GPU Upgrade

Frisbee · 15-05-2020 12:32PM #1

I'm considering upgrading my GPU, the machine was built 6 years ago now and below is the spec:

8GB RAM
Intel i4-4460

Antec ISK Family 600 Mini-ITX

ASUS H81I-PLUS, 1150, ITX

Radeon R9 270X 2GB GDDR5

It's running most games that I play (CS:GO etc) fine still if I am totally honest, even Far Cry 4 ran ok-ish. However it's at the stage now where even if it runs some newer games ok there is some big performance or FPS hits.

I don't really have the money to replace the whole thing which is what I would like to do as this was built for my old apartment were space was at a premium hence the mITX, would rather move to a Tower. Is there a GPU worth jumping to that would give me decent enough performance to run say Far Cry 5 or Warzone at a decent frame rate? i.e. get me through the next maybe 2 years before I replace the whole lost.

Probably up to say €200 or so?

K.O.Kiki · 15-05-2020 03:47PM

RX 580, RX 5500XT or GTX 1650 Super for sub-€200.
GTX 1660 if you can stretch another few quid.

Any of them would be a 2x improvement.
Just measure your GPU clearance first.

*edit

Also if that RAM is in 1x8Gb configuration, get another matching RAM stick.

Homelander · 15-05-2020 06:55PM

CPU will be a problem in some games. Not Far Cry 4 but Warzone will have a fair few hiccups and the CPU will be at 100% a lot of the time.

Two more years from an i5 4th gen playing games like Warzone is really stretching it.

Realistically when talking about the next two years, you would need a new GPU, CPU and 16GB Ram.

Frisbee · 18-05-2020 10:07AM

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

RX 580, RX 5500XT or GTX 1650 Super for sub-€200.
GTX 1660 if you can stretch another few quid.

Any of them would be a 2x improvement.
Just measure your GPU clearance first.

*edit

Also if that RAM is in 1x8Gb configuration, get another matching RAM stick.

RAM is 2* 4GB. Nice one for the recommendations.

Homelander wrote: »

CPU will be a problem in some games. Not Far Cry 4 but Warzone will have a fair few hiccups and the CPU will be at 100% a lot of the time.

Two more years from an i5 4th gen playing games like Warzone is really stretching it.

Realistically when talking about the next two years, you would need a new GPU, CPU and 16GB Ram.

Yeah I know. That's why I'm weighing up whether upgrading the GPU is just throwing money away and should I take the plunge now and upgrade the whole lot. As If I am doing CPU, GPU & Memory I may as well get a new Mobo & case to go with it.

Only thing is I don't really have 800 blips to spend right now.

K.O.Kiki · 18-05-2020 10:21AM

You could get a Xeon E3-1226 v3 for €64 off eBay: https://www.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_odkw=v3&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.XXeon+E3-1226+v3.TRS0&_nkw=Xeon+E3-1226+v3&_sacat=0

Equivalent to an i7.

Frisbee · 23-07-2020 03:25PM

Right have come around to the idea of just replacing the whole lot, here's where I am:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor (€234.95 @ Komplett)
Motherboard: MSI B450M MORTAR MAX Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard (€127.38 @ Custompc)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory (€106.48 @ Custompc)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 1 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive (€128.82 @ Custompc)
Case: Corsair 100R ATX Mid Tower Case (€69.90 @ Komplett)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Smart RGB 230V 500 W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply (€76.69 @ Custompc)
Total: €744.22
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-07-23 15:23 IST+0100

And then for GPU:

MSI Radeon RX 5700 GAMING X 8G

Thoughts / concerns?

grogi · 23-07-2020 03:30PM

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

You could get a Xeon E3-1226 v3 for €64 off eBay: https://www.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_odkw=v3&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.XXeon+E3-1226+v3.TRS0&_nkw=Xeon+E3-1226+v3&_sacat=0

Equivalent to an i7.

E3-1226v3 is still 4C/4T CPU, identical (bar small difference in cache size) to an i5. E3-1230v3 (@3.3GHz) is the first Haswell 4C/8T Xeon E3.

Moon54 · 24-07-2020 11:15AM

Frisbee wrote: »

Right have come around to the idea of just replacing the whole lot, here's where I am:

PCPartPicker Part List
Thoughts / concerns?

An Amazon equivalent order of your first part list (-GPU) works out a lot cheaper/better (CPU cooler incl) @ €605 (£539) with free delivery

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Processor - £161
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-Ryzen-3600-Processor-Cache/dp/B07STGGQ18/

Corsair 16GB 3200 RAM - £68
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMK16GX4M2B3200C16-Vengeance-Performance-Desktop/dp/B0143UM4TC/

ASUS Prime B450M-A Micro ATX Motherboard - £75
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-PRIME-B450M-Socket-Motherboard/dp/B07F6YQV4J
(Note: MSI MORTAR MAX is £99 and out of stock atm, great motherboard, I have it, dual M.2 slots is very nice and future-proof & Optical out too.
Note, only 4 internal sata ports if you have a lot of hard drives/dvd drive to add.)

