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Question

Should I try to upgrade my pc or start again?

Mar 28, 2017 5:09AM PDT

I am looking into upgrading my old pc and I don't know if it would be worth it to go for a new ram/cpu/motherboard or if there is way to upgrade and keep some of those parts. If the best option is to over clock my current cpu then could anyone suggest a cooler for that socket as well as a good full tower case (because there is terrible airflow in my current one)?

Here are my specs (I don't have specifics to hand because I'm at work but I can update this if necessary):

i5 3570k at stock clock speed & stock cpu fan
A non branded motherboard that has the FCLGA1155 socket (I will check the name and specs when I get home)
16GB DDR3 Corsair Vengeance Pro (2x8GB)
650 watt semi-modular corsair power supply
An old sound card
MSI GTX1070 Gaming X

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
That should be a fine PC.
Mar 28, 2017 9:23AM PDT

Did you upgrade to SSD yet?

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Should I try to upgrade my pc or start again?
Mar 28, 2017 3:04PM PDT

I am looking into upgrading my old pc and I don't know if it would be worth it to go for a new ram/cpu/motherboard or if there is way to upgrade and keep some of those parts. If the best option is to over clock my current cpu then could anyone suggest a cooler for that socket as well as a good full tower case (because there is terrible airflow in my current one)?

Here are my specs:

i5 3570k at stock clock speed & stock cpu fan
Gigabyte Z77-D3H (Motherboard)
16GB DDR3 Corsair Vengeance Pro (2x8GB)
650 watt semi-modular corsair power supply
An old sound card
MSI GTX1070 Gaming X
125 GB SSD & 1 TB HD

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oops
Mar 28, 2017 3:08PM PDT

I thought that would update the original post.

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Answer
Upgrade
Mar 28, 2017 9:27AM PDT

What are you trying to fix?

What does not work to your liking?

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Upgrade
Mar 28, 2017 3:13PM PDT

The cpu is bottlenecking the graphic card's performance when gaming so I am looking to upgrade it. The problem is that I will have to replace my motherboard/ram if I want to upgrade my cpu to anything but the I5 3770k, which will make little difference for the £200+ price tag.

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however
Mar 28, 2017 3:17PM PDT

if you replace the motherboard and if you are using oem/system builders operating system or upgraded from an oem/system builders operating system, you will have to purchase a new operating system to be genuine. that would put a big dent in the price tag.

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Ah
Mar 28, 2017 3:27PM PDT

Yea that would be a problem haha

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No Way !
Mar 28, 2017 3:21PM PDT

That CPU can handle 3 of those GPU"s !
Also, I see that you already have a SSD so this machine should be SMOKIN HOT !!

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It really cant
Mar 28, 2017 3:32PM PDT

The cpu runs at max all the time when playing games and causes stuttering when trying to load lots of objects, possibly large texture files as well (e.g. 4-8k Fallout 4 modded textures etc)

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Bottleneck
Mar 28, 2017 3:22PM PDT

With exception of a couple of games it's highly doubtful that cpu is limiting your games.

Tell why you think the cpu is a problem.

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bottleneck
Mar 28, 2017 4:04PM PDT

"The cpu runs at max all the time when playing games and causes stuttering when trying to load lots of objects, possibly large texture files as well (e.g. 4-8k Fallout 4 modded textures etc)"

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And is this on SSD or old rusty HDD?
Mar 28, 2017 4:12PM PDT

I have a rather last gen 960m and Fallout 4 rare coughs. But I have SSD.

Those Seagates are notorious for high CPU times, just sharing.

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Just read the Speccy. OS on SSD
Mar 28, 2017 4:14PM PDT

And an old 1TB Seagate. Typical of a setup I've seen before.

Try it without the HDD.

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I cant
Mar 28, 2017 4:21PM PDT

I fallout is way to large, especially with my current setup, to fit on my ssd ahah

Would it be worth getting another high quality hard drive to run games from??

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The Seagates, high CPU complaints
Mar 28, 2017 4:27PM PDT

Are too many for me to ignore. I have some gamer laptop with a 512GB M2 SSD and plenty of space left even with Visual Studio, Office, Fallout and more loaded up.

It would be a shame to change the CPU and find it's the usual other bottleneck.

I'm not saying the HDD quality wasn't there but HDDs do start to get wonky and Seagates seem to rule the forums on troubles with seemingly untraceable unexplained CPU loads.

While I've seen it too many times, I also get a lot of questions why. Sorry folk, it's a mystery to me why this is.

Yes, I always try a new SATA cable before we change it out.

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Doubt the bottleneck, The old i5-2500 could
Mar 28, 2017 3:29PM PDT

Drive 3 graphic cards so the issue is somewhere else.

Nod to getting to SSD.

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Answer
You have
Mar 28, 2017 9:36AM PDT

A REALLY cool PC ( I hate to use the word nice )
I would leave everything as is except as Bob mentioned , change to a SSD .

Maybe even lose the sound card , why even have a sound card when the MB has sound built in .
As far as a case goes , that's your choice , but is the computer getting hot or something ?

Maybe give the case and fans a good cleaning with canned air and change the thermal paste on the CPU and if the GPU is out of warranty I would replace the thermal paste on it too.

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Upgrading
Mar 28, 2017 3:25PM PDT

Thanks for the compliment, it's just that the cpu is really bottlenecking the system in terms of performance.

Will the sound card make any difference to the sound quality at all? (considering how old the motherboard is)

The graphics card barely fits in the case (the side panel bends over the pci power cables) and the case has terrible airflow with space for two fans...

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Answer
Also, you said
Mar 28, 2017 3:33PM PDT

" A non branded motherboard that has the FCLGA1155 socket (I will check the name and specs when I get home) " Sooo, what MB is it ?

Maybe post a Speccy here so the Pro's can really dig into this computer and tell really what's what...

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I forgot to update the post
Mar 28, 2017 3:37PM PDT

Gigabyte Z77-D3H

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Wow Nice MB
Mar 28, 2017 3:46PM PDT

Which One ?( I'm Jealous LOL ) I have the third on the list Here and it's only 2 yrs. old

Your stuff is fairly new......

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MB
Mar 28, 2017 3:54PM PDT

It looks like the second one on the list.

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Man ! You'd Be Nuts
Mar 28, 2017 3:56PM PDT

to give that MB up ! Shocked

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Why?
Mar 28, 2017 4:01PM PDT

Is it a particularly good one? (Im pretty new to pc building)

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Take the side panel off...
Mar 28, 2017 3:39PM PDT

and point a fan at it. What happens? Don't rely on temp software for a true reading.
Dafydd.

Post was last edited on March 28, 2017 3:40 PM PDT

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Here is the specky:
Mar 28, 2017 3:41PM PDT
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I still rely on the Pro's to read speccy's
Mar 28, 2017 4:11PM PDT

I'm still learning this part Blush

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But .....
Mar 28, 2017 4:13PM PDT

I Would go to Crucial and run a upgrade test for RAM and upgrade to the fastest RAM possible...

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Well, since Bob gave you a clean report
Mar 28, 2017 4:48PM PDT

While you're at crucial checking for RAM , you might want to see what they suggest for a larger SSD like the one Bob suggested .

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Pretty clean Speccy.
Mar 28, 2017 4:19PM PDT

Just toss out the virtual CD/DVD emulator.