Updating old system with new parts...

ChaseTheSun

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Apr 4, 2013
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Hi all, I currently have an amd motherboard and obviously amd cpu, a gtw 660ti card, 8gb of ram, 600 watt power supply and a few hard drives. My case is a cyborg x.
Im looking to update my motherboard, cpu, graphics card, power supply and get some more ram. Ive been looking at the new 2011 motherboards and therefore the 2011 cpu's, mostly the 3820.
My main purpose for the computer is gaming and pretty solid gaming as im a sucker for visuals and my desire is to run planetside 2 on ultra.
Ive also been looking at the 3770k which would also mean that i get the older motherboard as well. I know i want to definitely get a gtx 680, a power supply of at least 800w, and another 8gb of ram, but i cant decide between the 3770k or the 3820, which would also affect which motherboard i got. This also brings up the concern that am i able to swap the components straight out from amd to intel without and hassle to my software? Also are the 2011 motherboards the same size as my current asus one and therefore will it fit in my current case or will i need to update it?
Some help and answers would be muchly appreciated.
So my main concerns are will my current case be big enough for the 2011 motherboard if i decide to get it or will i have to update my case and if so, to what case? Is the 3770k and its mobo better to get than my other option for intense gaming? Will an 800 to 1000 watt be able to fit into my case? Can i simply swap out my amd mobo and cpu for intel?
Any help would be muchly appreciated!!!
 
A couple of things. I would recommend the 3770K over the 3820. Ease of overclocking and higher potential with less effort. The only advantage of 2011 would be that I think they are releasing IB-E and possibly Haswell-E on that socket. But you would want a X89 or whatever motherboard for that anyway.

600watts is more than enough for a 3770K, a couple of HDDs, and a GTX 680. Well actually I would need to know the model of PSU because it simply being rated for 600w does not mean it doesn't suck. There's a big difference between a 600w Seasonic and a 600w Diablotek.

Why do you need 16GB of RAM for gaming? I've never used more than 6GB in any game, but I don't play Planetside2 so maybe I'm missing something.


Get back to me with your PSU make and model, but here is what I suggest.
Also do you live anywhere near a Micro Center?

Intel Core i7-3770K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128544

(I honestly think the 680 is a waste of money because it's not much better than a 670 for the extra $100 or so, but this is the 680 I would get if money weren't an issue)
GIGABYTE GV-N680OC-4GD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125448

If you must have 16GB, then get some decent high speed sticks:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 2133MHz CL9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231503

 
Just a comment on Ram
.. Go with DDR3-1600 and @ a VOLTAGE of 1.500

1) Any Ram voltage over 1.575 voids Intel CPU warantee for both SB and IB CPUs.
1.65 V is to high.
2) Ram above DDR3-1600 also voids IB CPU warrantee (Above DDR3-1333 for SB CPU)
.. Very little benifit in performance above DDR3-1600 outside of A) Benchmarks and B) some specialized Apps - gaming not being one of them.
 


True, I suppose not everyone is a bencher. Warranties are voided upon installation by a guy like me, I should consider that not everyone is like me. :)
 

ChaseTheSun

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Apr 4, 2013
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Thanks for the responses guys, but would it be better to get the 2011 mobo and cpu for future proofing as well? Also, will it fit into my current case as it maybe a different size or will i need a new case? Also whats best for cooling the cpu? A prefilled water cooler or just a heatsink with fan?
 


I've done it, it's not ideal. It's leaves a ton of "cobwebs" to be cleaned up and often leaves your sweet new system feeling sluggish like the old one.
 
I wouldn't. The best way with a new system is to reformat.

Go to your current system, backup all your save files, photos, videos, documents, anything that you want to keep. Start downloading all the drivers and programs you are going to want on your new system. Put it all on a spare HDD, external HDD, etc. That way when you install your new OS on your new system, once you get into Windows (after fresh install)

1. Video Drivers
2. Network Drivers (if Windows doesn't do it automatically)
3. Start getting Windows Updates (especially if on Windows7)
4. Install your favorite programs (Steam, Origin, preferred Web Browser, etc)
5. Transfer over all your save files and personal files

In about 2 or 3 hours your desktop will be like your old one only new and faster.
 


Anything that is an "ATX or mATX" motherboard will fit in your case.

I don't like the 3820, the only chip to get on socket 2011 that would be worthwhile is the 3930K or better. The only advantage I see with the 2011 chips is increased PCIe bandwidth (4 GPUs) and better multi-threaded performance for benchmarks and apps that use a lot of threads. Especially video rendering and whatnot.

I don't see how anyone would need anything better than a 3770K for gaming for a couple of years.
 

ChaseTheSun

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Apr 4, 2013
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So thats a yes that it will fit into my case? Fair enough, sounds like ill save a bit of money if i get a 3770k and its mobo, but u sure it isnt a good idea to get it now if i have the money?
 
The jump from Sandy Bridge-E to Ivy Bridge-E is not going to be big enough to warrant an upgrade. Haswell-E sounds like it could potentially use a different socket and some have even speculated it using DDR4 RAM.

I would go with the 3770K and a Z77 motherboard. Unless you have enough money to get this CPU:

Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116492

Then I see no point in getting a 2011 motherboard.
 


Which 2011 motherboard? There's lots of them, and they make them in 3 different sizes. Two of those sizes fit, one of them might be too big.

ASUS Rampage IV Formula
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131808

GIGABYTE GA-X79-UP4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128562

ASRock X79 Extreme6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157289

GIGABYTE GA-X79-UD3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128532

4 good motherboards, I ordered them in my priority. 1st board, my first choice, you know what I mean..