Crucial M.2 1TB NVMe - £99
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT1000P1SSD8-Solid-State-Drive/dp/B07J2Q4SWZ/

Corsair 100R Windowed Mid-Tower ATX Case - £50
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RORBQNW/

EVGA 600 W1, 80+ WHITE 600W Power Supply - £50
https://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-WHITE-Power-Supply-100-W1-0600-K3/dp/B01127D0MY/

DEEP COOL GAMMAXX 400 CPU Cooler (AM4 Compatible) - £23
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEEPCOOL-Gammaxx-Heatpipes-Sockets-Compatible/dp/B077Q4DZVY/

Total (-GPU) works out at €605 delivered.
The MSI B450M MORTAR MAX Motherboard might be back in stock soon so I'd recommend getting that, see note above.

For GPU I'd definitely recommend RX5700XT.

On Amazon the Powercolor Red Dragon RX5700XT is £360 (was £350 a few days ago) but is out of stock for a few days.
Also, the Powercolor Red Devil is a monster card but it's great. It will fit in the case (30cm), just clears the Hard drive bay. That's in stock and £390 atm.

Check out the Hardware Unboxed 5700XT round-up video to maybe help you decide;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmExnu-j2s

grogi · 24-07-2020 11:23AM

Moon54 wrote: »

An Amazon equivalent order of your first part list (-GPU) works out a lot cheaper/better (CPU cooler incl) @ €605 (£539) with free delivery

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Processor - £161
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-Ryzen-3600-Processor-Cache/dp/B07STGGQ18/

Corsair 16GB 3200 RAM - £68
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMK16GX4M2B3200C16-Vengeance-Performance-Desktop/dp/B0143UM4TC/

ASUS Prime B450M-A Micro ATX Motherboard - £75
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-PRIME-B450M-Socket-Motherboard/dp/B07F6YQV4J
(Note: MSI MORTAR MAX is £99 and out of stock atm, great motherboard, I have it, dual M.2 slots is very nice and future-proof & Optical out too.
Note, only 4 internal sata ports if you have a lot of hard drives/dvd drive to add.)

Crucial M.2 1TB NVMe - £99
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT1000P1SSD8-Solid-State-Drive/dp/B07J2Q4SWZ/

Corsair 100R Windowed Mid-Tower ATX Case - £50
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RORBQNW/

EVGA 600 W1, 80+ WHITE 600W Power Supply - £50
https://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-WHITE-Power-Supply-100-W1-0600-K3/dp/B01127D0MY/

DEEP COOL GAMMAXX 400 CPU Cooler (AM4 Compatible) - £23
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEEPCOOL-Gammaxx-Heatpipes-Sockets-Compatible/dp/B077Q4DZVY/

Total (-GPU) works out at €605 delivered.
The MSI B450M MORTAR MAX Motherboard might be back in stock soon so I'd recommend getting that, see note above.

For GPU I'd definitely recommend RX5700XT.

On Amazon the Powercolor Red Dragon RX5700XT is £360 (was £350 a few days ago) but is out of stock for a few days.
Also, the Powercolor Red Devil is a monster card but it's great. It will fit in the case (30cm), just clears the Hard drive bay. That's in stock and £390 atm.

Check out the Hardware Unboxed 5700XT round-up video to maybe help you decide;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmExnu-j2s

This Corsair 2x8GB DDR4 3200 is cheaper... :] 61 GBP.

Moon54 · 24-07-2020 11:46AM

grogi wrote: »

This Corsair 2x8GB DDR4 3200 is cheaper... :] 61 GBP.

Well spotted, yeah, that's a better option.

Frisbee · 27-07-2020 10:51AM

Moon54 wrote: »

An Amazon equivalent order of your first part list (-GPU) works out a lot cheaper/better (CPU cooler incl) @ €605 (£539) with free delivery

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Processor - £161
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-Ryzen-3600-Processor-Cache/dp/B07STGGQ18/

Corsair 16GB 3200 RAM - £68
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMK16GX4M2B3200C16-Vengeance-Performance-Desktop/dp/B0143UM4TC/

ASUS Prime B450M-A Micro ATX Motherboard - £75
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-PRIME-B450M-Socket-Motherboard/dp/B07F6YQV4J
(Note: MSI MORTAR MAX is £99 and out of stock atm, great motherboard, I have it, dual M.2 slots is very nice and future-proof & Optical out too.
Note, only 4 internal sata ports if you have a lot of hard drives/dvd drive to add.)

Crucial M.2 1TB NVMe - £99
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT1000P1SSD8-Solid-State-Drive/dp/B07J2Q4SWZ/

Corsair 100R Windowed Mid-Tower ATX Case - £50
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RORBQNW/

EVGA 600 W1, 80+ WHITE 600W Power Supply - £50
https://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-WHITE-Power-Supply-100-W1-0600-K3/dp/B01127D0MY/

DEEP COOL GAMMAXX 400 CPU Cooler (AM4 Compatible) - £23
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEEPCOOL-Gammaxx-Heatpipes-Sockets-Compatible/dp/B077Q4DZVY/

Total (-GPU) works out at €605 delivered.
The MSI B450M MORTAR MAX Motherboard might be back in stock soon so I'd recommend getting that, see note above.

