Upgrading my PC 520$ budget

[Chris903]

I have decided to upgrade my PC with a budget of 520$. My current PC cannot run games smoothly like BF3 , Prototype 2 , Saints row the third.

Current Build:

Power supply: 400watt
Memory: 4gb g.skill 1333mhz dual channel
Graphics card: GT 440 ECS 1GB GDDR5
Processor: Intel G530
Motherboard: H61MGC
Hard drive: 500gb 7200rpm

I already decided on the graphics card. The AMD 7850 and a raidmax 530watt power supply. Now for the CPU I am thinking between the i5 2500k and a AMD Phenom II X4 965. I know the 2500k is faster and better overall but with the AMD Phenom i can buy a new motherboard , 8gb dual channel 1600mhz ram and a cpu cooler for overclocking if needed. Total of 224$ the i2500k is 220$. I cannot decided whether to rebuild my PC or buy a i5 2500k. I will only use this PC for about another year i was going to build a high end with a 1600$ budget but since we almost at the end of the year i though i could just upgrade and wait til the amd 8000series/nvidia 700 series and new processor line up. Afterwards this PC will be used for browsing and normal task.

AMD UPGRADE PROS:
*Will be able to sell old parts and save money around 120$
*CPU Cooler
*8gb of memory 1600mhz
*All parts are same color as my case (Blue)

AMD UPGRADE CONS:
*Slower CPU
*Outdated

INTEL UPGRADE PROS:
*More future proof
*Faster Processor
*Better frame rate

INTEL UPGRADE CONS:
*Motherboard and memory are mostly colored red and does not go with my case my case is blue with blue LED's and has a transparent side panel I don't like having two colors mixed. Recently bough it because my old red case broke. Case was cheap.
*No enough money for CPU cooler
*More expensive.
*Slower memory
*Will be able to sell only Graphics card and memory save around 70$

Here is a complete list of the upgrade parts with links.

AMD UPGRADE:

Graphics: AMD 7850 HIS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161406

Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104262

Motherboard: MSI 760GM-P34(FX) AM3+ AMD 760G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130657

Processor Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

Power Supply: RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028

INTEL UPGRADE:
Graphics: Same as AMD upgrade

Memory: G.Skill 4GB Dual Channel 1333mhz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231425

Motherboard: H61MGC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138332&Tpk=H61MGC

Processor: i5 2500k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Power supply: Same as AMD Upgrade

 

[FinneousPJ]

If you want to save some money the AMD is quite adequate today.

 

[allanitomwesh]

The AMD build is capable and has better balanced parts. It also meets your aesthetic requirements. Go with that.
Or what I would do is finish saving that $1600 and be happy with what I get. G530 is already enough for browsing.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been moved from the section CPU & Components to section Systems by Mousemonkey