Major upgrade to build

Gumbi · 31-12-2012 3:24pm #1

Hi, I'm hoping to sell off my mobo/CPU so that I can upgrade to a new CPU.

My mobo is an MSI770-G45, my CPU and AMD Phenom II x4 925.

I recently purchased the SAPPHIRE 7950 950mhz version, so I'd like a CPU more in line with my card.

This means I need a new mobo, and from what I've read, the go to one is the Asrock Pro3 Z77 for OCing an i53570k (my CPU choice). I have a hyper 212 + so I imagine I can handily get a 4.2 OC from what I've read online.

I'm currently using 2 x 2 GB sticks (which I bought for 75 euro just over 2 years ago

), and seeing as RAM is so cheap, I'm considering selling this along with my CPU/mobo so that I can get 2 x 4 GB sticks. I've read that 1600mhz is the sweet spot; I don't know much about RAM, any recommendations as to a good buy?

I suspect HWVS is the best place to get all this, regardless of the 20/30 euro shipping cost. I can't find anyone else who can match their prices.

Advice? Thanks!

Edit:

My case is an NZXT Gamma Tower, pure black, if that makes a difference.

Also, I'm assuming my copy of Windows is OK even if I have a new mobo?

tuxy · 31-12-2012 5:33pm

Everything you said sounds good

Gumbi · 31-12-2012 5:36pm

Awesome! What's the difference between your RAM and this?

http://lb.hardwareversand.de/1600+Low+Voltage/52091/8GB+Corsair+Vengeance+PC3-12800U+CL10-10-10-27.article

I hope I can keep Windows, I can't afford another copy (it would hardly be justified anyway).

tuxy · 31-12-2012 5:39pm

The ram you picked has worse timings and has heat spreader fins sticking up that could get in the way of a cpu cooler.
PC3-12800U cl9 seems to be the sweet spot price/performance.

Gumbi · 31-12-2012 5:42pm

tuxy wrote: »

The ram you picked has worse timings and has heat spreader fins sticking up that could get in the way of a cpu cooler.
PC3-12800U cl9 seems to be the sweet spot price/performance.

Thanks. Do you think I'll see any marked increase in performance? My current setup is 1333mhz 4GB GEIL. I realise most games won't take (full) advantage of this upgrade, but if I can sell what I have currently for an OK price I can justify these upgrades.

My case should be OK for the new mobo? I have a large PSU (650w) with tonnes of connections which make for an untidy case, so I just leave one side of the case off. This makes for good air circulation lol, I hope I can get 4.4 on my i5 with the hyper 212+, but AFAIK, that's a teensy bit wishful

Gumbi · 31-12-2012 5:50pm

Oh, and some more insight on the Windows thing would be helpful. I still have the disk and key if that helps.

tuxy · 31-12-2012 5:56pm

You are using a very powerful GPU so your CPU is the bottleneck right now.
I would think you should notice a nice improvement especially on any games that are known to be cpu reliant.

Aiming for a 4.4 overclock is not too wishful. There is a very good chance you could reach that speed or even a little more.

The case is fine. Could you not route some cable around underneath the moutherboard tray to tidy things up?

Gumbi · 31-12-2012 6:05pm

tuxy wrote: »

You are using a very powerful GPU so your CPU is the bottleneck right now.
I would think you should notice a nice improvement especially on any games that are known to be cpu reliant.

Aiming for a 4.4 overclock is not too wishful. There is a very good chance you could reach that speed or even a little more.

The case is fine. Could you not route some cable around underneath the moutherboard tray to tidy things up?

Thanks! I was referring to the potential performance increase from the RAM (more of it and at a higher frequency). I am aware of my CPU bottleneck; indeed, it can hurt me in SC2, which is a highly CPU bound game.

As for the cabling, maybe. The cable-covering makes the cabling bulky and awkward. In any case, I'm not too worried about it. I'm happy to leave one side of my case open, especially if it improves cooling (albeit slightly).

tuxy · 31-12-2012 6:10pm

Games are still 32 bit software so don't make use of much ram, I don't know if 8 over 4 gb would make much difference. It's just 8 GB is so cheap that's what most people go for. If you are upgrading eventing else you might at well get 8gb even if it only gives a small boost to performance.

Gumbi · 31-12-2012 6:16pm

tuxy wrote: »

Games are still 32 bit software so don't make use of much ram, I don't know if 8 over 4 gb would make much difference. It's just 8 GB is so cheap that's what most people go for. If you are upgrading eventing else you might at well get 8gb even if it only gives a small boost to performance.

Yep, that's the track I was on. In addition to that, it allows me to sell what I do have as a bundle making it more useful to the buyer and getting both of us a better deal

marco_polo · 31-12-2012 6:21pm

tuxy wrote: »

Games are still 32 bit software so don't make use of much ram, I don't know if 8 over 4 gb would make much difference. It's just 8 GB is so cheap that's what most people go for. If you are upgrading eventing else you might at well get 8gb even if it only gives a small boost to performance.

I would have a fair bit of stuff running in the background as well, but I was always running pretty close to the 4GB limit playing a fairly heavily modded Skyrim to the point where I had occasional crashes and had to buy another 4GB.

That is one game that can swell to well over 2GB with the large address aware patch. Its true though that most games barely use 1GB.

Long story short you''ll know when it is time to add RAM op

Gumbi · 01-01-2013 2:47am

Anyone had any experience on Mindfactory.de? Another German site, seems to save me a few quid on some items. What's their shipping like? Is it a flat fee or what? I can't seem to work out from the site itself. Also, the prices for the Boxed vs Tray are swapped as compared to HWVS, being 205 for the Tray and 201 for the Box. Would it be OK for me to get the Boxed? It has a 3 year warranty (as opposed to 1 with the Tray) and I can just take off the stock heatsink, right? Here are the products on this site, I hope they're the same

http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/info/p745381_8GB-Corsair-Vengeance-LP-Black-DDR3-1600-DIMM-CL9-Dual-Kit.html

http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/info/p783860_Intel-Core-i5-3570K-4x-3-40GHz-So-1155-BOX.html [Box]

http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/info/p798138_Intel-Core-i5-3570K-4x-3-40GHz-So-1155-TRAY.html [Tray]

http://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/info/p794739_ASRock-Z77Pro3-Intel-Z77-So-1155-Dual-Channel-DDR3-ATX-Retail.html [This saves almosy 10 euro vs HWVS]

If the shipping is good, it looks like this might be a better deal.

Gumbi · 01-01-2013 2:54pm

Now the Box is on special price, only 198 euro. It comes with a better warranty, and a heatsink I can sell for a few quid. I am assuming I can just swap the heatsinks easily? Like throw in my own and take out the stock one? 2 euro was cut off the RAM too overnight, so the mindfactory deal comes to 313 euro, HWVS to 326. Shipping is a fiver more on mindfactory, but hey, a saving is a saving, plus I get the Boxed CPU.

Should I bite the bullet and go for it while the offers are there?

ANd just to confirm, the RAM I've chosen is the same as the RAM on HWVS? I want to be extra sure.

Major upgrade to build

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