Build Advice Build/ Upgrade advice

Points237

Honorable
Jan 9, 2017
6
0
10,510
I am looking to upgrade my PC that I built 9 years ago. I also realize I may need to just start over. I'm looking into the RTX 4080 to future proof myself a bit, but they seem a bit pricey. I am not buying a monitor or SSD as I currently have a 1440p and ~3TB in SSD memory.

I primarily game and photo edit on my PC. My budget is under ~$2k and I live in the US.

Current Specs:
i7-4770k CPU
ASUS GTX 1070 8GB GPU
Corsair 8GB 2X4 DDR3 1600
Gigabyte Z87X Motherboard
CX600M 600 Watt Power Supply
Carbide Series 300R Mid-Tower ATX

Thanks for any expertise you can provide!
 
I am looking to upgrade my PC that I built 9 years ago. I also realize I may need to just start over. I'm looking into the RTX 4080 to future proof myself a bit, but they seem a bit pricey. I am not buying a monitor or SSD as I currently have a 1440p and ~3TB in SSD memory.

I primarily game and photo edit on my PC. My budget is under ~$2k and I live in the US.

Current Specs:
i7-4770k CPU
ASUS GTX 1070 8GB GPU
Corsair 8GB 2X4 DDR3 1600
Gigabyte Z87X Motherboard
CX600M 600 Watt Power Supply
Carbide Series 300R Mid-Tower ATX

Thanks for any expertise you can provide!

For that kind of budget you have plenty of options. For your photo editing a new cpu / memory will give you a bit boost in performance from Haswell.

On the graphics card side of things, the 4080 is terrible value, and kind of overkill for 1440p. If it were me I'd probably skip the current flagship cards, maybe look at a decent last gen card for now (something like a RX 6700 XT would be a massive jump over your 1070 and doesn't cost that much). That would free up more of your budget for the platform. I think there will be better GPU options in the long run - with Intel entering the GPU space (with a surprisingly capable card for modern games) and AMD moving to a chiplet based GPU design I think there are going to be some interesting options coming up in the next few years that would make more sense to upgrade to (and given the high cost of the 4080 you could buy an RX 6700 XT now for $400, upgrade to a newer card in a couple of years time and still likely have spent less than the 4080).

The tricky thing on the platform side is the fact, again, there are some interesting things due just around the corner (specifically AMD's 'X3D' versions of the Ryzen 7000 series parts which are supposedly being announced at CES in Jan). If anything it might be worth waiting a bit for reviews on those before pulling the trigger. The Ryzen 7 5800 X3D has proven to be pretty special - it can still match the best Intel 13th Gen and Ryzen 7000 series parts in games despite the older platform / ram.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Points237

Points237

Honorable
Jan 9, 2017
6
0
10,510
For that kind of budget you have plenty of options. For your photo editing a new cpu / memory will give you a bit boost in performance from Haswell.

On the graphics card side of things, the 4080 is terrible value, and kind of overkill for 1440p. If it were me I'd probably skip the current flagship cards, maybe look at a decent last gen card for now (something like a RX 6700 XT would be a massive jump over your 1070 and doesn't cost that much). That would free up more of your budget for the platform. I think there will be better GPU options in the long run - with Intel entering the GPU space (with a surprisingly capable card for modern games) and AMD moving to a chiplet based GPU design I think there are going to be some interesting options coming up in the next few years that would make more sense to upgrade to (and given the high cost of the 4080 you could buy an RX 6700 XT now for $400, upgrade to a newer card in a couple of years time and still likely have spent less than the 4080).

The tricky thing on the platform side is the fact, again, there are some interesting things due just around the corner (specifically AMD's 'X3D' versions of the Ryzen 7000 series parts which are supposedly being announced at CES in Jan). If anything it might be worth waiting a bit for reviews on those before pulling the trigger. The Ryzen 7 5800 X3D has proven to be pretty special - it can still match the best Intel 13th Gen and Ryzen 7000 series parts in games despite the older platform / ram.

Thanks for the response. I have always used Nvidia and Intel, so I admit that I have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to AMD. I am looking to buying after the New Year, so maybe waiting is worth it.

