$1,000ish Budget to Upgrade Most of My Machine

[LEIP]

Hi,

I appreciate your time in advance to read my post and any suggestions you have.

Here is what I have currently:

CPU: i-5 2500K socket 1155
Mobo: ASUS P8Z68 V-Pro (gen 1)
Ram: Corsair Vengance DDR3 - 2x4GB
SSD: OCZ Vector 240GB
GPU: EVGA/GTX 660Ti/2048 MB x2
PSU: Corsair TX 850W
Chassis: CoolMaster Mid-Size ATX Case

I have been experiencing problems too numerous to list and am looking to replace just about everything, except the GPUs. My guess is that my problems stem from the Mobo/BIOS and the fact that the board wasn't being supported well before W10 was introduced, which is what I am running.

I'm looking to make a purchase this week with a budget of around $1,000.

I use the PC for work and gaming. Work is Office programs and web, nothing graphic/data intensive. For PC gaming I enjoy BF4 and will likely purchase whatever new title they come out with next (no BF1 for me), which is why I feel it is ok to keep my GPUs. Work is primary but I want it to be able to handle games when I feel like playing.

I have two ASUS 21" monitors that are decent and I plan to keep (they run 1920 x 1080) - longer term goal is to get something that will integrate with the GPU when I make that purchase at a later date. So I would like this machine to be able to handle newer/better GPU in the future that has monitor sync capabilities.

I definitely want to update Mobo, CPU, RAM, SSD, PSU (would like modular) and a case (wall mounted would be ideal but not worth sacrificing part of my budget to stretch this item). For a case I would prefer not to have something that is closed, I like to see the innards (simple, clean looking, but not over the top).

I have W10 currently, it was part of the buy W7 get W10 upgrade for free - my guess is that I will have to purchase W10 as a result?

I am open to suggestions for locations to purchase parts. I live in CT and discovered that NewEgg is throwing many residents under the bus if they made purchases from them and did not report them on their taxes.

I have had Intel and AMD chips in the past and am open to suggestions/options. Are the newest Intel chips immune from the Spectre/Meltdown security issues? I have only ever used ASUS mobo but am not married to them. I am actually disappointed with the problems I have and the fact that there are no solutions available on my current machine.

I might overclock and will definitely be using SLI.

Feel free to let me know if there is something missing from this post or you if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my post and offering any solutions.

Best,
LEIP

 

[Finstar]

You chose a pretty bad time to upgrade. All gpus (especially midrange) are overpriced af.
The only gpu That you could buy + platform upgrade is the 1060 6gb which you can't sli.

You could buy a GTX 1080 or a 1080 ti which are not effect by the prices as much and upgrade your platform later.
Alternatively, you could upgrade your cpu, ram and motherboard now and get a new gpu later on.
Upgrading both cpu and gpu right now just isn't worth it.

 

[vapour]

try to link your win10 to microsoft account and try to activate after install, some claimed they can transfer win7 to win10 license despite official announcement. 8600k is quite good enough but feel free to get 8700k if you like.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8600K 3.6GHz 6-Core Processor ($249.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Extreme4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($156.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $696.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-20 11:27 EST-0500

 

[Finstar]

try to link your win10 to microsoft account and try to activate after install, some claimed they can transfer win7 to win10 license despite official announcement. 8600k is quite good enough but feel free to get 8700k if you like.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8600K 3.6GHz 6-Core Processor ($249.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Extreme4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($156.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $696.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-20 11:27 EST-0500

New psu really won't be needed. The TX 850W op has is plenty even after 5+ years.

 

[vapour]

New psu really won't be needed. The TX 850W op has is plenty even after 5+ years.

I agree, but OP says "I definitely want to update Mobo, CPU, RAM, SSD, PSU (would like modular)" ...

 

[Finstar]

I'd personally keep everything but the gpus. Overclock the cpu to +4.5GHz and get a GTX 1080.
Those old Kepler 660 tis are no good for gaming nowadays and sli sucks anyways.

 

[ikaz]

If your not planing to OC then I would say you could look at a i5 8400 which you can use the stock cooler that will save you about $100 (over vapour build above). The biggest hit to your budget right now would be GPU so you it maybe worth it to rebuild your GPU's for now and watch prices every once in awhile you maybe able find an ok deal.

 

[LEIP]

I'd personally keep everything but the gpus. Overclock the cpu to +4.5GHz and get a GTX 1080.
Those old Kepler 660 tis are no good for gaming nowadays and sli sucks anyways.

