If i were to upgrade, how should i do it?

[Joe Copley]

Alright feller's,

I'm looking for upgrade, my budget will be around £2000, but it's gonna take a lot a time and aint no body got time for dat, not olny that though im pretty amateur when it comes to PC building. :/
My question should I upgrade part individuality as i have the money or just buy a whole new built PC with my chosen parts?


Here are my specs:

OS - Windows 7 Home Premium

CPU - AMD A8 5600K Black Edition X4 (4 x 3.6 GHz)

GPU - AMD Radeon HD 7850 - 2 GB

RAM - 8 GB 1600MHz (1x8GB)

HDD - 1 TB Seagate
SATA-III HDD 7200 RPM 64MB

Power Supply - Corsair 550W PSU

Motherboard is this - Gigabyte F2A88XM-D3H (AMD A88X) - VGA/DVI/HDMI

Future specs:

Intel Core I7-6700K Processor (4 GHz, 8 M Cache

MSI Z170A KRAIT Gaming Motherboards

Noctua NH-D15

HyperX Fury Black Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) 2133 MHz DDR4 CL14 UDIMM Memory Kit

Nvidia GTX 980 TI

 

[Barty1884]

You could upgrade as you go....to a point, but you're really limited.

Obviously you can't use the new CPU/Motherboard/RAM with any of the old CPU/Mobo/Ram so that'll be an upgrade in one go.

You could grab the GPU and likely a new PSU earlier and run those in your old system. I bring up the PSU you haven't specified upgrading as you haven't mentioned which "Corsair 550W" you have, but I'd suspect it's going to be the CX line which isn't very good. If you're going to drop another $1,000 (at least) into a system, make sure you're running it off of a quality unit and protect your investment.

While you're at it, upgrading your motherboard (unless you have a retail W7) will need a new OS also.

I don't see an SSD in there at all, so while you're at it, you could pick up a Samsung 850 EVO (maybe 250GB) to round off your build.

So, yeah - Phase #1 of upgrade: GPU, SSD, PSU and use with your existing CPU/Mobo/RAM until your in a position to upgrade the rest.
Phase #2: CPU/Mobo/RAM and OS.

 

[Joe Copley]

Oh right tanks laddy, so my best bet is to upgrade my GPU, get an SSD, and new power supply, should i install these into my original set up or shall i wait for the rest?

 

[Barty1884]

There's absolutely no problem in installing in your existing rig until you have the rest.....you'll see/feel the upgrades even at that point.

Once you have the rest, just move those parts over.

As far as the PSU goes, calculate your required wattage based on the end state of the new rig, just so you don't get any surprises. PCPartPicker indicated you're looking around 460W at full load. But allowing for OC'ing, additions & peripherals I would suggest you look at a 650W minimum - it should be adequate, provided you get a quality unit.
For peace of mind, a 700-750W would give you more than enough headroom.

For PSU, either this EVGA G2, 750W, Modular:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr

Or this XFX XTR 750W Modular:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1750bbefx

Both are good quality PSU's, without breaking the bank.


Funny though, even including the new PSU, SSD & OS.....I think you're still going to be 500quid less than you originally intended. PCPartPicker is finding everything today for 1,350 ! - Doesn't include a case, as I find that's 100% personal preference, but it does include another 1TB HDD (for power considerations I included it, but you already have one).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (£338.11 @ PC World Business)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler (£67.98 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A KRAIT GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard (£107.80 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory (£75.04 @ More Computers)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£57.98 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£34.39 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB AMP! Omega Edition Video Card (£519.99 @ Ebuyer)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£82.99 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) (£72.30 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £1356.58
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-13 15:46 GMT+0000

 

[g-unit1111]

There's absolutely no problem in installing in your existing rig until you have the rest.....you'll see/feel the upgrades even at that point.

I'm totally against building for upgrading because you will pay for it in the long run. On that kind of budget you should build a new PC from scratch, the only things I might bring over from the old build would be something like storage devices and optical drives.

I would do something like this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (£338.11 @ PC World Business)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 73.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (£92.99 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VIII HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard (£163.98 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory (£72.98 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£96.97 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£95.88 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) (£509.99 @ Novatech)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) (£509.99 @ Novatech)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case (£86.95 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£94.99 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer (£11.37 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £2074.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-13 17:02 GMT+0000

 

[Barty1884]

I'm totally against building for upgrading because you will pay for it in the long run. On that kind of budget you should build a new PC from scratch, the only things I might bring over from the old build would be something like storage devices and optical drives.