How old is the Ryzen 7 5800 X3D?
 
Last edited:

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
I would not do a brand new AM4 build, as you have 0 upgrade path. If you live near a microcenter, you can get a free 32gb ddr5 6000 kit, with purchase of an AM5 Ryzen 7 or 9, plus the $20 motherboard discount. What software are you using for your photo editing?
 

Points237

Honorable
Jan 9, 2017
6
0
10,510
I would not do a brand new AM4 build, as you have 0 upgrade path. If you live near a microcenter, you can get a free 32gb ddr5 6000 kit, with purchase of an AM5 Ryzen 7 or 9, plus the $20 motherboard discount. What software are you using for your photo editing?

Sounds like a great deal, unfortunately the closest MC is 100 miles away. I use Adobe Lightroom.
 

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
I am roughly 75 miles away from the one I shop at. Do what I do, make a day out of it. Mine is near St. Louis, MO. I go there, hit up Cheesecake factory, or this one BBQ joint I like to go to, and often take a stop by Cabela's and Bass Pro, while I am at it. lol Considering the cost of the ram alone, unless you have a mega gas guzzler, will still make it a cheaper endeavor. The ram alone is worth at least $150.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 4.7 GHz 12-Core Processor ($425.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB 48.8 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($144.85 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B650E PG RIPTIDE WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: ASRock OC Formula Radeon RX 6900 XT 16 GB Video Card ($699.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Super Flower Leadex Platinum 850 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($119.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Total: $1884.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2022-12-16 15:54 EST-0500
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Points237

Ar558

Proper
Dec 13, 2022
228
93
160
I am looking to upgrade my PC that I built 9 years ago. I also realize I may need to just start over. I'm looking into the RTX 4080 to future proof myself a bit, but they seem a bit pricey. I am not buying a monitor or SSD as I currently have a 1440p and ~3TB in SSD memory.

I primarily game and photo edit on my PC. My budget is under ~$2k and I live in the US.

Current Specs:
i7-4770k CPU
ASUS GTX 1070 8GB GPU
Corsair 8GB 2X4 DDR3 1600
Gigabyte Z87X Motherboard
CX600M 600 Watt Power Supply
Carbide Series 300R Mid-Tower ATX

Thanks for any expertise you can provide!


For $2k, an overpriced 4080 seems crazy, If you find a 3080/6800XT on a deal then you wont have to compromise the other components as radically.
I would suggest something like the below

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/MDDdPX
 
Intel is due to release their locked cpu's along with the B760 boards January 3rd.

https://www.newegg.com/p/2AM-000Z-000A7
LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 X Black Computer Case $99.90

https://www.newegg.com/corsair-rmx-series-rm1000x-cp-9020201-na-1000w/p/N82E16817139273
CORSAIR RMx Series (2021) RM1000x 1000W 80+Gold Modular Power Supply $189.99

B760 DDR5 Motherboard $160 - $200 if I had to guess. Here's an example of one of those boards.
https://www.techpowerup.com/302215/msis-b760-mag-tomahawk-pictured-ahead-of-official-launch

Intel Core i5 13400F Processor (6 cores / 16 threads) $200 if I had to guess.

https://www.newegg.com/deepcool-gammaxx-ag620/p/N82E16835856214
DeepCool AG620 Dual-Tower CPU Cooler $42.99

https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-32gb/p/N82E16820374430
G.SKILL Ripjaws S5 Series DDR5 6000 32GB (2x16GB) CL36 $149.99

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gigaby...0-graphics-card-black/6525662.p?skuId=6525662
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 Eagle 16GB Graphics Card $1,199.99

