Advice for components I choose to upgrade please.

[adrian.boysselle]

here is a list i have made. i love gaming and i like performance over cost, but i know there is such thing as going overboard. if there is any info that i should add to what i prefer please let me know, specifically the motherboard is what i'm unsure of the most. i personally only care about gaming, no streaming or anything. i also only care to overclock the cpu but not by much. i use alot of fan cooling and enjoy alot of USBs but speed of them isn't entirely a priority, mostly cause i dont know the difference.
Edit:
-my hardrives are old and dying.
-i suspect my ram is dying aswell.
-just bought the pwer supply
- just bought the 980 ti 2 years ago

COMPUTER SPECS

CURRENT BUILD

HARDRIVE
1TB 7200RPM WD1002FAEX
500GB 7200RPM WD5001AALS
300GB 7200RPM 7L300S0

GRAPHICS
EVGA 980-TI 6GB

RAM
2X 4GB DDR3 1333GHz KHX1333C9D3B1K2/8G
2X 2GB DDR3 1333GHz KHX1333C7D3K2/4G

MOBO
MSI Z77-MPOWER

SSD
N/A

PSU
EVGA 850W GOLD
100-240V
10A

CPU
I5-3570K 3.4GHz
4 CORE
4 THREAD
6MB CACHE
DDR3 1333/1600 COMPAT.

DREAM UPGRADE BUILD
($1125 to upgrade)
($770 without harddrive upgrade and SSD)

HARDRIVE
4TB 7200RPM BLACK WD4004FZWX
1TB 7200RPM WD1002FAEX

GRAPHICS
EVGA 980-TI 6GB

RAM
2X 8GB DDR4 2400GHz GF4-2400C15D-16GVR

MOBO
ASROCK Z370 KILLER SLI/ac

SSD
SAMSUNG 850 500GB

PSU
EVGA 850W GOLD
100-240V
10A

CPU
I7-8700K 3.7GHz
6 CORE
12 THREAD
12MB CACHE
DDR4 2666 COMPAT.

 
ECON UPGRADE BUILD
($780 to upgrade)
($580 without harddrive upgrade and SSD)

HARDRIVE
2TB 5400RPM RED WD20EFRX
1TB 7200RPM WD1002FAEX

GRAPHICS
EVGA 980-TI 6GB

RAM
2X 4GB DDR4 2133GHz F4-2133C15D-8GVR

MOBO
ASUS Z70 PRO GAMING LGA

SSD
SAMSUNG 850 250GB

PSU
EVGA 850W GOLD
100-240V
10A

CPU
I7-7700K 4.2GHz
4 CORE
8 THREAD
8MB CACHE
DDR3L 1333/1600
DDR4 2133/2400

 

[Barty1884]

If I were you, I wouldn't look to any wholesale upgrades right now - a 980TI + 3570K pairing is still very solid.

Depending on the titles you play, an upgrade to an i7 within the same socket (3770K) might be worth considering if you can do it cheap enough, and add an SSD for your OS/frequently used programs.

With a bit of luck, you could net a 3770K for <$150.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-i7-3770K-3-5GHz-Quad-Core-Processor-Pulled-from-a-working-system/282731632573?hash=item41d41e57bd:g:8QsAAOSwyYFZ~4l7
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-i7-3770K-3-5GHz-Quad-Core-BX80637I73770K-Processor/282727860235?epid=115945079&hash=item41d3e4c80b:gHQAAOSwZaNaBL~l

and a budget 240GB SSD.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $74.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-14 11:34 EST-0500

 

[adrian.boysselle]

If I were you, I wouldn't look to any wholesale upgrades right now - a 980TI + 3570K pairing is still very solid.

Depending on the titles you play, an upgrade to an i7 within the same socket (3770K) might be worth considering if you can do it cheap enough, and add an SSD for your OS/frequently used programs.

