Looking to upgrade, any parts salvageable?

Bluesadventures

Distinguished
Nov 1, 2013
9
0
18,510
Hey guys, so couple years ago I bought a prebuilt computer. It was my first "gaming" computer and decided to go with the prebuilt one even though it was more expensive because I was terrified of breaking something or installing something incorrectly if I tried putting one together myself.

Needless to say it's starting to not perform how I'd like it, newer games I gotta run on lower settings and just feels a bit chunky overall when I work with adobe programs and rendering.

My current system has the following -

i7 3770k
Radeon 7770 HD
12 gigs ram
750 W psu
I'm not sure how to find the make of the mb - If anyone could let me know how I'd happily post that as well. It was prebuilt though, so imagine the mb is rather bad.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within a week

Budget Range: 800-900

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming / streaming.

Are you buying a monitor: No



Parts to Upgrade: I listed my current stuff above, I think I can keep the cpu, my current HDD, cd drive, powersupply? Let me know if you think differently.

I'd like new ram, a better case / cooling, a better gpu. Maybe a new mb since I'm waiting to overclock.

Do you need to buy OS: No, plan on using my HD i've already got.
Please note that if you're using an OEM license of Windows, you will need a new one when buying a new motherboard.

Can someone explain what OEM license is? Thanks.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg / amazon
Location: Portland, Oregon

Parts Preferences: Doesnt matter

Overclocking: Not sure how to go about this, I'd like to though. Why I wanted to include a new case and better cooling.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: I've got a 27 inch, 1920 x 1080, then another smaller monitor.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Wanting to stream almost any game out there without problems.

Include a list of any parts you have already selected with descriptively labeled links for parts. Please do not post only links.

Ram
http://

GPU
http://


Case I'm open to suggestions, just want it to run cold.

Better heatsink perhaps also?

So is this possible to do? Keep my current psu, hd, cpu, diskdrive, and mb. pull out all the pieces I'm keeping, and put the old / the new together in a new case? I wouldn't need to install anything expect drivers? No need to mess around in the bios or install a new windows?
 
Solution
I am going to answer your problem in the order that you asked, I will make a few part suggestions but from what I can tell you pretty set with your current system.

So are your parts salvageable? Yes, every single part is salvageable. To find the make and model of your motherboard, you look on the physical motherboard.

I have gutted prebuilt computers countless times the information is there it just may not be as obvious as if you bought the part directly from the manufacturer. I would check the edges of the mobo for the model number as well as the make (center is usually where I find the make). If you cannot find it that way post the brand and model number of your pre-built. I have ways of finding it, or just google it yourself...
don't really need new ram. 12gb vs 16gb is a waste of money really. your mb may need to be upgraded, your cpu is fine. your psu, while 750w, could be a crappy no-name one and might not be worth it.


OEM license is tied to that particular computer. you're not supposed install a new motherboard with an OEM version and would require a new copy. The exception is if your motherboard dies, and you can't replace with a new motherboard, windows phone tech support will usually activate it for you.

You can't just take your hd though and plop it into a new pc and expect it to work. drivers, etc always conflict.
 

chosen12k6

Distinguished
Feb 3, 2012
230
0
18,710
I am going to answer your problem in the order that you asked, I will make a few part suggestions but from what I can tell you pretty set with your current system.

So are your parts salvageable? Yes, every single part is salvageable. To find the make and model of your motherboard, you look on the physical motherboard.

I have gutted prebuilt computers countless times the information is there it just may not be as obvious as if you bought the part directly from the manufacturer. I would check the edges of the mobo for the model number as well as the make (center is usually where I find the make). If you cannot find it that way post the brand and model number of your pre-built. I have ways of finding it, or just google it yourself.

After you find the make/model number you should then google it to get the specs. They are generally posted on the internet. But in case you get one of those unknown mobos, I would suggest going to your pre-built manufacturers page and searching for you PC. That will generally list the max capability of your system. You will need to look for keywords such as Max Supported HDD, Max Supported Ram, etc. You can figure out the chipset by searching your CPU and finding its socket type. Intel does not make mobos like AMD that support multiple socket types generally, This AM3+ versus 1150 or 55 while I could put and AM2 cpu into an AM3+ mobo generally. You cannot do that for an 1150-1155.

