Overclock.net banner

Worth upgrading hardware from 2013 for gaming? If so, what to?

2K views 76 replies 18 participants last post by  jpmad4it 
#1 ·
Hi all,

My PC hardware is around 5 years and 6 months old now. Here is my basic spec:

Gigabyte Z77X-UP7 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155)
Intel Core i7-3770K 3.50GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 - overclocked to 4.2Ghz
Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7970 Windforce 3072MB GDDR5
Samsung Green 16GB DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Quad Channel
Samsung 840 Pro 256Gb SSD - games would be running on this
RAID0: 2TB (4 x 500GB) Seagate Barracuda 7200.11

I am looking to be able to run the latest games on a high setting without having to start over again and buy everything from the motherboard etc. Is this going to be possible or will my CPU just create a bottleneck?

I was looking at upgrading my RAM to 32GB and purchasing new graphics card(s). I've been looking at the following parts:

- 2 x Vengeance Pro Gold 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit - 32Gb total
- Radeon RX580 - maybe 2 in crossfire if I can afford it.

What are people's thoughts in general? Any advice would be great.

Cheers
Jp
 
See less See more
#3 ·
Buying more RAM is not going to help in any way and buying a new CPU is not going to help either so thats a waste of money
Buy a new GPU and sell the old and thats pretty much all you need to do

You should also buy a better CPU cooler as the one you have is not very good and it does not have all that much life left
And last stay away from Crossfire and SLI as almost no one can be bothered to support it and its pretty much dead

Edit: another good upgrade would be your monitor
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
#4 ·
Are you having trouble running the latest games at high settings? I feel like with your current setup you should be pretty good at 1920x1200, the only thing that might be holding you back is your gpu like others have said. Anything midrange in the current gen should be a solid upgrade there. I wouldn't bother with crossfire, 2x 580s would be priced about the same as a vega 64 or a gtx 1080 and I think you'd be much better off with either of those options. Those might even be a bit overkill with the rest of your system.
 
#5 ·
The cpu is still relatively strong. Dat gpu will need to be upgraded if you want to run the latest games on max / high. Minimum RX 470.
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
#6 ·
Don't bother with buying more ram, just overclock the kit you have as high as it will go stable.

And put the money you didn't waste on ram, towards a better GPU than the RX580, such as a GTX1070.
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
#7 ·
Do you have a budget for an upgrade?

Get a GTX 1080 or a GTX 1080ti and you are all set for a couple of years.
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by enigma7820 View Post

I would not buy new ram or a new cpu. you have one of the best overclocking ram sticks and more than 8gb is not really needed for gaming yet. I would overclock your ram and cpu more and simply buy a better GPU and you should be good for years still.
8GB of RAM doesn't cut it any more for gaming. I currently use 9.5GB just running The Witcher 3 and my background apps. With that being said the OP has 16GB so it really doesn't matter.

To the OP:

I would overclock your RAM to 2133+ and replace your video card. After that replace your cooler and go for a higher overclock. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
#10 ·
Thanks everyone for the replies ! Great info as always :)

I'm struggling to overclock my RAM further - its already overclocked but I can't remember my speeds and timings off the top of my head.

What cooler do you guys recommend if the h80i isn't all that great. I guess getting a new cooler will enable me to OC my CPU further and then in-turn also my RAM further?
 
#11 ·
Echoing what some have already suggested, and adding a new tip:
1. Upgrade your GPU and don't be adverse to NVidia because on the very high-end, you don't have a choice. Also avoid SLI or Crossfire, because it's not like it was.

2. Buy a cooler that will enable the max CPU overclock. If on air, you can't go wrong with NH-D15 or even an AIO 240mm liquid cooler. Make sure your case has adequate room.

3. Overclock your CPU to its max clocks possible at 1.35v, which I suspect may be 4.6GHz or 4.7GHz. No one has mentioned this yet, but I strongly suggest a delid to drastically reduce the load temps which will enable you to reach the max potential overclock. Ivy Bridge (family of the i7-3770K) was the first to use TIM under the IHS, and this far into its life, the TIM may have hardened or even dried up.

4. Overclock your RAM. These Samsung DDR3 sticks are not called "Wonder RAM" for nothing. I had 4x4GB sticks running at 2133MHz 9-10-10-21-2T-tRFC96 1.575v on my 4770K. Your capacity is plenty for even modern games. You may or may not reach 2400MHz, because I have a 3770(non-K) right now having difficulty beyond 2100MHz.