With a bit of luck, you could net a 3770K for <$150.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-i7-3770K-3-5GHz-Quad-Core-Processor-Pulled-from-a-working-system/282731632573?hash=item41d41e57bd:g:8QsAAOSwyYFZ~4l7
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-i7-3770K-3-5GHz-Quad-Core-BX80637I73770K-Processor/282727860235?epid=115945079&hash=item41d3e4c80b:gHQAAOSwZaNaBL~l

and a budget 240GB SSD.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $74.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-14 11:34 EST-0500

i've calculated a large bottleneck from my cpu. i've been wanting to upgrade my cpu/motherboard for a while. my thought process is, buy a more modern component that has a large leap in tech so it can hold it's value at higher end gaming for atleast 5 years. with that in mind is it still not practical to switch from a i5 3750k to i7 8700k?

EDIT: i play games like total war warhammer. intend to play COD, maybe, civ6, and will end my life playing STAR CITIZEN for the next 20 years

i also intend to upgrade to a 1080ti(or better) here in the next 1-1.5. since it's so much better than the 980ti

 

[Barty1884]

It really depends what you're hoping for in "holding it's value" for ~5 years.

For example, look at an i7-3770K combo on eBay recently. As low as $120, as high as $250.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/Motherboard-CPU-Combos/131511/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=i7-3770k&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

Considering most of those combos would've cost a little over $500 when new.... only you can decide if it'll hold it's "value" sufficiently.

Is it practical? Sure/. Is it economical? Debatable in all honesty.
A new CPU+Mobo+RAM is going to set you back a minimum $650 (if you don't need a cooler)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($414.89 @ B&H)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z370 HD3 (rev. 1.0) ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($101.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team - Dark 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $656.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-14 11:48 EST-0500

You should be able to net $200 fairly easily selling your i5 + board + RAM.
Can you reasonably expect the equivalent of your net spend (~$450) in "more" performance? Personally, I don't think so.

Of course, there's value in warranty etc - and your current board won't last forever etc........ but a 3770K should still be very viable for what you want to do.

To give you an example (not the most extensive results ever, of course).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFv3ormtezs

So, in gaming..... when paired with a stronger a bit stronger a GPU (1080), gaming gains sit somewhere between 10-30%, depending on the title. With a slightly weaker GPU in your 980TI, I'd expect those results to be even closer.


Not saying it makes no sense to upgrade your CPU/Mobo/RAM, just trying to point out a potentially more economical route.
If a new platform is within budget etc, then go for it.

You may want to consider the Ryzen route if you go for a new platform.
6c/12t, OCing, decent stock cooler etc. For a solid $250 less than an i7-8700K.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($193.44 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-AB350M-Gaming 3 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team - Dark 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $393.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-14 11:54 EST-0500

 

[adrian.boysselle]

i completely understand where you're coming from. i guess it also doesn't help that i'm set on upgrading to either the kabylake or coffeelake. i sometimes tend to like the show off factor of having the latest and greatest to a reasonable extend, not going to spend $1000 on a SSD.

i noticed you linked a gigabyte motherboard that is way cheaper than what i picked. what are the differences?
and are bundles online cheaper than buying the cpu/mobo separately?

 

[Barty1884]

Ryzen 5 is also the "latest" from AMD..... and I'd give it some consideration if I were in your shoes. It's a pretty solid value proposition, while still being a "new" platform with DDR4 etc, and I believe AMD confirmed they'll be supporting/upgrading within the socket through 2020.

As for the Z370 board I opted for
The Gigabyte board has a $15 rebate (so usually $115 + shipping), doesn't support SLI or have onboard Wifi (like the Killer SLI/AC you linked).
Outside of the SLI aspect, it's pretty comparable to the second ASUS board you mentioned..... assuming you're looking at the TUF board? https://pcpartpicker.com/product/7gDzK8/asus-tuf-z370-pro-gaming-atx-lga1151-motherboard-tuf-z370-pro-gaming

There will be slight differences in their VRM/power-phases etc, but it's a solid board.

 

[madmatt30]

I certainly wouldn't entertain anything coffee lake for at least the next couple of months.
They're overpriced & in short supply at the minute & will be until well after Xmas IMO