itching for hardware... whats first?

[Papi]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks


This is my current set-up. I love it, but I am itching to buy something for it. Any suggestions based off what is below? thanks!



CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ SuperBiiz) OC'd to 4.8 @ 1.29V
CPU Cooler: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-GD55 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($120.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($139.18 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($129.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($319.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3 ATX Full Tower Case ($166.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Planar PXL2430MW 23.5" Monitor ($317.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1598.05
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-29 04:08 EDT-0400)

[slasher0161]

Second monitor (or 2 more and go eyefinity for fun)
gtx 780
Custom loop

Modding project?

[Ripox]

Options:
1. custom loop, who doesn't want a rig like this: http://imageshack.us/a/img28/9259/img5035tonemapped.jpg ?
2. Flash 770 BIOS onto GTX 670 and get another GTX 770 for SLI?
3. 3-monitor setup + SLI?

[Deleted]

Options:
1. custom loop, who doesn't want a rig like this: http://imageshack.us/a/img28/9259/img5035tonemapped.jpg ?
2. Flash 770 BIOS onto GTX 670 and get another GTX 770 for SLI?
3. 3-monitor setup + SLI?

Dont think thats possible. There was a post on reddit that claimed they flashed a 680 to a 770 but that was nothing more a fudged change to the 680 BIOS http://www.techpowerup.com/183936/ge...o-gtx-770.html.

[Sunius]

More SSDs! 128 GB is not nearly enough to store your games in it. I recently bought 2 more SSDs and now I'm sporting 360 GB space with RAID 0 array of 3 SSDs.

[ProfessorTjc]

1. Upgrade to an i7
2. get a second monitor
3. get rave lights for your computer http://www.xoxide.com/coldcathodes.html.

[Ripox]

Dont think thats possible. There was a post on reddit that claimed they flashed a 680 to a 770 but that was nothing more a fudged change to the 680 BIOS http://www.techpowerup.com/183936/ge...o-gtx-770.html.

My bad, yeah its going from 680 to 770, not 670 to 770 :/

Sell the 670 and go SLI 770+5760x1080 setup? *shrug*

whats your budget @OP

---------- Post added 2013-06-29 at 03:13 PM ----------

1. Upgrade to an i7
2. get a second monitor
3. get rave lights for your computer http://www.xoxide.com/coldcathodes.html.

Why i7?
Why a second monitor and not a third?
You don't mention MoBo change, are you really telling someone to go from 2500k to 2600k, a CPU 2 generations old?

Whats wrong with the 2500k btw?

[Deleted]

I was in the same position as you OP and here is what I did:

Purchased a new case, an entire new watercooling custom loop and went for a GTX titan although I'll be selling that to most likely go for EVGA SuperClocked 770 SLi's as they're incredibly powerful, cost less than a titan and blow the performance of it out the water!

There is NO need to upgrade from a 2500k especially if you're a lucky one with a 4.8ghz overclock at 1.29 (Mine never went above 4.5ghz at 1.35....) since even a Haswell i7 will never push to the performance levels of that and even if it did you would barely see 1~ fps difference and it doesn't seem like you're a benchmark enthusiast.

The only thing else I can suggest apart from a GPU + Watercooling upgrade would be a second monitor although even I don't see the point in dual monitors tbh.

[Ripox]

I was in the same position as you OP and here is what I did:

Purchased a new case, an entire new watercooling custom loop and went for a GTX titan although I'll be selling that to most likely go for EVGA SuperClocked 770 SLi's as they're incredibly powerful, cost less than a titan and blow the performance of it out the water!

There is NO need to upgrade from a 2500k especially if you're a lucky one with a 4.8ghz overclock at 1.29 (Mine never went above 4.5ghz at 1.35....) since even a Haswell i7 will never push to the performance levels of that and even if it did you would barely see 1~ fps difference and it doesn't seem like you're a benchmark enthusiast.

The only thing else I can suggest apart from a GPU + Watercooling upgrade would be a second monitor although even I don't see the point in dual monitors tbh.

I agreed with everything about sticking with the 2500k, the watercooling, and the SLI 770's up until you went against more monitors unless I'm understanding you incorrectly. Why in the world would anyone get SLI 770 for 1920x1080? Tri-monitor 5760x1080 setup? most deff. 1920x1080? LOLWAT?

[Deleted]

I agreed with everything about sticking with the 2500k, the watercooling, and the SLI 770's up until you went against more monitors unless I'm understanding you incorrectly. Why in the world would anyone get SLI 770 for 1920x1080? Tri-monitor 5760x1080 setup? most deff. 1920x1080? LOLWAT?

I play on a 120hz monitor and can't reach 120fps in Crysis 3 using a Titan nor would I reach 120fps with SLi 770's. I'd be happy with getting 120fps on highest settings on the latest games at 1080p than playing at a higher resolution with barely any FPS at all and yes I can see the difference in smoothness between 60 and 120 fps and lowering my settings is not an option, it's not what I pay a premium price to do!

I can understand using 3 monitors if you're aiming for a steady 60fps and don't mind dropping the AA or quality down, but that's not for me personally.

http://legitreviews.com/images/revie...0/metro-ll.png - is an example, even using gtx 770 sli at 1080p you're only hitting 82fps on the highest settings, now using 3 monitors you're looking at barely 40fps, while this is fine, I don't enjoy playing a game if it's not got all the bells and whistles nor can I enjoy games that are low FPS.

[Wolfbear]

Ultra HD monitor maybe?

[Papi]

Nothing is wrong with any of the hardware. I had no plans on upgrading the CPU/MB as I am satisfied with what I have gotten out of it.

I like idea of new case/watercooling. Never thought of it. Phase changer?

---------- Post added 2013-06-29 at 10:29 AM ----------

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/13...l?tl=g49#blank

[slasher0161]

Yea water cooling looks so much better, if you don't have an other half you need to negotiate around and can drop the money for it then i'm jealous. (The worst bit isn't when she outright knocks the idea back she just gives you that, O dear what now look, then looks you cold dead in the eyes and says "If you need it go for it")

Phase change would be fun but I couldn't see just anybody doing it.