Question Gaming PC parts advice

jackgreat

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Jun 26, 2006
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Hello Everyone,

I wish to upgrade my home PC. I use my home PC for gaming and a bit of software development. Even though I do not find a lot of time for gaming but at time I do like to play my favorite titles such as Far Cry, Crysis, Metro etc. Basically I like FPS games with great graphics.

My current PC build is:

  • i5 3rd Gen
  • 8 GB DDR3
  • Samgung Evo SSD
  • Cooler Master PSU (I will check exact model)
  • Geforce GTX 970
  • Windows 7

I am from India and here the PC components are expensive (compared to the US). However I have a relative who is coming from the US. Thus I wanted to upgrade now so that he could get the components from there for me.

My thoughts:

I need to order the following :
  • Processor
  • RAM
  • Graphics card
  • Motherboard

Please suggest me what should I go for. I am more of an Intel guy than AMD.

Thank you,

Regards,
Jack
 

WildCard999

Titan
Moderator
My budget is around $800

Intel.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-9600K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($264.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Scythe - Mugen 5 Rev. B 51.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($51.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z390 AORUS ELITE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: ADATA - XPG GAMMIX D10 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($76.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB GAMING Video Card ($219.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $773.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-04-19 08:15 EDT-0400


AMD.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor ($164.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 Black Edition 42 CFM CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus - ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING ATX AM4 Motherboard ($129.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($95.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce RTX 2060 6 GB GAMING Video Card ($348.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $771.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-04-19 08:17 EDT-0400


Make sure your PSU is good otherwise you'll want to include it into your budget.
 

jackgreat

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Jun 26, 2006
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Thank you everyone, how is this build :

CPU: Intel - Core i5-9600K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($264.89)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 Black Edition 42 CFM CPU Cooler ($31.99)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z390 AORUS ELITE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($159.99)
Memory: ADATA - XPG GAMMIX D10 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($76.99) OR G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($95.88)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB GAMING Video Card ($219) OR Zotac - GeForce RTX 2060 6 GB GAMING Video Card ($348.99)

I have a few questions :

Q-1) I current use Samsung 850 EVO SSD. Is it okay ? or should I replace them with a NVME SSD. Does it make a big difference ?
Q-2) Does it makes a big difference if I go for GSkill RAM or is Adata one mentioned above OK.
Q-3) RTX is great compared to GTX 1660 but 50% more pricey. what to do ?
 

WildCard999

Titan
Moderator
Thank you everyone, how is this build :

CPU: Intel - Core i5-9600K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($264.89)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 Black Edition 42 CFM CPU Cooler ($31.99)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z390 AORUS ELITE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($159.99)
Memory: ADATA - XPG GAMMIX D10 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($76.99) OR G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($95.88)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB GAMING Video Card ($219) OR Zotac - GeForce RTX 2060 6 GB GAMING Video Card ($348.99)

I have a few questions :

Q-1) I current use Samsung 850 EVO SSD. Is it okay ? or should I replace them with a NVME SSD. Does it make a big difference ?
Q-2) Does it makes a big difference if I go for GSkill RAM or is Adata one mentioned above OK.
Q-3) RTX is great compared to GTX 1660 but 50% more pricey. what to do ?
1: The 850 is a good SSD, I wouldn't bother replacing it.
2: Speeds with Intel make little difference so I'd stick with the ADATA.
3: Tough to say, probably go for the 1660 for 1080P or the 2060 for 1440P.
 
Yeah, you probably wouldn't notice too much difference moving to NVME. You didn't list the capacity of your drive, but if it's a smaller one, moving to a higher-capacity SSD might potentially be worthwhile though, so that you can install more games to it to improve their load times.

As for the 2060, even ignoring the raytracing acceleration, it tends to perform around 35% faster than a 1660 in games where performance is not limited by the CPU. Considering you have a GTX 970, a 1660 would only be around 35% faster than your current card, whereas a 2060 could be around 80% faster which would certainly make it a more noticeable upgrade. And while a 1660 will be good for 1080p now, the faster card would be able to maintain good performance without lowering settings longer. Note that there's also the 1660 Ti in between those two cards, with performance and a price that's also in between the two. It also lacks raytracing acceleration, but might be a decent compromise between the two.
 

jackgreat

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Thank you. I will stick with Adata and I dont think I will go for a NVME SSD.

Now the only component which I need to finalize is GPU.

GTX 1660 costs $219, GTX 1660 Ti Costs $280 and RTX 2060 costs $350.

