Help upgrading my current system with minimal spending.

[ArieHon]

Hi, I would like to upgrade my current system to play more modern games but need advice and guidance on how to go about doing so.

Current System:

• 
  CPU: AMD HDZ965FBGMBOX Phenom II X4 965 - 3.4 Ghz Black Edition
  MOBO: ASRock 960GM-GS3 FX Motherboard
  RAM: 4GB G.Skill DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz
  GPU: Gigabyte 1GB 7770
  PSU: Corsair Builder Series CXM 500W Modular 80 PLUS Bronze

Parts I thought of upgrading:
Getting a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (120mm) for my CPU to overclock.
Adding an extra 4GB of RAM, not sure if I need the same ones or just any 1600MHZ DDR3 stick.
And upgrading my current GPU to 770, 280x or 960. Not sure if my current PSU with me OC'ing my CPU can handle a 280x or a 770 (getting a used 770 from amazon since it fits my budget).

And is slapping an extra HDD plausible without me having to reinstall windows?

Any advice, are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Aefuan]

Hello. About the RAM, yes, if you add another stick, it's always recommended that you put the same brand and model. Sometimes even identical models will not work, because of the timings and that. The best is to buy them on packs.

And yes, you can add an extra HDD without reinstall. But if you want fast boot and loading times, think about buying an SSD for the operating system.

 

[ArieHon]

Sadly, I cant find anywhere in the net where I can buy the same RAMs. Is there no other option but to buy brand new 8gb ram as I really dont want to spend more than I should. Thanks.

 

[Aefuan]

Then i would buy a new 8GB stick (or 2x4 for dual channel).

Because maybe you buy another stick of 4gb and you realize that you can't use it with the one you already have, and you will have to spend even more money to buy a stick of 8GB.

 

[sarfrazk638]

if you are using an hd 7770 then there is no need for a 500 psu . use a 400 or 450 watts instead . and it's better to upgrade the ram first to 8gb . and secondly upgrade the gpu to r9 270x , it is double faster then hd 7770 if you have more money .

 

[ArieHon]

Then i would buy a new 8GB stick (or 2x4 for dual channel).

Because maybe you buy another stick of 4gb and you realize that you can't use it with the one you already have, and you will have to spend even more money to buy a stick of 8GB.

If I would to buy a 1x8gb RAM, would buying the same one a year from now still work together?

if you are using an hd 7770 then there is no need for a 500 psu . use a 400 or 450 watts instead . and it's better to upgrade the ram first to 8gb . and secondly upgrade the gpu to r9 270x , it is double faster then hd 7770 if you have more money .

But the R9 270x performs less than the 3 GPUs I stated above, does it not?

 

[maxalge]

Hi, I would like to upgrade my current system to play more modern games but need advice and guidance on how to go about doing so.

Current System:

• 
  CPU: AMD HDZ965FBGMBOX Phenom II X4 965 - 3.4 Ghz Black Edition
  MOBO: ASRock 960GM-GS3 FX Motherboard
  RAM: 4GB G.Skill DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz
  GPU: Gigabyte 1GB 7770
  PSU: Corsair Builder Series CXM 500W Modular 80 PLUS Bronze

Parts I thought of upgrading:
Getting a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (120mm) for my CPU to overclock.
Adding an extra 4GB of RAM, not sure if I need the same ones or just any 1600MHZ DDR3 stick.
And upgrading my current GPU to 770, 280x or 960. Not sure if my current PSU with me OC'ing my CPU can handle a 280x or a 770 (getting a used 770 from amazon since it fits my budget).

And is slapping an extra HDD plausible without me having to reinstall windows?

Any advice, are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Don't bother with a aftermarket cpu cooler, overclocking on that mobo should not be attempted.

8gb ram is ideal, just buy ram with the same timings and voltage.

With your power supply a 960 is a good idea, and around as much gpu as your cpu can handle.

You can always add extra hard drives, as long as you don't touch the OS one.


A 770 is good.

 

[kwa-e]

Do you still have the box which came with the RAM, or is a sticker with the model number on the module itself?

And yeah, the 270x is worse than the 3.

 

[ArieHon]

@maxalge

Seeing that there's a sale on a GTX 770 reference card for £150, would my PSU support it and would my CPU bottleneck the GTX 770 at stock speeds?
How would I know what my current timings and voltage on my RAM?

EDIT: Current CPU runs really hot when on full load, would a cheaper cooler be better?

