Would like to spend 1k or so upgrading gaming PC

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Copperbad

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Aug 25, 2014
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Thanks so much for the sticky with the inquiry format! I'm a nub when it comes to building and optimizing systems, and I was wondering if I could get some help finding the best bang-for-my-buck upgrade path. I'd like to be able to play Total War: Warhammer very smoothly.

Current setup:

MOBO: Asus Z97-A
CPU: Intel i5 4690K@3.5 with Noctura NH-D14 cooling unit. Not overclocked.
GPU: EVGA GTX970 4G
RAM: 8gigs crucial Balistix
PSU: Corsair CT500W

Upgrade Budget Around $1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, movies

Are you buying a monitor: Not unless something goes wrong with my current one :)

Parts to Upgrade: I'm thinking Processor and RAM first, would like advice on the most optimal upgrade path.

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Location: Washington State

Parts Preferences: I like Intel and Nvidia, but don't have any real loyalties

Overclocking: I'd like to learn

SLI or Crossfire: I'd consider getting into it if a second GPU would really help out

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I want to run the new Total War: Warhammer very smoothly, the games are notoriously bulky, so I think upgrading CPU and RAM will help the most but I defer to the community!

The recommended specs for max performance (from official website so, grain of salt) is as follows:

Operating System: Windows 7/8.1/10 64Bit
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-4790K 4.0 GHz
RAM: 8 GB
Hard Drive: 35 GB
Video Card: (DirectX 11) AMD Fury X or Nvidia GTX 980 @1080P

Will going above 8gigs RAM really do much? will staying with my 970 be much of a hit?

I appreciate any assistance the community can give me, thanks everyone :)
 
Solution
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Overclock the CPU a bit, and when you get the game see how it runs. If needed maybe upgrade the GPU, I'd wait for next gen cards beofre upgrading though. You should be fine with your current setup, with that cpu cooler you should be able to easily push a decent overclock. And you should propably be able to push that GTX 970 some aswell if needed.

Maybe look for a bit more sturdy PSU if going heavy on the overclock.
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Samat

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Aug 21, 2006
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Overclock the CPU a bit, and when you get the game see how it runs. If needed maybe upgrade the GPU, I'd wait for next gen cards beofre upgrading though. You should be fine with your current setup, with that cpu cooler you should be able to easily push a decent overclock. And you should propably be able to push that GTX 970 some aswell if needed.

Maybe look for a bit more sturdy PSU if going heavy on the overclock.
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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May 27, 2010
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A rather unimpressive upgrade to be honest.

An i5 is just about as fast as an i7 for gaming. You could overclock the i5 and gain around 20% performance right now. For $300 on the i7 you would only gain a little performance over what an overclocked i5 would do. If you are interested in learning overclocking, the i7-4790k is a poor choice, it is more or less already overclocked. A slight increase in voltage and clock and it is done.

13/16 = GTX970
16/16 = GTX980

Fury X would be a bit overkill for a standard 60hz at 1920x1080. A GTX970 is more or less what you should have.

Adding more memory will only help if you have been regularly exceeding 8GB when in use. If you aren't leaving a lot of background applications running while gaming, it is unnecessary.

If anything I would replace the GPU with what Nvidia will be releasing here in a few weeks. GTX1080. Still overkill, but it will at least be a significant improvement.
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

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Mar 25, 2010
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First, wait for the game to be out, you don't have a bad system now.
If it does not run how you like it, look at upgrades.

I would swap out the power supply though right now. I'm guessing the Corsair CT is a CX model not a CT, can't find any info an a CT line from them.
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

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Mar 25, 2010
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Don't just get a power supply with more wattage, make sure you get a good one. A good place to start is checking here and getting a PSU from the tier 1 or 2 list http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html.
 
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