[SOLVED] $1000 Budget | Upgrade or New Build?

[fluffythedog]

hello everyone, I'm currently looking to upgrade my home desktop computer. It's currently about 10 years old but I have previously upgraded some parts.
I've mostly been using Mac Book Pros over the last few years for work so I haven't used this desktop as much which is why it's so old.

I'm looking to update a few parts so I can support Windows 11 and just to improve overall performance. I'm open to upgrading any parts.

Approximate Purchase Date: Now, but no real rush

Budget Range: $1,000 USD, but can go higher if it's worth it (up to ~$3,000*)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Programming, Surfing the internet, Figma/Photoshop, Video Editing, Some Gaming, 3ds max/maya

Are you buying a monitor: No (but i can for the pixels... ) Currently have 2x - Asus mx279H . 27 inch. 1920x1080px

Location: NYC

My user benchmark: Userbenchmark

The original computer was an Alienware Aurora ~2010-2011

 

[jay32267]

I'd go with a new build.
That's an old socket (although I'm still running one with an i7-980 but that PC is only for surfing these days)
You aren't going to get much faster with a CPU with what you have.

 

[helper800]

If you have waited 10 years already I would wait another 3 months. By then AMD and Intel will have released all their new processors and you will have more options. GPU market is also kind of crazy and will be fore the foreseeable future. The 1080 you have will most likely be what you will be using in the next build unless you want to spend 50-120% MSRP premium for a newer GPU. If you want something anyway I would do this for AMD as a top option.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 3.7 GHz 12-Core Processor ($559.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 72.8 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($108.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (WI-FI) ATX AM4 Motherboard ($197.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory ($169.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial MX500 2 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($166.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: Corsair RMx (2021) 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1608.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-10-26 11:13 EDT-0400

And something like this for an Intel top option.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-11700K 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($389.99 @ Adorama)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 72.8 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($108.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z590 AORUS PRO AX ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($206.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory ($169.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial MX500 2 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($166.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: Corsair RMx (2021) 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1447.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-10-26 11:18 EDT-0400

 

[Why_Me]

You can use the onboard graphics for now or go with the graphics card in this post.

https://www.newegg.com/black-phanteks-eclipse-p400a-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811854085
Phanteks Eclipse P400A Mid Tower Computer Case $74.99

Exhaust fan for that case.

https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-F12-PWM-PST-Technology/dp/B002QVLBM2/
ARCTIC P12 PWM, 120mm 4-Pin Case Fan $6.99

https://www.newegg.com/super-flower-leadex-iii-sf-550f14hg-550w/p/1HU-024C-00008
Super Flower Leadex III 550W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply $74.99

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813144396
MSI MAG B560M BAZOOKA $139.99

or ...

https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-b560m-aorus-pro/p/N82E16813145332
GIGABYTE AORUS B560M $139.99

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124826721651
Intel Core i7-11700 $329.99

https://www.amazon.com/Gelid-Solutions-Black-CPU-Cooler/dp/B00BF3LF2I
Gelid Solutions Phantom Black CPU Cooler $39.99

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-Desktop-Gaming-BL2K8G32C16U4B/dp/B083TSLDF2
Crucial Ballistix DDR4 3200MHz 32GB (16GBx2) CL16 $139.99

https://www.newegg.com/western-digital-blue-sn550-nvme-1tb/p/N82E16820250135
WD Blue SN550 NVMe M.2 2280 1TB PCIe 3D NAND Internal SSD $89.99

Total: $821

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265375381441
ASUS Dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 V2 OC 12GB Graphics Card $799.00

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B560M-BAZOOKA

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/B560M-AORUS-ELITE-rev-10#kf

http://www.phanteks.com/Eclipse-P400A.html

 

[helper800]

Use the onboard graphics for now

https://www.newegg.com/black-phanteks-eclipse-p400a-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811854085
Phanteks Eclipse P400A Mid Tower Computer Case $74.99

Exhaust fan for that case.

