- Nov 29, 2015
- 4
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- 4,510
Hello,
I have been building my own rigs since 386-era, but now it's been a while... As I am on a tight budget I will be upgrading my 2008 desktop with a new MOBO/CPU/RAM/GPU only.
From what I've read not much has changed in physically building it and that shouldn't be a problem.
Parts I will be keeping (and will most probably/hopefully still work with the new ones) are:
1. Case: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc690kkn1gp
2. A Thermaltake Power Supply (not sure which model it is and I'm not keen on opening up the whole case just now to find out but I'm pretty sure it's at least 450W).
3. Asus CD Writer
4. EIZO L771 21" Monitor (2001 model and people still gawp at the picture quality - will change to a 1440p probably sometime after next summer).
5. Recently bought Samsung 850 EVO SSD: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam
6. Two more older SATA III Hard Drives (800GB + 500GB):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136517
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145137
----------
I have come up with two "future proof" partlists and this is where I 'll be needing some advice.
Future proof is a vague term so let me just say that for me it means having a good mobo that in the future will (hopefully) support a much better CPU, added - not new, but extra - RAM and possibly a second (SLI/xFire) or just one much better GPU without bottlenecking the rig.
Hence the Skylake builts.
My mobos - since 2003 maybe - have been ASUS and I'm pretty fond of them so I think I'll be going with the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming.
RAM prices are pretty much the same (10-15$ difference) for any 2133/CAS13 and 3200/CAS15 DDR4 2x4GB DIMMs where I live so I will probably opt for the higher speed/lower CL ones to anticipate an 8GB addition OC (total 16GB) that I might do in the future. So will be getting something like 2x4GB DDR4-3000/CAS15 or better for now.
So my budget (~550$)will allow me one of two OPTIONS* and there are couple of issues to consider before presenting them:
a) Unfortunately, I can't wait for new INTEL or AMD CPU releases. I would like to have it all done before Christmas.
b) 1080p for at least one more year then 1440p.
c) The most painstaking tasks will be ...well... games
. I was never a big fan of 1st-person shooters and I did not mind having medium (even low) quality gfx settings when playing them however there are a series of games nowadays that I would like to play with at least high settings and do not fall under that category. Namely, Witcher III, Fallout 4, Elite Dangerous, etc. - you get the picture... (e.g. I do not care if Crysis 3 or 4 if that's coming up will play at medium setting with 30fps).
d) I will overclock everything that can be overclocked if / when it needs to be overclocked.
e) I've chosen the nVidia cards as they consume less power and, as mentioned earlier I'm unsure of how much Watt my current Power Supply is. If you think there is a significant (more than 15%) improvement using an AMD card of the same or very similar cost I will gladly replace the Gtx's.
f) Unfortunately I can't go up for more than 15$-20$ (to a max of 580$)... yes, I would love to have a Gtx970...
Here are the two OPTIONS* I've come up with and I'll need your input:
(I have omitted the aforementioned parts I already own)
1. i5-6600k / Low GPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DcFHCJ.
Sacrificing a lot of GPU power for the much better and unlocked 6600k. I can actually "use" the Z170 on this one right away.
2. i5-6500 / Better GPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vXZG99.
No extra cooler and an - unfortunately- locked CPU allow for a much better GPU. With this one however, I might be changing to a much better CPU in a year or so to keep up.
I'm guessing with the new INTEL/AMD 2016 releases 6600k prices will have dropped under the 6500's current ones by the end of 2016.
Went for the 4GB GPU as it is only 20$ more than the 2GB one and - from what I'm reading - it might help with a future 1440p monitor upgrade and/or RAM intensive games like GTA V until I can afford a better one.
Questions:
- Are these both ok for my current and -guesswork needed here- next 9-12 months gaming needs? (Witcher III, Fallout 4, Elite Dangerous, GTA V, etc at high to ultra on 1080p)
- Which one would you go for and why?
- Alternatives while keeping the (in my logic "future proof") Skylake architecture and Z170 chipset are most welcome!
Please bear in mind the a)-to-f) points.
Looking forward to your feedback
ps: Sorry for the extra long post and thank you in advance!
