just upgrade or time for i5 new build

[puckooon3]

My questions
Can I get away with another new GPU or is it time to upgrade?
is the i7 system overkill w/o enough GPU?
will the I5 build not be enough for my productive uses?
does the increase in core count help anything with current gen of CAD packages?
am I completely off my rockers since I haven't done this since 08?

Approximate Purchase Date: up to 2 months

Budget Range: 400 max for upgrade, 1400 max for new build

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming( RPG, RTS, Indie games off of steam, FPS), CAD software( Pro/E, UG, solidworks), FEA software (ansys, hypermesh, etc.), folding@home, internet

Are you buying a monitor: NO

Parts to Upgrade: 2 options: Option A (video card and boot drive), Option B( CPU + cooler, MOBO, RAM, VIDEO, HARDDRIVE)

Part to Reuse:

under both options:

Case: COOLER MASTER Stacker 830 Evolution
Power supply: COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850-EMBAD1-US 850W
Current boot drive: WD VelociRaptor 150GB 10000 RPM will become program drive
The two DVD drives I currently have
The 750 GB drive
5 or 6 120MM fans in current case
CPU cooler: Noctua NH-U12P

Under option A:

MoBo: EVGA LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI FTW
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 OC to 3.75Ghz
RAM: G.SKILL 8GB DDR2 1066
GPU 1: GeForce GTX 275 1.75GB probably OC not sure to what. it will become PhysiX card
GPU 2: ati 57XX from father in law, will be tasked to run 2nd and 3rd monitor

Do you need to buy OS: Maybe, if so win 8.1. I'm currently running win 7

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, but I’m open

Location: Quad cities, Iowa, I will be assembling

Parts Preferences: EVGA, Intel(sorry AMD)

Overclocking: maybe, nothing crazy if I do. I like having the option

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, I see it as an upgrade option down the road

Your Monitor Resolution: 2 to 3 24” monitors running 1920x1200, I plan on only gaming on one screen,

Additional Comments: I don’t like the chip set fan my current motherboard has.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My main boot drive is getting small; I have to keep an eye on what’s installed. I can no longer run current games on ultra-settings. My FPS nose dives in any of the total war games when it rains. The itch. It’s cheaper than upgrading / replacing my car. Multi-screen gaming sounds cool. I'm board at work. I want to not worry about working my computer If I have to do work on it

Current build Idea under option A:
EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB - $249.99 @ Newegg
Sandisk Ultra Plus 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk $64.99 @ Microcenter

ideas under OPTION B:

I5 Build
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C12P SE14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($64.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($154.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($64.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.55 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB 3.5" 10000RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1062.47
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-15 11:51 EST-0500)

I7 build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4820K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($318.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L12 37.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($69.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: EVGA 151-SE-E779-K3 XL ATX LGA2011 Motherboard ($244.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($182.90 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($64.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.55 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB 3.5" 10000RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($56.23 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit) ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1417.59
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-15 11:54 EST-0500)

 

[sora]

I'd get the i5 build since gaming is the most important and you'd save money getting the i5 instead of the i7.

 

[puckooon3]

I'd get the i5 build since gaming is the most important and you'd save money getting the i5 instead of the i7.

I figured that the i5 build was the least crazy of my build options.

Gaming is important but I was look to have my gaming machine be a decent engineering workstation in case I have to start using it as my primary design computer. a lot of analysis programs look to require an extra licences to use the GPU for computing. with the i7 build i was looking to hedge my bets on that front.

Also I was looking for an excuse to get an EVGA motherboard. I've enjoyed the dealings I've had with my current set of hardware. I also like the Idea of the larger motherboard to take better use of my current massive case. all the bells and whistles they put on the higher end boards look cool also

 

[puckooon3]

I pulled the trigger and ordered the components last night.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (Purchased For $186.84)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C12P SE14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler (Purchased For $73.99)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V PRO ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (Purchased For $168.15)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (Purchased For $59.99)
Storage: Intel 530 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (Purchased For $149.99)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card (Purchased For $289.99)
Operating System: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit) (Purchased For $99.99)
Total: $1028.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-20 09:54 EST-0500)