My machine keeps crashing and either BSOD or auto repair loop. Any time I seek help I get the same answer - "when was your BIOS last updated". BIOS on my machine is from 2012 and ASUS says it is was past end of life...i.e. no support or updates. My PSU only has three PCI-E power branches, so I had to take two four pin power branches and get a PCI-E adapter. Doing that never gives me the warm fuzzies that my machine is set up appropriately, which is why I wanted to consider going modular.

I should have also mentioned that I have a Corsair Hydro H80 which I can use on a new CPU

Thanks for everyone's feedback so far.

 

[Finstar]

I'd personally keep everything but the gpus. Overclock the cpu to +4.5GHz and get a GTX 1080.
Those old Kepler 660 tis are no good for gaming nowadays and sli sucks anyways.

My machine keeps crashing and either BSOD or auto repair loop. Any time I seek help I get the same answer - "when was your BIOS last updated". BIOS on my machine is from 2012 and ASUS says it is was past end of life...i.e. no support or updates. My PSU only has three PCI-E power branches, so I had to take two four pin power branches and get a PCI-E adapter. Doing that never gives me the warm fuzzies that my machine is set up appropriately, which is why I wanted to consider going modular.

I should have also mentioned that I have a Corsair Hydro H80 which I can use on a new CPU

Thanks for everyone's feedback so far.

What's the BSOD code?
Asking about the bios is what many people here like doing when they can't figure out anything else.
However, i've never, ever seen a case where an old bios would have suddenly started causing crashes.

My no.1 suspect would be the motherboard. Asus motherboards from that time were really bad (i personally had 2 lga1155 boards die within a year). Though that basically means that a new mobo+cpu+ram is a must.

 

[LEIP]

I'd personally keep everything but the gpus. Overclock the cpu to +4.5GHz and get a GTX 1080.
Those old Kepler 660 tis are no good for gaming nowadays and sli sucks anyways.

My machine keeps crashing and either BSOD or auto repair loop. Any time I seek help I get the same answer - "when was your BIOS last updated". BIOS on my machine is from 2012 and ASUS says it is was past end of life...i.e. no support or updates. My PSU only has three PCI-E power branches, so I had to take two four pin power branches and get a PCI-E adapter. Doing that never gives me the warm fuzzies that my machine is set up appropriately, which is why I wanted to consider going modular.

I should have also mentioned that I have a Corsair Hydro H80 which I can use on a new CPU

Thanks for everyone's feedback so far.

What's the BSOD code?
Asking about the bios is what many people here like doing when they can't figure out anything else.
However, i've never, ever seen a case where an old bios would have suddenly started causing crashes.

My no.1 suspect would be the motherboard. Asus motherboards from that time were really bad (i personally had 2 lga1155 boards die within a year). Though that basically means that a new mobo+cpu+ram is a must.

Here is what I posted on Bleeping Computer - since everything is contained there, I thought this was the easiest. Hopefully I am not breaking any forum rules.

Gaming seems to be what makes it crash more and more these days....

 

[Finstar]

I'd personally keep everything but the gpus. Overclock the cpu to +4.5GHz and get a GTX 1080.
Those old Kepler 660 tis are no good for gaming nowadays and sli sucks anyways.

My machine keeps crashing and either BSOD or auto repair loop. Any time I seek help I get the same answer - "when was your BIOS last updated". BIOS on my machine is from 2012 and ASUS says it is was past end of life...i.e. no support or updates. My PSU only has three PCI-E power branches, so I had to take two four pin power branches and get a PCI-E adapter. Doing that never gives me the warm fuzzies that my machine is set up appropriately, which is why I wanted to consider going modular.

I should have also mentioned that I have a Corsair Hydro H80 which I can use on a new CPU

Thanks for everyone's feedback so far.

What's the BSOD code?
Asking about the bios is what many people here like doing when they can't figure out anything else.
However, i've never, ever seen a case where an old bios would have suddenly started causing crashes.

My no.1 suspect would be the motherboard. Asus motherboards from that time were really bad (i personally had 2 lga1155 boards die within a year). Though that basically means that a new mobo+cpu+ram is a must.

Here is what I posted on Bleeping Computer - since everything is contained there, I thought this was the easiest. Hopefully I am not breaking any forum rules.

Gaming seems to be what makes it crash more and more these days....

Kernel power 41 only means that your pc wasn't shut down correctly.
You'll get the same code if you pull the power cable off while your pc is on.
The BSOD screen will have a code like:
DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION
or
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
Likely not the same but it'll look similar.

