First Time Adding Parts

[fowkes94]

Hello,
I'm basically looking to buy some new hardware for my PC so I'm able to play all the current games and future ones on the highest settings. Never done anything like this before except add a new graphics card to an old PC at least four or five years ago.

My current specs are:
Intel Core i3 3220 @3.30ghz
ASUS P8H61-MX R2.0
NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 2GB
300W PSU (I think)

Items I'm interested in buying but unsure of whether or not my system can use them:
Intel Core i7 3770k
EVGA GTX 680 Classified 4GB

One other question I have is, in order to use these parts would I need a cooler like a Noctua D14 and a 650W PSU or something?

 

[tiny voices]

If you are wanting to spend that much money dump this PC and start over. There is no sense adding top of the line components to a bottom end PC.

Also, get an i5 for gaming. They are equal to the i7.

Get a gtx670 not a 680. the 680 is stupidly overpriced for only a 10% increase over the 670.

 

[techdude9]

Whats your power supply brand and how many watts? You'll most likely need to upgrade to a 600W for a 670, a 550W might be good enough but I still prefer 600W for some extra headroom. If you're overclocking, get an i5 3570k, and a Noctua D14, or the cheaper alternative but pretty effective, a 212 plus or evo. Get an i5 3570 if you aren't overclocking, and you could get away with the stock cooler. There is NO reason to not overclock. It's easy and only beneficial. I agree with tiny voices on the 670. Use the saved money and get a good cpu cooler. CM Hyper 212 or Noctua D14.

 

[tiny voices]

Whats your power supply brand and how many watts. If you're overclocking, get an i5 3570k, and a Noctua D14, or the cheaper alternative but pretty effective, a 212 plus or evo. Get an i5 3570 if you aren't overclocking, and you could get away with the stock cooler. There is NO reason to not overclock. It's easy and only beneficial. I agree with tiny voices on the 670. Use the saved money and get a good cpu cooler. CM Hyper 212 or Noctua D14.

He cannot overclock. His motherboard will not allow it.

 

[techdude9]

He cannot overclock. His motherboard will not allow it.

Did not see his motherboard. Thanks for pointing that out. OP, get a non k i5, stock cooler would be fine, but even not overclocking i'd personally get an aftermarket but that's just me. Yay cold computers.

 

[fowkes94]

What kinda thing should I dump it for then and how much more money would I be spending by doing that?

 

[tiny voices]

Build our own PC. Don't use a prebuilt. Adding these top of the line parts to a cheap prebuilt isn't a good idea.

 

[fowkes94]

Whats your power supply brand and how many watts?

Zoostorm 300W.

 

[techdude9]

OP, are you just upgrading the cpu, gpu and psu on your current PC? Or are you willing to build a whole new pc from scratch? Minus the HDD. Your current pc is kind of terrible. :s

 

[techdude9]

Zoostorm 300W.

Zoostorm? LMFAO. Never heard of it. How hasn't it blew up yet?

 

[tiny voices]

What would be your budget if you decided to build a new PC. For the price of an i7 and gtx680 you can build a decent system. Also you can reuse the HDD and DVD drive from your current system.

 

[fowkes94]

Willing to do whatever it takes really, but like I mentioned, I have literally no experience in building a PC so I don't know whether or not it's a good idea.

My budget is around £800.

 

[tiny voices]

Its very easy and for that money you can build a killer system.

 

[fowkes94]

Zoostorm? LMFAO. Never heard of it. How hasn't it blew up yet?

lol I have no idea. A relative bought me this system around Christmas for general stuff.

 

[techdude9]

Willing to do whatever it takes really, but like I mentioned, I have literally no experience in building a PC so I don't know whether or not it's a good idea.

My budget is around £800.

It's a good idea whether you are experienced or not. PC Builders didn't have experience their first time. Watch a step by step youtube tutorial while you are building. It's very easy.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $812.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-03 14:12 EST-0500)

Maybe someone can make it a little cheaper.

Oh, and it's fully overclockable!

 

[fowkes94]

Guessing those parts are available in the UK too, right?

Oh and, can I do anything with the parts from my current PC? Is there anything I can salvage from it to use in this one or to sell to put towards this build?

 

[techdude9]

Guessing those parts are available in the UK too, right?

Oh and, can I do anything with the parts from my current PC? Is there anything I can salvage from it to use in this one or to sell to put towards this build?

You're in the UK? Didn't know.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£161.99 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£68.99 @ Aria PC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£44.51 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card (£179.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case (£46.99 @ Aria PC)
Power Supply: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£69.94 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £572.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-03 19:21 GMT+0000)

I'm assuming that's equal to $800 US? I don't know anything about UK currency. If it's actually $572, then get a 670.

 

[techdude9]

Oh and, can I do anything with the parts from my current PC? Is there anything I can salvage from it to use in this one or to sell to put towards this build?

The HDD and optical drive is the only thing worth salvaging from your current pc, which I didn't include in the build I listed.

 

[tiny voices]

Don't get an OCZ PSU. They aren't very good. Get one from Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic.

 

[techdude9]

Don't get an OCZ PSU. They aren't very good. Get one from Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic.

The ModXStream is a good one made by OCZ. It's also modular and a very good price. XFX, Corsair and Seasonic are better but not modular and not as good of a price as the OCZ psu. OCZ ModXStream is a lot better than the Corsair CX 600W series. That's why I am getting an OCZ ModXStream for my own build.

 

[tiny voices]

You are simply incorrect. Being modular has nothing to do with build quality. Good look at some tests/benchmarks and you will see that the OCZ is less efficient and has a less smooth power delivery than you think. The brands I listed and better quality.

 

[techdude9]

You are simply incorrect. Being modular has nothing to do with build quality. Good look at some tests/benchmarks and you will see that the OCZ is less efficient and has a less smooth power delivery than you think. The brands I listed and better quality.

I knew modular has nothing to do with build quality. I prefer modular personally because without modular cables, I think it would be near impossible for me to have clean cable management. And XFX, SeaSonic and Corsair are 100% better than OCZ, I know. The OCZ psu is pretty decent, although not the best choice. I totally agree with you. I kind of copied and pasted my own build, just threw out the HDD and optical drive. Get a different PSU if you want.

 

[tiny voices]

I have very clean cable management and my PSU isn't modular. Its about the case not the PSU. Your build looks great, and aside from the PSU should be awesome. All the brands I listed have modular PSUs and if you want that, you should look at them.

 

[techdude9]

If you have the money, I can easily recommend http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151119&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Seasonic, 550W, 80+ Gold, Modular, and it's inexpensive, although a little more than most 550W.

 

[techdude9]

I have very clean cable management and my PSU isn't modular. Its about the case not the PSU. Your build looks great, and aside from the PSU should be awesome. All the brands I listed have modular PSUs and if you want that, you should look at them.

Yeah, I have the HAF 922, not the best for cable management, but not too bad.