https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-F12-PWM-PST-Technology/dp/B002QVLBM2/
ARCTIC P12 PWM, 120mm 4-Pin Case Fan $6.99

https://www.newegg.com/super-flower-leadex-iii-sf-550f14hg-550w/p/1HU-024C-00008
Super Flower Leadex III 550W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply $74.99

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813144396
MSI MAG B560M BAZOOKA $139.99

or ...

https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-b560m-aorus-pro/p/N82E16813145332
GIGABYTE AORUS B560M $139.99

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124826721651
Intel Core i7-11700 $339.99

https://www.amazon.com/Gelid-Solutions-Black-CPU-Cooler/dp/B00BF3LF2I
Gelid Solutions Phantom Black CPU Cooler $39.99

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-Desktop-Gaming-BL2K8G32C16U4B/dp/B083TSLDF2
Crucial Ballistix DDR4 3200MHz 32GB (16GBx2) CL16 $139.99

https://www.newegg.com/western-digital-blue-sn550-nvme-1tb/p/N82E16820250135
WD Blue SN550 NVMe M.2 2280 1TB PCIe 3D NAND Internal SSD $89.99

Total: $831

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B560M-BAZOOKA

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/B560M-AORUS-ELITE-rev-10#kf

http://www.phanteks.com/Eclipse-P400A.html

Another Perfectly reasonable more budget oriented build.

 

[fluffythedog]

Great, thanks for all the recommendations. I can certainly wait 3 months until the new processors come out as I'm in no immediate rush as my computer is running perfectly fine.

I'll definitely keep the 1080 for now too. Seems the biggest upgrades I need here are the CPU and Motherboard; although I'm surprised how well my current CPU is performing against the top ones at the moment when comparing effective speed (on userbenchmark).

I should be able to keep my case as well? or do you highly recommend against it?

And regarding the power supply is 850W more than enough? I'd rather spend some additional $ to be well covered.

 

[RodroX]

Great, thanks for all the recommendations. I can certainly wait 3 months until the new processors come out as I'm in no immediate rush as my computer is running perfectly fine.

I'll definitely keep the 1080 for now too. Seems the biggest upgrades I need here are the CPU and Motherboard; although I'm surprised how well my current CPU is performing against the top ones at the moment when comparing effective speed (on userbenchmark).

I should be able to keep my case as well? or do you highly recommend against it?

And regarding the power supply is 850W more than enough? I'd rather spend some additional $ to be well covered.

Don't trust benchmark results of userbenchmark. Its a good tool to list all your components and have a fast look at some problem but as a benchmark go its worthless.

If you wana know how your current builds "compare" try other tools, for example (just to name some of them):

• Cinebench R20 (https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/download-maxon-cinebench.html - you can Run Single and Multi-thread tests)
• https://www.pugetsystems.com/benchmarks/ (for Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects)

You may compare your results to this ones (for example): https://www.techspot.com/review/2132-amd-ryzen-5900x/ and/or https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-core-i7-11700k-cpu-review/5 and there are plenty more sites.

And I agree with others, if you can wait a bit you may be able to grab a new CPU model, or an old one with a discount (with some luck).

Regarding the PSU: For a CPU+Motherboard+RAM+ 2 SSD (m.2 nvme) + 4 hdd + liquid or air cooling, 850watts is way more than enough. If you are not overclocking, which you shouldn't on a production/wroking machine, then (without a GPU) 500 watts is also more than enough. But is good to have the extra room of the 850watts, in case you wana add a discrete card like a RTX 3070/RX 6700XT.

At this point in time only intel non-F and Ryzen G skus are the only ones that comes with an integrated GPU.

Your case looks awesome, but I do not know how good is the airflow. Also to keep it, you have to be sure to can install standard PSUs and components in general. And you will be missing the newest front panel ports like USB 3.X and USB C (but perhaps you don't need them).

 

[RyzenNoob]

That CPU is ancient to be honest, it predates around 2012 something like that. So I would go for a complete system overhaul