5. May be perhaps consider a 120Hz 1080p or 1440p monitor depending on your GPU upgrade choice. You will learn to appreciate the motion fluidity upgrade from 60Hz.
 
#12 ·
Yep push the chip more (delidding totally up to you) and upgrade your video card, rigs still plenty good otherwise,
I more or less have the same setup and can't complain at all, will be upgrading to a 2K monitor with it.

As far as new cooling goes, since you have a standard sized board / full case I'd probably just go with an air cooler, DH-15 is always solid there.
If you still want to go AIO, you can take a look at kits form Swiftech or EK - they are much better quality, can be upgraded and maintained etc
 
#13 ·
Dont buy another CLC cooler as they are not all that much better then air coolers and comes with a lot of drawbacks
http://www.overclock.net/t/1590547/why-you-should-probably-not-buy-a-clc-cooler

Your H80i will have some of its liquid missing compared to when you bought as the liquid does evaporate over time
Your temps are higher now then when you bought it and even from the start the H80i was never all that good

Buy a good air cooler instead or go all out and buy a kit from EK or one of the other brands
 
#14 ·
Get that i7 to 4.6+ and something like a 1070ti or 1080 and you'll be good for a couple years
thumb.gif
 
#15 ·
Noctua has some of the best air coolers around but if you dont like the Noctua colors there is Phanteks, Be Quiet or Cryorig which also have some good air coolers
A dual tower air cooler can match most if not all of the 240mm CLC coolers yet the tower coolers are cheaper more reliable and most often more quiet and they last a lot longer
 
#16 ·
I have noticed that I am running low on RAM lately. Dawn of war uses 2.7 GB and told me to close out a few programs because I was cutting it close with all my Utilities open and Chrome. Next build I will probably need atleast 16 if not 32 for future proof. And with Ram prices now it doesn't make sense to add to my system just deal with it.

That i7 chip you have is still pretty solid you'll only notice a handful of frames less than newer CPUs

But go with a new GPU and you're set, anything RX 580/1060 starting up to a GTX 1080/Vega 64 would be all you need.

Your main components are a little newer than mine and with a new GTX 1080 at 1440p I am maxing every game out well above 60 frames. Its probably over kill right now but atleast it should last a few years. If your PC isn't broke dont fix it.
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpmad4it View Post

Hi all,

My PC hardware is around 5 years and 6 months old now. Here is my basic spec:

Gigabyte Z77X-UP7 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155)
Intel Core i7-3770K 3.50GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 - overclocked to 4.2Ghz
Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7970 Windforce 3072MB GDDR5
Samsung Green 16GB DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Quad Channel
Samsung 840 Pro 256Gb SSD - games would be running on this
RAID0: 2TB (4 x 500GB) Seagate Barracuda 7200.11

I am looking to be able to run the latest games on a high setting without having to start over again and buy everything from the motherboard etc. Is this going to be possible or will my CPU just create a bottleneck?

I was looking at upgrading my RAM to 32GB and purchasing new graphics card(s). I've been looking at the following parts:

- 2 x Vengeance Pro Gold 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit - 32Gb total
- Radeon RX580 - maybe 2 in crossfire if I can afford it.

What are people's thoughts in general? Any advice would be great.

Cheers
Jp

We almost have the same spec except the gpu. I'm using 290x crossfire and my cpu is OCed to 4.5 but I am underwater and I find it still capable.
 
#19 ·
Keep everything but the GPU, grab a GTX 1070.
 
#20 ·
I grabbed a Msi 1080 GTX in the black Friday sales. Next is to get a NH-D15 cooler, but can anyone recommend what monitor I should look at? Ideally i'd like nothing smaller than what I currently have (26") but I need something with a higher refresh rate (this one sucks at 60Hz). Any ideas?
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpmad4it View Post

I grabbed a Msi 1080 GTX in the black Friday sales. Next is to get a NH-D15 cooler, but can anyone recommend what monitor I should look at? Ideally i'd like nothing smaller than what I currently have (26") but I need something with a higher refresh rate (this one sucks at 60Hz). Any ideas?
How much can you spend?
The Asus PG279Q or the Acer Predator XB271HU are both really good monitors but they are not cheap

Forget about 4K because the best resolution for a 26-28 size monitor is 1440P
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
#23 ·
What is more important, super smooth gameplay or image quality?
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
#24 ·
As keikei is trying to point out you can go with a TN panel based monitor instead
Its going to be cheaper but the image and colors are also going to look worse
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
#25 ·
For the budget, you're looking at an IPS 1440p @ 60hz monitor (better color) vs. a TN panel 1440p @144hz.
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: jpmad4it
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top