need help with upgrade choices

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daniel_blacke

daniel_blacke

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Feb 1, 2015
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Ok so I've gotten some help already and I have somewhat of a plan. My official budget is: $asmuchasIcanspendwithoutmywifeknowing.00
That said, I don't know the exact figure, but when I'm done with my entire current build I want a high end oc-able SLI machine at 1440p.

What I really feel I need next is my SSD but theres quite a few complications. Cloning to avoid buying a new mobo/case/OS now would mean needing another drive to back up on. Then, navigating the cloning process which differing articles don't seem to agree on if it's even a good or proper undertaking. Some say User Files NEED to be on the SSD, some say no. Seems if you have Windows 8.1 then you do need them on the SSD. How do I properly calculate how big the SSD would need to be for cloning?

Now, this is what I'd like to do for my next move.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($199.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.79 @ OutletPC)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($56.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.79 @ OutletPC)
Total: $444.55
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-20 19:12 EDT-0400

I have many questions though...
1. That's a nice board with the ocing capabilities that I will need once I move from my i5 4440 to the i5 4690k that will come later. Is it overkill? Is there something "better" I should consider? Something less expensive with similar features?

2. Is that SSD gonna be big enough? I have a 1TB WD Blue 7200 rpm right now with 600GB+ data. I want at least the OS on it. Maybe games as well. Again, the User file issue seems to rear its head.

3. Is this case any good? Will my MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4GB fit in it? It looks it but.. idk.. Does it have good airflow that I will need for my later CPU upgrade? Will a quality cooler fit in it? Does anyone have a better suggestion?

4. I am aware that I could get the free version of Windows 10 but that seems like a whole new scarey ball of wax added on top of big upgrades that I will be doing for the first time. Any reassurance out there that it will be easy or warnings that perhaps I may be biting off more than I can chew?

Thanks for helping in advance.
 
Solution
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From an i5 4440 to an i5 4690k isn't much of an upgrade really. A real upgrade would be an i7 4790k.
The samsung 850 EVO are expensive and there are better SSD at that price point. The MX100 is one choice. All the high end SSD are pretty much similar in performance.

The ASUS Z97 HERO is a premium motherboard, you are paying for the brand as well as the motherboard. There are some cheaper motherboard that will still do the job with overclocking an i5 4690k such as an Asrock Z97 Extreme 4 or 6, ASUS Z97-A or MSI gaming 5
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Suztera

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If you going to get an i5 4690k don't bother getting an i5 4440 then. Go straight for it. The i5 4460 is already a decent cpu, overclocking is optional, not necessary. If you sticking with an i5 4460, you don't really need the ASUS VII Hero. A H97 motherboard would do.

Since you have 600GB+ , you can't clone everything to a 120GB. You have to choose the files you want to keep. IMO, get at least a 250GB SSD or even a 500GB SSD. If you cloning, then you don't need to get an OS. If you need a new window licence and you isntalling a fresh windows then get it.

200R is a decent budget case. Airflow is fine. The MSI GTX 970 should fit.
 
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littleleo

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Well in my humble opinion:
1. if you want an i5 and you want to over clock then yes the i5-4690K is the CPU for you.
2. I'd go with a Samsung 850 EVO 250GB or another brand you prefer 250GB model. Plenty of room for your O/S some games and other programs you want to load fast.
3. This case has room for cards up to 430mm long (300mm with drive cage), so how long is your card? 270mm?
4. Windows 10 won't be out until the end of July at the earliest I wouldn't worry about it now in April. Unless your going to drag this out 3 months.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Where to start??

1. If this is an upgrade, you can keep the OS.
Even if your os is windows 7 oem, ms is lenient about replacement motherboards.
Worst case, buy a new copy for about $100.

2. Definitely use a ssd. A 120gb ssd will hold the os and a handful of games. It can get filled up in a hurry. Better to plan on 240gb. There have been recent sales, making 500gb not so bad.
Samsung has a ssd data migration utility. One of the nice features is that you can exclude large files such as videos from the migration. Download the pdf manual and see how it works. What needs to be copied is all those apps that use the registry.
You can reattach your hard drive and still access user files.
3. Any Z97 motherboard will overclock decently and give you future upgrade options, even to 14nm broadwell.