 

[LEIP]

I'd personally keep everything but the gpus. Overclock the cpu to +4.5GHz and get a GTX 1080.
Those old Kepler 660 tis are no good for gaming nowadays and sli sucks anyways.

My machine keeps crashing and either BSOD or auto repair loop. Any time I seek help I get the same answer - "when was your BIOS last updated". BIOS on my machine is from 2012 and ASUS says it is was past end of life...i.e. no support or updates. My PSU only has three PCI-E power branches, so I had to take two four pin power branches and get a PCI-E adapter. Doing that never gives me the warm fuzzies that my machine is set up appropriately, which is why I wanted to consider going modular.

I should have also mentioned that I have a Corsair Hydro H80 which I can use on a new CPU

Thanks for everyone's feedback so far.

What's the BSOD code?
Asking about the bios is what many people here like doing when they can't figure out anything else.
However, i've never, ever seen a case where an old bios would have suddenly started causing crashes.

My no.1 suspect would be the motherboard. Asus motherboards from that time were really bad (i personally had 2 lga1155 boards die within a year). Though that basically means that a new mobo+cpu+ram is a must.

Here is what I posted on Bleeping Computer - since everything is contained there, I thought this was the easiest. Hopefully I am not breaking any forum rules.

Gaming seems to be what makes it crash more and more these days....

Kernel power 41 only means that your pc wasn't shut down correctly.
You'll get the same code if you pull the power cable off while your pc is on.
The BSOD screen will have a code like:
DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION
or
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
Likely not the same but it'll look similar.

It would start with that while gaming and lead to worse and worse problems...like BSOD and auto repair loop. Since I have done a complete new installation, all those logs are gone. They may be in the troubleshooting stuff I posted on Bleeping Computer, but I don't know what to look for in what I posted.

 

[Finstar]

It would start with that while gaming and lead to worse and worse problems...like BSOD and auto repair loop. Since I have done a complete new installation, all those logs are gone. They may be in the troubleshooting stuff I posted on Bleeping Computer, but I don't know what to look for in what I posted.

I suspect it's either RAM or Motherboard.
Oh well, you're building new anyways so here's few options:

1. Lower end gpu + good cpu
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($339.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Pro4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($126.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB GT OCV1 Video Card ($334.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1005.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-20 14:11 EST-0500

2. lower end cpu and look for deals on better gpus like the gtx 1070, gtx 1070 ti and the gtx 1080.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($178.90 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z370P D3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $448.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-20 14:13 EST-0500

 

[LEIP]

try to link your win10 to microsoft account and try to activate after install, some claimed they can transfer win7 to win10 license despite official announcement. 8600k is quite good enough but feel free to get 8700k if you like.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8600K 3.6GHz 6-Core Processor ($249.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Extreme4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($156.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $696.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-20 11:27 EST-0500

Thank you @vapour for taking the time to put this together for me

 

[LEIP]

It would start with that while gaming and lead to worse and worse problems...like BSOD and auto repair loop. Since I have done a complete new installation, all those logs are gone. They may be in the troubleshooting stuff I posted on Bleeping Computer, but I don't know what to look for in what I posted.

I suspect it's either RAM or Motherboard.
Oh well, you're building new anyways so here's few options:

1. Lower end gpu + good cpu
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($339.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370 Pro4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($126.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB GT OCV1 Video Card ($334.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1005.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-20 14:11 EST-0500

2. lower end cpu and look for deals on better gpus like the gtx 1070, gtx 1070 ti and the gtx 1080.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($178.90 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z370P D3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $448.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-20 14:13 EST-0500

Thank you @Finstar for putting both of these options together for me. Quick question: how does the GPU you propose in build #1 compare to my two 660Ti in SLI? Also, you made a comment saying 'SLI sucks', can you elaborate? Thanks again!

 

[Finstar]

Thank you @Finstar for putting both of these options together for me. Quick question: how does the GPU you propose in build #1 compare to my two 660Ti in SLI? Also, you made a comment saying 'SLI sucks', can you elaborate? Thanks again!

Well, considering that the 660 ti can't really even beat the gtx 1050, take away 20-40% of the second ones speed due to SLI scaling and and a single 1060 6gb will still be around 50% faster. Then there's why i said that SLI sucks: it's not supported in all games, they only have 2gb of vram which will run out very fast in new games, you get issues like microstutter and heat not to mention that both Nvidia and AMD are working less and less on multigpu system driver optimization. It's overall more trouble than what it's worth.