HDD you may have to reformat due to driver issues but it is worth the try

Parts to Replace:
Case Suggestion: My case suggestions are very biased but realize I have owned Raidmax, Thermaltake, NZXT, and Coolermaster. But the case I go with for pretty much every build now is the Corsair R series. Preferably the 200R because it is not a massive Mid Tower ATX Case. But it has great cable management and can hold long gpu cards. Realize that is my preference. Also it is priced usually $30-$50 meaning its cheap but great quality. If price is not an issue for you, the go with the 300R Window or no window but with how clean you will make this badboy you will want a window.
PSU: Ditch that pre-built garbage they gave you. Honestly it probably isn’t a true 750w. I would suggest a Seasonic Modular or a Corsair Modular 600w PSU.

OEM: is a license directly from the manufacturer, system builder edition if you will. Big PC companies get a different version allowing them to throw OS’s on a lot of units for a cheaper basically bundled price. While it offers the same features as OEM, problem is if something goes wrong that your recovery or system image (if you even have a system image) cannot fix. You will not have to option to just re-install windows. I have done this countless times.

Overclocking: This will be a summary, for more detailed information visit the overclocking tab in the forums. I believe the sticky is named New to Overclocking.

Basically overclocking is increasing the performance of a part by increase the core clock, northbridge and voltage (sometimes you do not have to increase the voltage) to a stable level.

Example you have an i5 4770k @ 3.0 ghz, you go into your bios and change the clock speed to 3.4 ghz. Download a temperature monitor (Cpu-Z or equivalent) monitor your temps, then download and run Prime 95 ( a program that causes the computer to run mathematical problems, equations, etc ….basically a stress tester) if you do not get a BSOD and your temps to not rise to an unsatisfactory level you are good. Usually an unsatisfactory level will cause a BSOD. (Blue Screen of Death just an error display screen).

You will void your warranty if an error is caused while doing this but pretty much every piece of hardware made has a safety mechanism (hence the blue screen) that cause the part to shut down if it hits an unstable temperature.

You are basically buying a part and increasing its performance to a more expensive part. Best example I can think of is increasing a radeon 6770 to the same core clock and memory clock of a radeon 6850. Or increasing a 7850 to the same core clock and memory clock as a stock 7950 or even 7970. ( For that you would have to tweak the voltage).

Also realize this will decrease the lifespan of the part (supposedly I still have hardware running overclocked from 2005). Most information provided states your hardware has an average 10 year lifespan (CPU) and that increasing the voltage running through it will decrease it by like 1 year every year its ran at that speed. So I guess 5 years or something like that.

Your decision but if you are going to do this you will either have to purchase an aftermarket heatsink/fan or water/liquid cooling. (Ex. Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo or Corsair H100m)

GPU: You need to replace that in a hurry, Radeon I suggest the Sapphire 7970, because it is voltage unlocked with great cooling. I have overclocked mine to the GHZ edition which is $80 more expensive or was at the time. You could also get a R9 280x, or GTX 780/770. It is all about your price point. I suggest Radeon because that is what the new Consoles will be using and lets face it PC gamer get ports majority of the time (Except for PC exclusives).

Now in case your mobo is straight crap I would suggest a different way of getting things done but I would need to know size preference (I am into small mini itx and micro atx gaming pcs right now) and what your future plans are (i.e. overclocking, crossfire/sli etc). But for the information you have provided. For price reasons I would suggest the above. Let me know because your budget with the parts you have has a lot of potential.

Additional Note: Only thing I would be worried about with transferring the mobo is the pre-installed windows OS. I have had some trouble with the “ company mass copy arrangement” (that’s what I call it) and certain features just not being there. But to determine that I would need to know the brand of your prebuilt.
 
Solution