I have been building my own rigs since 386-era, but now it's been a while... As I am on a tight budget I will be upgrading my 2008 desktop with a new MOBO/CPU/RAM/GPU only.
From what I've read not much has changed in physically building it and that shouldn't be a problem.
Parts I will be keeping (and will most probably/hopefully still work with the new ones) are:
1. Case: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc690kkn1gp
2. A Thermaltake Power Supply (not sure which model it is and I'm not keen on opening up the whole case just now to find out but I'm pretty sure it's at least 450W).
3. Asus CD Writer
4. EIZO L771 21" Monitor (2001 model and people still gawp at the picture quality - will change to a 1440p probably sometime after next summer).
5. Recently bought Samsung 850 EVO SSD: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam
6. Two more older SATA III Hard Drives (800GB + 500GB):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136517
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145137
----------
I have come up with two "future proof" partlists and this is where I 'll be needing some advice.
Future proof is a vague term so let me just say that for me it means having a good mobo that in the future will (hopefully) support a much better CPU, added - not new, but extra - RAM and possibly a second (SLI/xFire) or just one much better GPU without bottlenecking the rig.
Hence the Skylake builts.
My mobos - since 2003 maybe - have been ASUS and I'm pretty fond of them so I think I'll be going with the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming.
RAM prices are pretty much the same (10-15$ difference) for any 2133/CAS13 and 3200/CAS15 DDR4 2x4GB DIMMs where I live so I will probably opt for the higher speed/lower CL ones to anticipate an 8GB addition OC (total 16GB) that I might do in the future. So will be getting something like 2x4GB DDR4-3000/CAS15 or better for now.
So my budget (~550$)will allow me one of two OPTIONS* and there are couple of issues to consider before presenting them:
a) Unfortunately, I can't wait for new INTEL or AMD CPU releases. I would like to have it all done before Christmas.
b) 1080p for at least one more year then 1440p.
c) The most painstaking tasks will be ...well... games
. I was never a big fan of 1st-person shooters and I did not mind having medium (even low) quality gfx settings when playing them however there are a series of games nowadays that I would like to play with at least high settings and do not fall under that category. Namely, Witcher III, Fallout 4, Elite Dangerous, etc. - you get the picture... (e.g. I do not care if Crysis 3 or 4 if that's coming up will play at medium setting with 30fps).d) I will overclock everything that can be overclocked if / when it needs to be overclocked.
e) I've chosen the nVidia cards as they consume less power and, as mentioned earlier I'm unsure of how much Watt my current Power Supply is. If you think there is a significant (more than 15%) improvement using an AMD card of the same or very similar cost I will gladly replace the Gtx's.
f) Unfortunately I can't go up for more than 15$-20$ (to a max of 580$)... yes, I would love to have a Gtx970...
Here are the two OPTIONS* I've come up with and I'll need your input:
(I have omitted the aforementioned parts I already own)
1. i5-6600k / Low GPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DcFHCJ.
Sacrificing a lot of GPU power for the much better and unlocked 6600k. I can actually "use" the Z170 on this one right away.
2. i5-6500 / Better GPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vXZG99.
No extra cooler and an - unfortunately- locked CPU allow for a much better GPU. With this one however, I might be changing to a much better CPU in a year or so to keep up.
I'm guessing with the new INTEL/AMD 2016 releases 6600k prices will have dropped under the 6500's current ones by the end of 2016.
Went for the 4GB GPU as it is only 20$ more than the 2GB one and - from what I'm reading - it might help with a future 1440p monitor upgrade and/or RAM intensive games like GTA V until I can afford a better one.
Questions:
- Are these both ok for my current and -guesswork needed here- next 9-12 months gaming needs? (Witcher III, Fallout 4, Elite Dangerous, GTA V, etc at high to ultra on 1080p)
- Which one would you go for and why?
- Alternatives while keeping the (in my logic "future proof") Skylake architecture and Z170 chipset are most welcome!
Please bear in mind the a)-to-f) points.
Looking forward to your feedback
ps: Sorry for the extra long post and thank you in advance!
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