Looking to update my computer/build a new one

Larsontk

Commendable
May 27, 2016
5
0
1,510
So I'm looking to either severely upgrade my old computer or build basically a new one inside the case. What I have currently (don't use it anymore) is a Gateway 4720-03. http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16883113078 . What I'm looking to do is salvage any parts of it that I can and replace the ones that are outdated in order to build a good gaming/recording PC. My budget is around $500 preferably but if needed I'm willing to go to around $800. I don't know the first thing about computer hardware so just let me know specifically what parts (if any) are okay to keep and which parts I need to replace (as well as what to replace them with).
 
Solution
SSD is nice, but not necessary. HDD and DVD drive can be reused.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H170A-X1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($76.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($32.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM...

VR PC-BUILD

Respectable
May 14, 2016
577
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2,160
Here is the build
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-E ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($87.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($29.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Z400s 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($37.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Raidmax Horus ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Other: GTX1070 ($400.00)
Total: $810.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-27 01:19 EDT-0400

Throw in the HDD and Optic Drive from the old build it will work great
 
About the only thing you might be able to use from that Gateway is the hard drive as a secondary storage drive...

CPU - A Skylake i3 or i5 would be fine. Let your budget help you decide, but the i5 would be nicer to have.
MB - On a budget and not overclocking, look toward the B150 or H170 chipset.
MEM - B150 and H170 are "limited" to DDR4-2133. Always install modules in pairs to take advantage of the dual memory controllers. Two open slots for a future upgrade on the board below..
GPU - For a single 1080 monitor, the GTX 960 below is a good option. Up this to a GTX 970 if your budget allows or if you are gaming on multiple monitors or at 1440 or higher resolution.
PSU - Don't skimp here! XFX, Seasonic, the EVGA G2 lineup, or filter through the Tier 1 or Tier 2 list. www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H170M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($76.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Z400s 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 640GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $647.76
 

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
SSD is nice, but not necessary. HDD and DVD drive can be reused.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H170A-X1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($76.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($32.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $773.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-27 10:05 EDT-0400
 
Solution

VR PC-BUILD

Respectable
May 14, 2016
577
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2,160

Just thought that as he is going for upgrade he can get SSD for smoother perfomance atleast with OS and some applications.
 
You have integrated graphics now, which is dismal. To keep cost down, get a "mere" GTX750Ti, especially if your monitor resolution is low (e.g. 1400x900 or 1680x1050); you'll get Medium or better settings on most games.
Personally, I prefer having a SSD, so Sadams04's build looks decent (but use your existing optical drive), or take logain's suggestion which gives you a better CPU but lower the video card to get the SSD and an overall lower price.
GTX750Ti for $105: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500349
 

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
Gaming doesn't get hurt much by single channel. Non gaming apps, can be affected quite a bit more. I just like leaving the option open, for 16gb, without having to buy a brand new kit, on dual slot boards. That's why I try to avoid them, unless budget really dictates it, or it is a mini-itx build.
 

VR PC-BUILD

Respectable
May 14, 2016
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That was the same thing running through my head. He can save money by adding 1 more card instead of replacing the entire kit.
 
You don't save anything if you get a second module later and find it doesn't play nice with the first module you purchased. It's all too common to have unmatched modules, even off the same assembly line with the same part number, not operate well together if they're not matched and tested, much less a second module later that may or may not be the same part number and has been assembled from a much different lot of IC's that are disparate enough to create troubles. Of course that's not always the case, but we see it often enough to be a concern.

I fully understand the point, and in some cases I suppose that IS a necessary option, I just think that if you want 16GB at some point, find a way to do it from the start or settle for what you can afford now, and then if you feel the need to increase the amount of memory later, sell what you currently have or use them elsewhere, and get a larger matched set.
 

VR PC-BUILD

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May 14, 2016
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@darkbreeze
Don't know about USA but here in India we have high prices on kit than on individual ones
For example 8gb costs like 3000 16gb kit costs like 8000 so we go with 2 8gb instead of 16gb kit and save 2000 for other stuff.
I threw in a lot of individual ram and had no problems with my customers they never came back complaining about RAM not working.
If the the ram to different parts of the world is manufactured in different places like ram supplied to USA is manufactured in different place and ram supplied to India is manufactured in different place it may cause a problem to you guys.
If that is the case please let me know.
 
RAM doesn't care what country you are in. There are still no guarantees that it will play nice together or if it does, that it will do so at the advertised speed and voltage. Like I said before, sometimes it does, but it DOESN'T often enough to be a consideration. I see at least ten threads per week where two modules with the same part number have been purchased with a good amount of time in between, and they will not operate together correctly, or at all. I know what I know, that's all. If modules aren't tested to work together it's always a crap shoot. The better the quality of the module and the motherboard, and the newer the platform, the better the chances that they may, but it's STILL no guarantee.
 

VR PC-BUILD

Respectable
May 14, 2016
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Then I will provide single module build :)
Did not know that,
Did lot of builds in last 7yrs with two modules either due to low budget or adding it later but never had any problem.
Nearly 80% of them were DDR2&DDR3 only 20% were DDR4

 
I think you might be misunderstanding what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, if you plan to populate more than one memory slot, I'd do it from the start, because adding a second module later CAN, not that it WILL, but it CAN, present problems. If you can only afford what you can afford, and you're configuring builds for people in the same region as you are, where you say the difference in price between 8GB modules and a matched set bought together is significant, then I can somewhat understand doing that. For places where it isn't, I can't.
 

VR PC-BUILD

Respectable
May 14, 2016
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Yes, got it :)
 

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator


On a 4 slot board, though, it makes sense to get a kit from the start.