In need of a cost efficient upgrade.

[Greevir]

Currently using:

MB: Gigabyte 970A-DS3P
CPU: AMD FX-4130 Zambezi Quad-Core 3.8 GHz
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
VID: ASUS GeForce® GTX 760 2GB
HDD: WD 7200 500GB

Primarily looking for a new MB/CPU combo. I could prob live with the rest for now. And I would most definitely prefer an Intel CPU over AMD. Kinda tired of AMD. Only looking at about $500 to improve this mess. It's not much, but it's all I can swing for myself.

[Kagthul]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JsdChM
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JsdChM/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($254.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3P ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $421.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-13 17:15 EST-0500

[Denpepe]

Seeing you got some budget left, depending on the age of your PSU might want to consider buying a new one, other then that the above should be an very good upgrade.

[Greevir]

Seeing you got some budget left, depending on the age of your PSU might want to consider buying a new one, other then that the above should be an very good upgrade.

Yeah, got a decent PSU coming in already.

Say I can possibly swing an additional 200 bucks, should I look into another GPU? Any suggestions for an upgrade to the 760?

[Advent]

I also have a 760. From what I've heard it's better to wait until July?-ish for the new GPU line to come out than spend $200-$300 for ones that are already almost 2 years old. I could, of course, be mistaken.

[chazus]

Gonna move this to the build/upgrade subforum

[DeltrusDisc]

I also have a 760. From what I've heard it's better to wait until July?-ish for the new GPU line to come out than spend $200-$300 for ones that are already almost 2 years old. I could, of course, be mistaken.

This is very true, especially if you're still running 1920x1080.

However, if you're like me, I play on a 3440x1440 monitor and frankly, the 760 just wasn't cutting it in some games, so an upgrade to the 970 was warranted and is paying off! I'm pretty happy!

@OP, what games are you playing and at what resolution?

[Deleted]

If you are playing at 1080p 760 is still a decent card, depends on the games you play as well. As the rest said if you wait till summer you could see what the cards out give, most likely with better dx12 support as well. With say 600$, sans gpu, you can pretty much get a new pc with quality stuff including an ssd, since you already got a psu (good one i hope). Basically when you get a new gpu in the summer you will have 2 working pcs, might be even possible to sell the old one to get some cash back or give it to another family member etc.
So another option could be:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($254.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! PURE ROCK 51.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro M ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $615.62
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-14 02:39 EST-0500

[Greevir]

This is very true, especially if you're still running 1920x1080.

However, if you're like me, I play on a 3440x1440 monitor and frankly, the 760 just wasn't cutting it in some games, so an upgrade to the 970 was warranted and is paying off! I'm pretty happy!

@OP, what games are you playing and at what resolution?

Sitting on 1080p.

If you are playing at 1080p 760 is still a decent card, depends on the games you play as well. As the rest said if you wait till summer you could see what the cards out give, most likely with better dx12 support as well. With say 600$, sans gpu, you can pretty much get a new pc with quality stuff including an ssd, since you already got a psu (good one i hope). Basically when you get a new gpu in the summer you will have 2 working pcs, might be even possible to sell the old one to get some cash back or give it to another family member etc.
So another option could be:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($254.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! PURE ROCK 51.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro M ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $615.62
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-14 02:39 EST-0500

Hmm. Thats a fairly nice setup. A new case would be pretty good since mine has definitely seen better days. And a SSD is nice as well. Never had the pleasure of owning one.

[DeltrusDisc]

Sitting on 1080p.



Hmm. Thats a fairly nice setup. A new case would be pretty good since mine has definitely seen better days. And a SSD is nice as well. Never had the pleasure of owning one.

It's a pleasure you can never go back from.

[Artorius]

Cost efficient:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A PC MATE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: A-Data XPG Z1 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $449.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-14 08:59 EST-0500


Cost efficient K i5, going Skylake adds 30$ for the CPU and the cost for the memory and the good mobos can be slightly more expensive too.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($227.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! PURE ROCK 51.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $435.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-14 09:22 EST-0500



Cost efficient with a K i7:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($314.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! PURE ROCK 51.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $522.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-14 09:02 EST-0500

[DeltrusDisc]

Why a K i7? Just get a K i5 and put the extra money towards something good...

[Artorius]

I'm just dumb.

Left the K i5 build done at a tab and forgot to link it lol

[Cows For Life]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JsdChM
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JsdChM/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($254.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3P ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $421.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-13 17:15 EST-0500

K processor but single channel memory? There's not even a need for Z170 if all you're going to do is stick to 2133 sticks either.

[Artorius]

Single stick of RAM so he can upgrade to 16 later

[ComputerNerd]

K processor but single channel memory? There's not even a need for Z170 if all you're going to do is stick to 2133 sticks either.

Single channel is most likely only a factor in benchmarks, with real-world testing showing little if any difference.
Rarely is that going to be a bottleneck.
I would argue that the rest of the components need to catch up to the RAM, not the other way around.

[Kagthul]

K processor but single channel memory? There's not even a need for Z170 if all you're going to do is stick to 2133 sticks either.

Dual-channel adds zero real world performance, particularly in gaming. Also, the single stick was about 8$ cheaper and leaves more room for later expansion. Win-win-win.

[Greevir]

I may be getting a bit more "allowance" for my upgrade. Which I might just turn into a complete build rather than an upgrade. May keep my current PC to use as a minecraft server for the kids. Anyways, looking at either $800 or $1000 for the build with $800 being the most likely. Some builds in that range would be appreciated. I'm not looking for an OMG 4k res, 1000fps, beast of a machine (which you can't get with $800, anyways) but would like to play some good games at 1080/60fps. Witcher 3 being one of those games. (I can run it but at fairly poor settings and only at 30fps steadily). I do however play mostly MMOs, so CPU needs to be better than the crap I have now. Thanks, and looking forward to what you guys can provide.

[Artorius]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($45.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($69.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 390 8GB PCS+ Video Card ($279.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $848.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-17 20:34 EST-0500

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($254.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A PC MATE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($69.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 390 8GB PCS+ Video Card ($279.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $982.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-17 20:36 EST-0500

[Deleted]

Anyways, looking at either $800 or $1000...

Add a gtx970 or R9 390, whichever brand you like more, to the build i had linked and you're done.