Total: $2075

https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-t...pus-and-b760-motherboards-on-january-3rd-2023

https://wccftech.com/intel-b760-motherboards-13th-gen-non-k-cpus-to-launch-on-3rd-january-2023/

https://www.deepcool.com/products/C...-AG620-Dual-Tower-CPU-Cooler/2022/15900.shtml

https://lian-li.com/product/lancool-216/

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/lian-li-lancool-216-review

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nZhqlO8-ek


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_w0NbB84P0


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykbhuv6yLBc&t=102s
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Points237
I am roughly 75 miles away from the one I shop at. Do what I do, make a day out of it. Mine is near St. Louis, MO. I go there, hit up Cheesecake factory, or this one BBQ joint I like to go to, and often take a stop by Cabela's and Bass Pro, while I am at it. lol Considering the cost of the ram alone, unless you have a mega gas guzzler, will still make it a cheaper endeavor. The ram alone is worth at least $150.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 4.7 GHz 12-Core Processor ($425.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB 48.8 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($144.85 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B650E PG RIPTIDE WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: ASRock OC Formula Radeon RX 6900 XT 16 GB Video Card ($699.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Super Flower Leadex Platinum 850 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($119.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Total: $1884.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2022-12-16 15:54 EST-0500

You are in my neck of the woods somewhere. I’m about 40 miles away. But I drive into St. Louis and past it about every day. Tbh if I want something I can literally stop in. Considering running up there for a new gpu on the 26th since I usually get Christmas money. I’ve got a 6700xt but a 6800xt, 6900xt or a 3080 sounds like a nice upgrade.
 
Thanks for the response. I have always used Nvidia and Intel, so I admit that I have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to AMD. I am looking to buying after the New Year, so maybe waiting is worth it.

How old is the Ryzen 7 5800 X3D?

The Ryzen 7 5800 X3D came out this year - however the standard 5800X it's based on was release back in 2020. There wouldn't be any point building a new system with it as the platform it's based on (AM4) is now end of life - what's impressive though is a standard 5800X is between 20 and 30% slower than the newly released Intel 13th Gen and AMD 7000 series parts in games (at least in CPU bound scenarios), whereas the 5800 X3D can match the current stuff so it's proving to be very popular for people who have existing AM4 motherboards (even more impressive is that with a bios update all the Ryzen 5000 series parts including the 5800 X3D work fine on the first gen AM4 boards released all the way back in 2017 so it makes for a huge upgrade for existing systems).

The reason I mentioned it is that given how impressive the performance jump is with Ryzen 5000, it's likely we are going to see a similar bump in gaming performance with the 7000 X3D parts which AMD has already confirmed are in the works (although we don't have a firm release date yet). AMD has also committed to providing new processors for AM5 motherboards up until at least 2025, and given their track record with AM4 I think they are likely to follow through with that promise so I'd personally go with AM5 over the current Intel platform as Intel are sticking with their 2 gens per socket rule and the 13th gen is the end of the line for the current boards.

That said if you aren't worried about upgrade path then the current Intel 13th gen is better value as the gaming performance is essentially a tie (some reviews put Intel ahead, others AMD) whilst Intel are offering better multi-core performance with the i5 and i7 thanks to the added efficiency cores their hybrid design offer, and the Intel motherboards also cost a bit less.

Here is my suggestion for an AM5 based build - note the R7 7700X is placeholder for the 7700X3D (or whatever they call it) - obviously that is speculative pending reviews. If you aren't worried about absolutely max cpu gaming performance you also have budget to bump up the processor so an R9 7900X or 7950X would be good options for more productivity horsepower whilst the game performance is essentially the same.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/PkVk3y
 
  • Like
Reactions: Points237
Today, there is close to parity in price/performance between current gen intel and amd.
Ditto on graphics.
If you are on Intel and nvidia now, I suggest you stick with them.
There is definitely a learning curve involved.

With a $2k budget, I think a I5-13600K would be a good processor upgrade.
You will need a LGA1700 motherboard. most any will do.
Look for specs you might need like wifi.
They come in DDR4 and DDR5 versions with DDR4 ram and motherboards being cheaper.
Performance is the same.
With editing, you may want to go 32gb.

I suggest upgrading mobo/cpu/ram first.
Keep the psu and graphics card and see how you do.
Any gpu upgrade is going to require a psu upgrade.
Here is a chart on that:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm
As a practical matter, 750w and 850w is in order.
Buy only a quality psu with a 7 year warranty or more.
A 3060 or 3070 class card would be a good upgrade.
If you are really contemplating what might be a 4080 card
That might be a 950w psu.
Overprovisioning a psu is not bad, it will only use the power demanded of it, regardless of the max capability.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Points237