For GPU I'd definitely recommend RX5700XT.

On Amazon the Powercolor Red Dragon RX5700XT is £360 (was £350 a few days ago) but is out of stock for a few days.
Also, the Powercolor Red Devil is a monster card but it's great. It will fit in the case (30cm), just clears the Hard drive bay. That's in stock and £390 atm.

Check out the Hardware Unboxed 5700XT round-up video to maybe help you decide;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmExnu-j2s

Thank you for that post, extremely helpful. 5700XT has me convinced. Only question I really have is there a need to add a couple of extra fans? I'm thinking might be better off putting another couple in given there is only one coming stock.

I can also get an unopened Wraith Prism Cooler for free off a friend who got it with his 3700X but didn't use it. I assume no issues using this cooler instead of the one listed above?

Samuel T. Cogley · 27-07-2020 03:06PM

Have a Wraith Prism on my 3600 - adequate cooler for that CPU.

I would have a question mark on that PSU - It's a Tier D PSU. Kolink Enclave or the BeQuiet units that get recommended on this forum would be a better investment.

If you can hold off 8 weeks the new GPUs will be out 12 - 16 weeks should see Zen 3 but the launches of AMD CPUs are usually not great.

grogi · 27-07-2020 03:40PM

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Have a Wraith Prism on my 3600 - adequate cooler for that CPU.

Prism is adequate - but you won't get it with stock 3600. Getting one is not free, while Gammaxx 400 is cheap, easy to install and performs more than adequatly.

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

I would have a question mark on that PSU - It's a Tier D PSU. Kolink Enclave or the BeQuiet units that get recommended on this forum would be a better investment.

It's biggest drawback is efficiency - only 80+ White. It will eat extra a teens of W and as a result will need beefier cooling or beefier airflow. But let's not get paranoid - it won't burn the rest of the rig...

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

If you can hold off 8 weeks the new GPUs will be out 12 - 16 weeks should see Zen 3 but the launches of AMD CPUs are usually not great.

The 3300x is still nowhere to be found, and AMD releases the XT CPU as a stop-gap measure for the performance oriented segment. There might be huge shortage of Zen3 CPUs, and almost Christmas when you can actually buy the Zen 3.

Skerries · 27-07-2020 05:03PM

just to give you some choice the Gigabyte 5700 XT is also £360 and also on Amazon

wotzgoingon · 27-07-2020 05:45PM

Skerries wrote: »

just to give you some choice the Gigabyte 5700 XT is also £360 and also on Amazon

The price goes up when added to cart. Well it does for me anyway.

edit: It doesn't actually. Don't know what happened but it did the first time I tried.

grogi · 27-07-2020 08:39PM

wotzgoingon wrote: »

The price goes up when added to cart. Well it does for me anyway.

edit: It doesn't actually. Don't know what happened but it did the first time I tried.

It goes up by 3% the moment you want to have it delivered to Ireland. Irish VAT

K.O.Kiki · 27-07-2020 09:21PM

There's an MSI Gaming X 5700 (non-XT) on Adverts for €360 last I checked.

Moon54 · 28-07-2020 01:20AM

Frisbee wrote: »

Only question I really have is there a need to add a couple of extra fans?

The 100R case comes with just one rear 120mm fan. So an extra 140mm one fitted on the front wouldn't be a bad idea.
The Bequiet 140mm fans are about £10
https://www.amazon.co.uk/quiet-BL047-Wings-Cooling-Device/dp/B016XWZ56M/

The Wraith Prism CPU cooler will be fine, and it'll look cool too.

A nice upgrade from the stock cooler for sure.

Frisbee · 28-07-2020 10:08AM

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Have a Wraith Prism on my 3600 - adequate cooler for that CPU.

I would have a question mark on that PSU - It's a Tier D PSU. Kolink Enclave or the BeQuiet units that get recommended on this forum would be a better investment.

If you can hold off 8 weeks the new GPUs will be out 12 - 16 weeks should see Zen 3 but the launches of AMD CPUs are usually not great.

grogi wrote: »

It's biggest drawback is efficiency - only 80+ White. It will eat extra a teens of W and as a result will need beefier cooling or beefier airflow. But let's not get paranoid - it won't burn the rest of the rig...

The 3300x is still nowhere to be found, and AMD releases the XT CPU as a stop-gap measure for the performance oriented segment. There might be huge shortage of Zen3 CPUs, and almost Christmas when you can actually buy the Zen 3.

Ok might be worth swapping the PSU out for be quiet! System Power 9 600W, 80 PLUS Bronze, power supply then in that case.

I had considered waiting on the new GPUs. Not with the intention of getting one but most likely hoping for a price drop on the existing GPUs on market. Would you expect there to be a substantial reduction on current cards?

Moon54 wrote: »

The 100R case comes with just one rear 120mm fan. So an extra 140mm one fitted on the front wouldn't be a bad idea.
The Bequiet 140mm fans are about £10

Yeah nice one, that's what I was thinking as well.

GPU Upgrade

Comments