4. I am not in favor of planning for sli. Today, there are some very strong single graphics cards available, and more to come.
SLI will usually need a more expensive motherboard, a stronger power supply, and a better cooled case.
Do you really need more than M-ATX?
5. Cases are a personal thing. If it fits your parts and has at least two 120mm front intake fans it can do the job.
Bust your budget if you need to, a case lasts a very long time. It pays to buy one you love.
6. I have been trying out the windows 10 technical evaluation. I like it better than windows 8, but not enough to get me to switch from 7 soon. It is still mobile device touch oriented; I don't need that. Any new version will have teething problems, so I would wait, at least until the free upgrade deadline.
 
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daniel_blacke

daniel_blacke

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Thanks for helping. :)

I'm sorry I didn't make it clear. I already have the i5 4440. I intend to move to a CPU that I can over clock, that's why I want to move to the ASUS VII Hero. The Lenovo mobo I have is not a bad one, but can't overclock and has no SLI capability.

I understand that I can't clone it all. I would only be cloning if I don't change mobo's just yet. Once I do, I would then wipe the SSD and need a new OS. I'm just not sure exactly how to calculate how much space I will actually need.

I chose this case because at $445 this upgrade is going to take me a while to save for, but if there is a case that is better suited, I wouldn't mind paying more or saving for a a bit longer. It just seemed practical and to have enough bays that I may need and a few extra for things I may have not thought of yet.




1. Yes 4690k is nice, I can't wait for that upgrade^^
2. Thanks for the advice.
3. 269mm it'll fit.
4. Uhm.. not exactly sure how long it will take to save. Depends on if I can clone or not. If I can clone I can maybe do the SSD now.




1. This is an upgrade from my Lenovo which has Windows 8.1 OEM. Others have said that I will absolutely have to buy a new copy when I switch mobos.
2. Oh that Samsung app sounds great, thanks for the advice. I will definitely check that out.
3. Yep. I definitely want a very good one. Relatively speaking mobos are inexpensive. This one seems to have very good features but I am not really knowledgeable of what else is available out there.
4. I already have a GTX 970. After looking at a bunch of benchmarks for games I am playing now, I feel that SLI is the way to go for me. I plan to move to 1440p.
5. I'm pretty easy. As long as it's functional, I'll love it. Still a little confused about whether or not I can watercool the 4690k but I want to be sure that I can at least fit a high quality air cooler in it.
6. Thanks for your take on the Windows 10 situation. I'm pretty apprehensive about moving all my components, adding new ones and then having to install an entirely new OS that I have no experience with.
 
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Suztera

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From an i5 4440 to an i5 4690k isn't much of an upgrade really. A real upgrade would be an i7 4790k.
The samsung 850 EVO are expensive and there are better SSD at that price point. The MX100 is one choice. All the high end SSD are pretty much similar in performance.

The ASUS Z97 HERO is a premium motherboard, you are paying for the brand as well as the motherboard. There are some cheaper motherboard that will still do the job with overclocking an i5 4690k such as an Asrock Z97 Extreme 4 or 6, ASUS Z97-A or MSI gaming 5
 
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daniel_blacke

daniel_blacke

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Feb 1, 2015
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This is the kind of answers I was looking for, thank you very much, Suztera. I'll have a look at that i7 but I thought i7s were kind of overkill for a mainly gaming machine. I saw that with the samsung, but I gotta say that after looking at the software that helps make the process easy for beginners, I'm kind of sold. Gonna look around a bit more still though.

I was looking at the Asrock Z97 Extreme 4 this morning a bit but I wanna see a side by side comparision before I really think of committing. I think I'll take a good look at all those that you mentioned because i know very little about motherboards. Even after reading Tom's "beginner's guide" I was still pretty much in the dark. Too many acronyms to walk away feeling like I really have a firm grasp, tbh.
 
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littleleo

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If you want a Samsung get the 850 EVO model., for Crucial the BX100 is a good value. Some like the Kingston for a cheap (Price) SSD like the the V300.
 
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