What can I reuse from my old PC?

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Enforcerke

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Dec 2, 2014
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Alright so I'm going to custom build a new gaming PC, I have a gaming pc from approx. 5 years old already with these specs:

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 960 @3.20GHz (8 core)
12 GB of RAM
GPU: GeForce GTX 550 Ti
250 GB SSD (this one is really new like 3 months old)
1 TB HDD (as old as my pc)
ASUS motherboard (model unknown)

Then ofcourse I also have a DVD writer & reader and a power supply (this power supply has been replaced a year ago because my old one overheated)

Then I also have some cooling fans, but I don't think they will be sufficient for my new pc because i want to overclock, also my case is a pretty decent one,

So what could I re-use without slowing my new pc down?

thank you
 
Solution
T


re "start streaming, and .. need to have a better CPU..." Your 8 thread i7-960 has the cpu muscle to stream even at stock clocks. And the x58 MB chipset was noted for high memory bandwidth. Your current gaming is limited by your Video card, not by your CPU.

Twitch game streaming service recommends...
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clutchc

clutchc

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Depending on whether or not you go with a Skylake platform that requires DDR4, you probably can reuse the RAM. Although you don't say what it is. The SSD, HDD, and optical drive are also fine, as is the gfx card (if you don't mind the same slow performance you have now).

The board and CPU are out of the question obviously, since you are going foe a new platform of some kind.
 
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Enforcerke

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Dec 2, 2014
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Well my budget is 1500€ (1620$) so I really don't know what I should do...
I really want a really good gaming PC (also my GPU i'm surely not going to reuse because i really want to run all games on max with 60 fps+)
 
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jitpublisher

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Actually, your PC you have right now will run any game out there just fine, maybe not at the very highest settings, but it will get the job done with everything set in the upper mid-range levels. The only thing holding you back is that 550ti. That is the very bottom of the barrel for even basic gaming. You don't really need anything except a video card. I would get a decent card first, and try that out before spending any more. Even if you do decide to build new, you will need the better video card anyway if you want to game.
 
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tsnor

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Nov 20, 2008
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Hi, at $1600 for a gaming machine you are spending at least $600 on video card so the rather nice GTX 550 Ti does not get reused. As Clutch said you are going to get a new MB and CPU. The PSU, case, SSD and 1tb drive, optical drive, keyboard, mouse etc can be reused.... The old Processors, MB, video card and memory are worth something on ebay.

Alternative, if your x58 MB supports overclocking you might try cranking the i7-960 up to 4Ghz (most i7-920 -960 chips could hit 4ghz), buy the $600 video card now and keep the extra grand in your pocket for a year or two...
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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As suggested above, upgrading the gfx card would get you playing at 60 fps @ 1080p with max/near max settings.
I don't know If I'd go so far as a GTX 980 Ti or R9-390X, because of possible CPU bottleneck, but it wouldn't hurt and you'd have a nice card for the new build. A GTX 970 will max out most games at 1080p with ~60 fps. Your i7-960 is still a powerful processor with the ability to process multiple threads well.
 
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Enforcerke

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Dec 2, 2014
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Well yeah I want to start streaming, and I guess for that to be possible I need to have a better CPU and GPU don't I?
And If i want a better CPU i guess i also need a better motherboard (I have an asus sabertooth x58) and with this new CPU i need a better cooler, and ofcourse new RAM memory

So i guess i'll need to buy this : GPU, CPU, MB, cooler, RAM

everything else i can reuse, powersupply, ssd, hdd, optical drive, case
 
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tsnor

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Nov 20, 2008
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re "start streaming, and .. need to have a better CPU..." Your 8 thread i7-960 has the cpu muscle to stream even at stock clocks. And the x58 MB chipset was noted for high memory bandwidth. Your current gaming is limited by your Video card, not by your CPU.

Twitch game streaming service recommends (not minimum) an i5-4670. i5-4670 has passmark = 7384. Your i7-960 passmarks at 5920. Pretty close. The only think that might be missing is cpu acceleration for some of the video transforms.

Google "youtube video streaming i7-960" and check a few videos. Also suggest you try streaming and see what happens with your current hardware. Make sure you have a strong uplink speed from your ISP (my DSL won't cut it, uplink bandwidth is too low).

Your next hardware step is video card, which is reusable in your new PC when you build it.

That said, if you have the urge to build a PC .. NOW .. then do it. There are lots of great gaming builds in the $1000 to $1600 range.

 
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BrandX

BrandX

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The main thing to change is the graphics card, that's going to be the heart of a gaming PC, it's more important than the processor. Yours is a better and newer card than what's in my PC, but the cards that are out now really are better. You don't need to spend a fortune on a graphics card, but it would make sense to spend a lot more on a new graphics card than a new processor or motherboard.
 
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