@kwa-e
4GB G.Skill DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz Trident Series (8-8-8-24) Dual Channel kit
4GB Dual Channel kit (2x2GB)
PC3-12800
1600MHz
CL8 (8-8-8-24)
240 pins

From what I gathered in my amazon history.

 

[kwa-e]

Aye, If that's really a dual channel kit then there's no upgrading without purchasing a new 8GB stick as all RAM slots are populated.

The CX500M should be able to support it, Wouldn't really risk overclocking as ampage on the 12V rail doesn't seem enough for OC load.

 

[ArieHon]

@kwa-e

Would my CPU at stock speed botteneck the 770? and if I were to buy a single 8GB RAM would buying the same one a year later able to do 16gb?
"Wouldn't really risk overclocking as ampage on the 12V rail doesn't seem enough for OC load." ELI5 please T.T

 

[kwa-e]

@kwa-e

Would my CPU at stock speed botteneck the 770? and if I were to buy a single 8GB RAM would buying the same one a year later able to do 16gb?
"Wouldn't really risk overclocking as ampage on the 12V rail doesn't seem enough for OC load." ELI5 please T.T

-16GB with your proposition is definitely possible, Just keep the model number handy.
-Adding the TDP of the 770+x4+HDD's you come to this 200+125+10=335/12 = 28A on the 12v+ rail, PSU has 38.
Should be enough to OC the processor a good amount.

EDIT: Wrong ampage written down.

 

[ArieHon]

maxalge and your initial statement was not to OC, but now your saying yes? So I should or should I not OC?

Thanks for the RAM info, will be getting a 1x8GB then.

 

[kwa-e]

maxalge and your initial statement was not to OC, but now your saying yes? So I should or should I not OC?

Thanks for the RAM info, will be getting a 1x8GB then.

Should be enough room to do a moderate OC on the CPU, don' touch the GPU, My apologies on the contradictions.

 

[ArieHon]

So current update to my system is 1x8GB, a reference GTX 770, and a 3.8-4.0ghz OC?

 

[kwa-e]

So current update to my system is 1x8GB, a reference GTX 770, and a 3.8-4.0ghz OC?

Yep, Should be good to go.

 

[ArieHon]

Should I be expecting any bottlenecks with my CPU, either both stock speeds or OC'd?

 

[kwa-e]

Should I be expecting any bottlenecks with my CPU, either both stock speeds or OC'd?

Depends on whether or not the game is CPU intensive, In most cases,,,

A bottleneck, yes, but FPS should stay within 45+ fps smoothly on good settings.

 

[ArieHon]

Thanks alot of your help, hope this upgrade runs for sometime.

 

[kwa-e]

Thanks alot of your help, hope this upgrade runs for sometime.

Hope all goes well

 

[ArieHon]

Thanks alot of your help, hope this upgrade runs for sometime.

Hope all goes well

Well, worse case scenario is I have to build a completely new rig.

 

[ArieHon]

Quick question, will this cooler

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-120mm/dp/B0068OI7T8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432732622&sr=8-1&keywords=212+evo

Compatible with this mobo?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006HHD8AY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

 

[kwa-e]

Thanks alot of your help, hope this upgrade runs for sometime.

Hope all goes well

Well, worse case scenario is I have to build a completely new rig.

Quick question, will this cooler

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-120mm/dp/B0068OI7T8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432732622&sr=8-1&keywords=212+evo

Compatible with this mobo?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006HHD8AY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

Should work completely fine, The cooler has brackets for every known MB on earth, But you'll still have to verify if it fits in your case. (212 EVO is 161MM tall)

And with the CPU slot close to the RAM slots I'd imagine that you've got to get RAM without any tall heatspreaders in order to fit it. (Plenty of RAM modules like that though, Corsair XMS3 and Mushkin Stealth for example.)

 

[ArieHon]

Thanks alot of your help, hope this upgrade runs for sometime.

Hope all goes well

Well, worse case scenario is I have to build a completely new rig.

Quick question, will this cooler

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-120mm/dp/B0068OI7T8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432732622&sr=8-1&keywords=212+evo

Compatible with this mobo?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006HHD8AY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

Should work completely fine, The cooler has brackets for every known MB on earth, But you'll still have to verify if it fits in your case. (212 EVO is 161MM tall)

And with the CPU slot close to the RAM slots I'd imagine that you've got to get RAM without any tall heatspreaders in order to fit it. (Plenty of RAM modules like that though, Corsair XMS3 and Mushkin Stealth for example.)

Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.

 

[sora]

2x4GB RAM is suggested as it will activate Dual Channel Memory.