$450 to $550 Core update.

[Frost19]

Looking for some insight into overhauling the core of my older PC.

Approximate Purchase Date: Now to one month

Budget Range: $450 to $550

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Mostly Gaming (Not worried about max settings just need to run smoothly.)

Current Setup:
CPU: Intel Core2 Duo CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 DDR2 16 GB ATX Motherboard
Memory: Gskill DDR2 4 MB (x2 2GB)
Graphics Card: PNY Nvidia 250 GTS 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0
Hard Drive: 250 GB Segate 5400 RPM

Parts to Upgrade:
CPU
Motherboard
GPU
Memory
Hard drive

Possible upgrade solutions: (limited knowledge and time spent looking)
CPU: (AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition or Intel Core i3-2120)
Motherboard: (No idea here)
GPU: (Gigabyte GTX 550 Ti or EVGA GTX 560)
Memory: (4/8GB G.Skill DDR3 12800)
Hard drive: (Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7200RPM)

Already have the following:
Case: Mid-Tower
Optical Drive: DvD drive.
Power Supply: Corsair Tx750W

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com, Amazon.com, TigerDirect.com, Microcenter.com

Location: St. Louis, MO 63124

Parts Preferences: None. I have not kept up with hardware tech over the past years, banking on the knowledge of those helping here.

Overclocking: Maybe, if worth it for extra preformance.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050

Why Are You Upgrading: Current system seems ancient, around five years since last major overhaul.

*Edited to make clearer

 

[Roxas2030]

What parts are you looking to upgrade?

 

[Frost19]

I edited my orginal post to make it clearer.

Here is what I am looking to upgrade.
CPU
Motherboard
GPU
Memory
Hard drive

 

[kevin83]

Yes, overclocking will help performance, but the greatest bang for your buck at that price range in my opinion would be to use the core i3-2120, allowing you to spend $100 more on graphics which won't be limited much by that beast of a processor. Overall your ideas

Asrock Z77 Extreme4 motherboard -$125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
Core i3 2120 processor -$125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077
8gb gskill ddr3-1600 ram -$46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
Western digital 500gb 7200rpm -$70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

If you need to stick to nvidia, the 550ti gigabyte oc - $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125409
But I personally would recommend a 7770 anyday for $110:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125415

That would provide significantly better performance for $476. Also, allowing you to sli/crossfire in the future if you change your mind. Have fun!

 

[lycros]

What PSU do you have?

 

[Frost19]

PSU is Corsair Tx750W

 

[pit_1209]

well, if you can get the gtx 560 then get it, that card is just way ahead of any gtx 550 or hd 7770

 

[kevin83]

yes if you are willing to spend money closer to the upper limit of your price range then the 560 and 560 ti are the best options.

 

[songorocosongo]

I think you should consider this GPU
$160 HIS Radeon HD6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161389

or

any 560, like this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660

These graphics cards will last longer and your eyes will be much more satisfied.

 

[lycros]

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB
MOBO: ASRock Z77 Pro4
CPU/RAM Combo: Intel Core i5-2310/Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
GPU: PNY GTX 560 $20 Promo Code - PNY7X6B

Total: $542.95 Free shipping

 

[songorocosongo]

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB
MOBO: ASRock Z77 Pro4
CPU/RAM Combo: Intel Core i5-2310/Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
GPU: PNY GTX 560 $20 Promo Code - PNY7X6B

Total: $542.95 Free shipping

+1 You can't go wrong with that setup

 

[kevin83]

I would spend the extra $10 and get the gigabyte super overclock 560.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125390

 

[lycros]

I would spend the extra $10 and get the gigabyte super overclock 560.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125390

Why? The PNY has a pretty good cooler as well, and I'm sure that 90Mhz isn't going to be noticed, plus the PNY has a lifetime warranty.

 

[Frost19]

Thanks for the feedback and helping me go in the right direction. After reading some more and looking at some other threads around, this is what im currently looking at.

CPU: Intel Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor $190

Im not sure where this CPU ranks among the others listed just say it was in the same price range. If I understand correctly while the 2500k would be better for overclocking more so than the 3570k, the 3570k will be able to use PCIe 3.0.

Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 1155 ATX Intel Motherboard $45 (combo deal w/CPU)

Memory:G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB $46

Hard Drive: Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 500GB 7200 RPM $70

Video Card:PNY GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) (Fermi) $180

Now I saw that the video card had both a promo code and a mail in rebate not sure if I can get both.

Tax(CPU and MB from Microcenter) = $22
Total before rebates = $553
Total after 1 rebate = $533
Total after both rebates = $513

 

[lycros]

Looks great, (yay microcenter) that CPU would be your optimal gaming pick

Everything else looks good.

And yes you can use the promo code and the rebate.

So you'd be at 533.11 before the MIR. Free shipping from newegg, and you'd have to go pick up the cpu/mobo from your microcenter.

BTW microcenter also has the pro4 for a few bucks more. Here is a comparison of the two http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%2050001944%20600093976%20600315497&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-157-297^13-157-297-TS%2C13-157-296^13-157-296-TS for you to consider. You'll still be under your budget of $550... by 48 cents

 

[kevin83]

Who needs a lifetime warranty when the card will be obselete in 4 years? Plus the heatsink on the gigabyte soc card will certainly keep things cooler than the more simplistic pny cooler. Also, a 90 mhz bump is a more than 10% clock speed increase, which the cooler is designed to accomodate, unlike the pny design. That is certainly noticable.