest. I recommended the 3450k but I could have recommended the 3470k, you say the later is cheaper, that's could be true over where you live, I have a store and our seller gets us the 3450k slightly cheaper than the 3470k, and there is little gain from the later for those extras euros, clocked slightly higher, that's it.

As for the graphic card... http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-HD-78...Radeon-HD-7870 the XT version is better, not miles away, just better, price is higher as well...

It's hard to argue about price notion though, Europe tends to be more expensive...

I also dislike to work with both MSI and Sapphire, I have had more than a couple of problems with them, especially Sapphire and it's cooling methods...

[chazus]

You say it's mandatory, I don't agree with you and I am on my right here, most people don't even O.C. and there is not special need to do it.

I say OC is mandatory if budget allows, because a 3570K is effectively the best CPU out there. HOWEVER, if you wanted MORE power... throwing money at a system can't do anything. The ONLY option (and the 'only' part is where 'mandatory' comes in), is to overclock. If you want to get the best FPS out of WoW raids, you must overclock. Period. Budget allowing the 3570K, board, and cooler (which it does in this case).

3570k... 3450k...3470k...3450k

I'm going to ignore the fact that most of those don't exist, because it's late. Regardless, I looked up about 8 retailers and pcpartpicker, and almost EVERY place, 3470 is cheaper. I found one that was not.

As for the graphic card... http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-HD-78...Radeon-HD-7870 the XT version is better, not miles away, just better, price is higher as well...
It's hard to argue about price notion though, Europe tends to be more expensive...

LOL charts. Numbers charts that purely compare stats are useless for comparison. That's like saying an 600 horsepower truck obviously goes faster than a 500 horsepower corvette. The 7870 XT is on average a good 10% (which is pretty significant for the same price or cheaper) than the 7870. It's often on par with the 7950 in some games. It's the same reason (both price and performance) that the card was literally impossible to get in America for a good few weeks, due to popularity. And while I agree Sapphire isn't my favorite brand by any stretch, the price/performance simply cannot be ignored.

And even if it's more expensive in Europe, everything is more expensive on the same scale, so it'll still be cheaper :P