Just to be clear, I wasn't advocating the OP upgrades over time, but judging from the first statement that the 2,000GBP budget will take time, I'm assuming he doesn't have the money to put together a full build right now.

That's why I suggested the GPU/PSU & SSD initially, at least he can get some use out of them. If he only has the money for CPU/Mobo/RAM, chances are they'll sit around a while before he can get the GPU/PSU and, in the event there is a problem with the item when he does get around to installing, then there's going to be a more convoluted return procedure.

I agree, if the budget is there, then the OP should put together a new rig from the outset, but there's absolutely no harm in using a new PSU/GPU & SSD in the old rig until the rest of the budget is available to fill out the CPU/Mobo/RAM (as long as the OP anticipates being able to pick up the balance of the components relatively soon. If there's going to be a 12 month gap, then I wouldn't even bother paying for the GPU now, price will come down by then).

 

[g-unit1111]

Just to be clear, I wasn't advocating the OP upgrades over time, but judging from the first statement that the 2,000GBP budget will take time, I'm assuming he doesn't have the money to put together a full build right now.

That's why I suggested the GPU/PSU & SSD initially, at least he can get some use out of them. If he only has the money for CPU/Mobo/RAM, chances are they'll sit around a while before he can get the GPU/PSU and, in the event there is a problem with the item when he does get around to installing, then there's going to be a more convoluted return procedure.

Yeah but the thing is I don't know how return procedures work in the UK, but here in the US if you return a product, you get 60 days to do so from the initial purchase. If you buy stuff and store it long after the 60 days you will not be able to return those products. It's better to just buy everything at once no matter if you're spending 300 quid or 2000 quid. The thing is on that kind of budget you better be sure you're reading the manual prior to installation because you don't want to have something go wrong.

I agree, if the budget is there, then the OP should put together a new rig from the outset, but there's absolutely no harm in using a new PSU/GPU & SSD in the old rig until the rest of the budget is available to fill out the CPU/Mobo/RAM (as long as the OP anticipates being able to pick up the balance of the components relatively soon. If there's going to be a 12 month gap, then I wouldn't even bother paying for the GPU now, price will come down by then).

Not always true, CPUs and GPUs are things that hardly ever decrease in value. If your long term build plan is 12 months from now, build in 12 months. And I say that because of store return policies. Most have a 60 day return policy and if you buy something and store it, and then put everything together and your shiny new £210 motherboard doesn't work then you can't return it, and you're stuck with an £210 paperweight.

Don't build now and hope that something better is going to come along, that never works. Because if you build now with the idea of upgrading, things can and will cost you - you will be paying twice or nearly three times as much for a rig than if you build the whole thing at once. Things can change drastically in that length of time - new parts can come along and the old ones get discontinued, and technologies can change in that length of time and you will want to be prepared for the new tech that comes along.

 

[Barty1884]

Yeah but the thing is I don't know how return procedures work in the UK, but here in the US if you return a product, you get 60 days to do so from the initial purchase. If you buy stuff and store it long after the 60 days you will not be able to return those products. It's better to just buy everything at once no matter if you're spending 300 quid or 2000 quid. The thing is on that kind of budget you better be sure you're reading the manual prior to installation because you don't want to have something go wrong.

Exactly why I told the OP to get the SSD/GPU/PSU first......can be used in the existing rig, so will know if there's any problems. If they go the opposite way and get the CPU/Mobo/RAM and store them for a while, then the problem arises? Pretty sure we agree on that point?

Not always true, CPUs and GPUs are things that hardly ever decrease in value. If your long term build plan is 12 months from now, build in 12 months. And I say that because of store return policies. Most have a 60 day return policy and if you buy something and store it, and then put everything together and your shiny new £210 motherboard doesn't work then you can't return it, and you're stuck with an £210 paperweight.

Don't build now and hope that something better is going to come along, that never works. Because if you build now with the idea of upgrading, things can and will cost you - you will be paying twice or nearly three times as much for a rig than if you build the whole thing at once. Things can change drastically in that length of time - new parts can come along and the old ones get discontinued, and technologies can change in that length of time and you will want to be prepared for the new tech that comes along.

I'm not sure we're even reading the same topic now g-unit1111?
1. The OP didn't even imply a 12 month build period (i used it as an example to illustrate the point about storing items & problematic returns - that we agreed on).
2. The OP isn't "building to upgrade". He knows the components he wants & is looking for a budget conscious way to obtain them. I'm not seeing this as a typical "I'll cheap out now and upgrade soon" kind of topic that we usually see.

Besides, even if they decide to bail on the upgrade, a new PSU/GPU & SSD would go a long way in the existing rig & could be moved forward whenever they do upgrade.