I think if I wish to save money then I should go for 1660 or I should go for RTX 2060. The price differnece between 1660TI & 2060 is just $70. Since I have a 1080p monitor is it work going for 2060 anyways. Can I run latest games in highest settings using 1660. What do you say? Or do you feel 1660TI is best as long I am sticking to 1080p.
 

DMAN999

Honorable
Ambassador
I recently upgraded from a GTX 1060 3 GB to an MSI GTX 1660 TI Armor 6G OC and the difference is Amazing.
I was getting 60 fps at 1080 with medium settings in current games with the 1060.
Now I get from 85 to 120 fps with games set to Ulta with the 1660 Ti.
 
Thank you everyone, how is this build :

CPU: Intel - Core i5-9600K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($264.89)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 Black Edition 42 CFM CPU Cooler ($31.99)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z390 AORUS ELITE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($159.99)
Memory: ADATA - XPG GAMMIX D10 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($76.99) OR G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($95.88)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB GAMING Video Card ($219) OR Zotac - GeForce RTX 2060 6 GB GAMING Video Card ($348.99)

I have a few questions :

Q-1) I current use Samsung 850 EVO SSD. Is it okay ? or should I replace them with a NVME SSD. Does it make a big difference ?
Q-2) Does it makes a big difference if I go for GSkill RAM or is Adata one mentioned above OK.
Q-3) RTX is great compared to GTX 1660 but 50% more pricey. what to do ?
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Your parts list is OK, but they are not supported on windows 7.
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  1. 850 evo is fine, small difference with nvme.
  2. Ram is ok
  3. Ray tracing costs performance, likely not worth it. GTX1660ti is a good option.
 
Should I go for MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Ti DirectX 12 GTX 1660 TI ARMOR 6G OC 6GB 192-Bit GDDR6. Costs a bit more.

Plus I cannot for a micro-atx board right considering my build.
GTX1660ti sounds good to me.

Why not M-ATX? Often they cost less.
M-ATX will fit in a full sized ATX case.
M-Atx will have 4 expansion slots vs. 7 for ATX.
Past the graphics card pcie slot, how many more will you actually use?
For most of us, the answer is none.
And, hyper212 is decent and cheap but be advised that it is not easy to install properly.
With a 9600K and overclocking, I would buy a better cooler.
 

jackgreat

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GTX1660ti sounds good to me.

Why not M-ATX? Often they cost less.
M-ATX will fit in a full sized ATX case.
M-Atx will have 4 expansion slots vs. 7 for ATX.
Past the graphics card pcie slot, how many more will you actually use?
For most of us, the answer is none.
And, hyper212 is decent and cheap but be advised that it is not easy to install properly.
With a 9600K and overclocking, I would buy a better cooler.

Can you suggest a good MicroATX board for my build ?
 

dimitris_37

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I understand that I can use a i5-8400 which saves me some money as I do not have to pay for 9600K and Cooler. However I have to shell extra for all other components. Is it a good idea ?
[/QUOTEyes if you like take newer but u can save money and take 8400 or 8600, you can take cooler too cause stock cooler is not good if u plan overclocking:)
if you want save money can buy gtx 1050 ti or gtx 1060 :)https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GAMING-G...s=GTX+1060+ti&qid=1555946861&s=gateway&sr=8-6
i see i5 9600k is same price so u can take the 9600 with same motherboard msi :)
And you can buy this gpu that is cheaper and better ot gtx 1060:https://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GeF...=gtx+1660&qid=1555947495&s=electronics&sr=1-2
 
Last edited:

DMAN999

Honorable
Ambassador
Should I go for MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Ti DirectX 12 GTX 1660 TI ARMOR 6G OC 6GB 192-Bit GDDR6. Costs a bit more.
That is the exact GPU that I have and I love it.
It runs fast and cool, it auto OC'd to around 1965 MHZ stock and I run it with +125 GPU clock (2070 MHz) and +1000 Memory clock using Afterburner while gaming.
I can run current games on Ultra at any where from 85-120+ fps on my 60Hz, 1080p monitor.

But if you really need to save some money that GTX 1660 OC does look like a very good entry level card:
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1660-oc-6g
 

jackgreat

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My idea is to have the right build. Since we upgrade once in two or three years, I don't want a build which will is so so. At the same time I don't want a super build as its gonna cost a lot.

Even if I go MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Ti DirectX 12 GTX 1660 TI ARMOR 6G OC 6GB 192-Bit GDDR6, on the CPU front should I go for I5-8400 or i5-9600K. Is the chosen MB OK?