I have $1,.000 to upgrade my current rig,. what would you do?

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Ryan Kirby

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Dec 16, 2013
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I use the computer for gaming, i have $1,000 to change anything about this build to maximize what I can do with my 144hz 1080p monitor. My most played game game is BF4. I'm not opposed to switching to intel and i can sell the parts i replace.

CURRENT SPECS

AMD FX 8320 4.4ghz
Corsair H55 Hydro Cooler
8 GB Corsair XMS3 1333mhz
Crossfire MSI R9 270x's
MSI 990FXA-GD80V2 Motherboard
Thermaltake Smart Series 750w Power Supply
Corsair Air 540 Case
Razer Black Widow Keyboard
Razer Naga Mouse
Asus 144hz 24' Monitor
Acer 23' IPS Monitor
 
Solution
ssddx
looks like you're just unlucky with silicon. going with an 8350 improves your chances for a better o/c (higher binning) but doesnt guarantee it. 4ghz should be plenty for most games but if you want more (hence why you want an upgrade) i'd go for it.

i'd go for better ram than that. hell on newegg right now gskill has 2x4gb 1866mhz cas 9 for only $68 (i just bought some for a htpc!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455 there is a $12 savings code to enter (look at the newegg flyer for it). better than what you have now and cheaper. though with your budget i'd go a bit faster yet.

i would go with corsair, xfx or seasonic psu. like one of these. there are a few other options though these are just 3...
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tiny voices

tiny voices

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Sep 6, 2012
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I would do this:

-Get a Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler and overclock that CPU a bunch.
-Get a better quality PSU. Won't change performance but Thermaltake does not make very good units and security in knowing your computer is going to fry is nice.
-Maybe a nice headset.

Thats is really. You do not need anything else.

If you REALLY want to flush money down the toilet for fun, ditch the 270's and get a single gtx780ti.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

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May 27, 2009
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$1000 usd?

the first thing i'd do is get rid of the low end ram. get some decent 1866mhz cas 9 or 10 stuff from mushkin (or another high end brand). or you could go with some 2133 or higher (but try to keep the lowest timing stuff you can find). you can stay with 8gb though (2x4).

i'd try your hands at overclocking that 8320 as high as it would go since you hae a 990fx motherboard. if it wont go that high (since you were unlucky with luck of the draw) i'd sell it off and get an 8350 instead (higher binning = better chance of a higher overclock) and overclock it up as fast as is stable. if you're pretty lucky you can get it up to 4.8/5ghz. this would require a pretty hefty cooler. perhaps a nh-d14 or h100i or kraken x60.

you probably want to upgrade the graphics cards up another notch as well (using the money you sell the current ones for to help pay for the new ones). probably CF 280x or single 290x (once they come out with a non-ref cooler design) or sli 770. if you sell off your cards now and add that to the total budget you may be able to get CF 290x just barely.
 
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Ryan Kirby

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Dec 16, 2013
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So you think I should for sure stick with AMD? I am not biased towards either one, just the best and smoothest performance for the money. And if you have a power supply you would recommend, id like for it to be full black cables like the current one I have.
 
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tiny voices

tiny voices

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Sep 6, 2012
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Changing CPU/motherboard from an 8320 to an i5 will basically show no difference in games. Its a side grade. There is no point. HUGE waste of money. Plus you can easily overclock the 8320 to be more powerful than an 8350.

For the PSU look at XFX, Seasonic, Antec, Corsair (not CX units)
 
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Ryan Kirby

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Dec 16, 2013
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Ive experimented with a bunch of overclocks for my 8320 and cant get a stable OC past 4ghz. Maybe I got unlucky with my silicon

 
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Ryan Kirby

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Dec 16, 2013
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Alright. How about adding all this:

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X-Series 8GB (2x4gb) 1600mhz - $85

PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750 G 80 PLUS GOLD Certified 750W Modular PSU - $120

GPU: Sapphire R9 280x Toxic Edition 3GB - $450

I have seen benchmarks though of crossfire 270x's beating out a 280x or 780. Any truth to this?
 
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ssddx

ssddx

Titan
May 27, 2009
17,054
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74,965
looks like you're just unlucky with silicon. going with an 8350 improves your chances for a better o/c (higher binning) but doesnt guarantee it. 4ghz should be plenty for most games but if you want more (hence why you want an upgrade) i'd go for it.

i'd go for better ram than that. hell on newegg right now gskill has 2x4gb 1866mhz cas 9 for only $68 (i just bought some for a htpc!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455 there is a $12 savings code to enter (look at the newegg flyer for it). better than what you have now and cheaper. though with your budget i'd go a bit faster yet.

i would go with corsair, xfx or seasonic psu. like one of these. there are a few other options though these are just 3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151102
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3KX16D2405

i'd go with a better cooler for higher overclocks (if you plan on getting the 8350 and going higher than the 4ghz you have now)

the 280x toxic isnt a bad card. its not really an improvement though. 270x in crossfire though more expensive than a 280x only provide a tad more performance. basically you'd be downgrading or breaking even depending on what 270x you have. you would need to CF 280x's, SLI gtx770, get a single 290x or 780ti to be much of an upgrade.
 
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Ryan Kirby

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Dec 16, 2013
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Crossfire doesnt work in borderless window mode, only full screen. Making Alt-tabbing into my second monitor a chore.
 
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