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Need help with upgrading my PC components!

Tags:
  • Corsair
  • Power Supplies
  • Components
  • Motherboards
  • Nvidia
  • RAM
  • CPUs
  • AMD
  • GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY
  • GPUs
Last response: in Components
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July 28, 2013 10:36:40 AM

So about two years ago, I purchased a custom built PC from the UK, and now I'm looking to upgrade. My computer components are listed below.
CPU - AMD FX-6100 (6 cores @ 3.3 GHz)
GPU - Nvidia GTS 450
MOBO - Gigabyte GA-880GM-USB3
RAM - 8192 MB Corsair Vengance
PSU - Corsair CX500

As you can see, the components aren't that much to envy at in terms of gaming, so I intend to upgrade, namely my GPU, CPU and MOBO (if necessary). I plan to buy these components:
CPU - AMD FX-8350
GPU - Nvidia GTX 760 (EVGA SC ACX 2GB)

Will I need to purchase a new motherboard for these components (any recommendations?), and will the CPU be able to cope with the GPU?
Will I need a larger PSU (I recently brought the Corsair CX500) and will I need water cooling?
Will this build be future-proof for next gen gaming (namely Watch Dogs, Battlefield 4 and Grand Theft Auto 5, if it is released on PC)?
If you could provide me with any form of help, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Phaydze

(P.S. I live in the UK, and will be buying most of my components from www.ebuyer.com)
(P.P.S I can provide more in depth specifications to my PC, if nesscessary)

More about : upgrading components

a c 2475 ) Power supply
a c 1521 V Motherboard
a c 80 Î Nvidia
a c 1073 à CPUs
a c 455 À AMD
July 28, 2013 10:38:50 AM

Budget ?
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a c 2475 ) Power supply
a c 1521 V Motherboard
a c 80 Î Nvidia
a c 1073 à CPUs
a c 455 À AMD
July 28, 2013 10:42:25 AM

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor (£143.99 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard (£83.69 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card (£214.45 @ CCL Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£49.86 @ Scan.co.uk)
Total: £491.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-28 18:42 BST+0100)
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July 28, 2013 10:42:38 AM

I recently received about £1000, but I don't want to spend more than £400-£500.
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a c 2475 ) Power supply
a c 1521 V Motherboard
a c 80 Î Nvidia
a c 1073 à CPUs
a c 455 À AMD
July 28, 2013 10:43:27 AM

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor (£143.99 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard (£83.69 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card (£214.45 @ CCL Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£49.86 @ Scan.co.uk)
Total: £491.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-28 18:42 BST+0100)

This will be a good upgrade , and all Ebuyer.
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July 28, 2013 10:44:24 AM

Is the mobo revision 1.x (http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3...) or 3.1(http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3...)?

I'm assuming it is revision 3.1 (AM3+), since the FX 6100 (AM3+) would absolutely not work in revision 1.x (AM3).

Look here: http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-po...

The FX 8350 is not supported, but the GPU will work well with it, and it should work well with the FX 6100 (in terms of performance, but they're definitely compatible).

Your PSU should be fine. And I can't tell you for sure if it will be "future-proof" but it should be able to play those games.
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July 28, 2013 10:46:09 AM

Yes, ihog, the MOBO is Rev 3.1. Thanks for the advice!
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July 28, 2013 10:46:33 AM

I might suggest a two step process.
1. Upgrade the graphics card. A GTX760 is about as strong as you can handle with the 500w psu.
Most likely you will see a massive and sufficient improvement.
You can test how sensitive your games are to cpu power.
Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 50%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.

Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 50% and see how you do.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

2. Games rarely use more than 2-3 cores. Faster cores are better than more cores.
Upping to 8 cores from 6 would not be expected to be effective.
A I5-4670K cpu would be much more effective for gaming than a FX-8350. It will need a Z87 based motherboard replacement.
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Best solution

a c 2475 ) Power supply
a c 1521 V Motherboard
a c 80 Î Nvidia
a c 1073 à CPUs
a c 455 À AMD
July 28, 2013 10:51:18 AM

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£186.63 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Pro3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£97.36 @ Ebuyer)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card (£223.36 @ Ebuyer)
Total: £507.35
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-28 18:51 BST+0100)
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July 28, 2013 10:51:37 AM

Thanks for the advice, geofelt, do you think that the i5-4670k would work well with the GTX 760? Also, are there any troubles with replacing a MOBO if I also decide to change the CPU and GPU? And which MOBO would you recommend?
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July 28, 2013 10:53:20 AM

Should be fine , get the Intel combo I linked above.
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July 28, 2013 10:58:31 AM

Thanks Blackbird, any reason why you'd recommend the MSI GPU over the EVGA GPU?
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July 28, 2013 11:00:35 AM

In my opinion MSI cards are better , and I own 2 of them! :D 
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July 28, 2013 11:04:38 AM

Better in terms of bandwidth, warranty, customer support (or other)? :D 
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a c 2475 ) Power supply
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a c 80 Î Nvidia
a c 1073 à CPUs
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July 28, 2013 11:06:51 AM

Support , Performance and Quality.
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July 28, 2013 11:11:06 AM

And, finally, would you recommend the Intel 4670k over the 3570k, I've heard good things about the latter (which is also cheaper by about £20), but which is better for Price Performance?
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a c 2475 ) Power supply
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a c 1073 à CPUs
a c 455 À AMD
July 28, 2013 11:13:04 AM

Yes I do.
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July 28, 2013 11:14:19 AM

Many thanks Blackbird, and everyone else as well!
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July 28, 2013 11:16:31 AM

You will enjoy the Intel COMPONENTS!!!!!!!!!!
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July 28, 2013 11:17:27 AM

xD
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