[SOLVED] Looking for best value upgrades in current Gaming Build(s)

[McLaughg]

Greetings Computer Gurus,

My wife and I have identical builds for our gaming PCs that we built in December of 2016. Being that it’s been over 3 years and we’ve started to see some of our favorite games start to take some minor performance losses, I pose the question on which items would be best value for upgrades.

Games that we play (or have played recently), if the information would help: The Division 2, Total War: Warhammer 2, Rainbow Six: Siege, Anno 1800, Elite: Dangerous, Battlefield 5, and Destiny 2. There are quite a few others, but the games we’ve noticed issues on would be more specific to TD2, BF5, and TW:WH2. Usually, it’s long loading screens or FPS drops that we notice.

I’ve unfortunately been quite out of the game in the current hierarchy of PC equipment upgrading and would love to get some second/third/twentieth opinions. Plus, with all of the self-quarantining going on (I also got lucky enough to telework… indefinitely) we might as well try to do some upgrading for our gaming rigs!

Below are our current builds (times two):

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5 GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Storage: Seagate 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB G1 Gaming Video Card
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G1+ 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply

PC Part Picker Link

Understandably, I think our weak links would be the Storage and maybe the RAM. However, I’m concerned if our MoBo would end up having capability issues with upgrades?

Thanks for the assist fellow PC connoisseurs!

 

[Zoel.fahmi]

Still a good pc
Add more ram and also an SSD is very common to boost your pc performance
Also change thermal paste, clean up your pc, added more high performance fans on case

 

[ArchitSahu]

If you keep the Z170/Z270 platform, the best route you have for upgrades is to an i7 7700k which, while an upgrade over your i5's, is a few years old at this point. For storage, you can keep the 2TB HDD for mass storage and get SSD's for your OS. Or, you can completely switch over to an all SSD system; one SSD for your OS and games OR an SSD for your OS only and another one for mass storage. PSU is honestly fine up to a point. 1070 is still decently powerful but if you are upgrading you might as well upgrade completely. RAM is a definite upgrade, as well as CPU cooler. Honestly, it all depends on your budgets and whether you want to stick at 1080p, or 1440p. Either way, I am attaching a couple of systems for 1440p with new CPU's, mobo's, RAMs and either (a) keeping your HDD and adding an SSD or (b) one SSD for OS and Mass storage or (c) one SSD for OS and another for storage. I will be providing both Ryzen and Intel systems.

I will be assuming around an $1500 budget for each system. I will be assuming RGB and looks are not too much of a factor.

1440p - Intel - Option (a):
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/4GggCL

CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($369.99 @ Best Buy)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i PRO 75 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($134.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z390-A PRO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($119.49 @ Walmart)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 250 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($43.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8 GB XC GAMING Video Card ($683.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G1+ 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $1415.41
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-03-18 03:06 EDT-0400

1440p - Ryzen - Option (a):
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/QJQJNq

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($289.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i PRO 75 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($134.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI X570-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 250 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($43.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8 GB XC GAMING Video Card ($683.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G1+ 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $1345.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-03-18 03:09 EDT-0400

[I went with the 3700x over the 3800x as the performance difference does not justify a nearly $60 difference]

1440p - Intel - Option (b): [Do note for Option (b) builds it will be a 2 TB SSD to match your 2 TB HDD. But this will warrant a sacrifice in other departments.]

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kjMkb8

CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($369.99 @ Best Buy)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i PRO 75 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($134.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z390-A PRO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($119.49 @ Walmart)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX500 2 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($199.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: MSI GeForce RTX 2080 8 GB GAMING X TRIO Video Card ($623.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G1+ 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $1511.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-03-18 03:15 EDT-0400

[To accommodate a 2TB SSD, the 2080 Super had to be stepped down to 2080]

1440p - Ryzen - Option (b):
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/NDvJNq

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($289.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i PRO 75 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($134.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI X570-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX500 2 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($199.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8 GB XC GAMING Video Card ($683.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G1+ 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $1501.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-03-18 03:17 EDT-0400

[The Ryzen build allowed me to accommodate the 2080 Super and the 2TB SSD].

1440p - Intel - Option (c): [Option (c) builds will be a 240 - 256GB SSD with a 1TB SSD]
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/fX7Lb8

CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($369.99 @ Best Buy)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i PRO 75 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($134.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z390-A PRO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($119.49 @ Walmart)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston A400 240 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($38.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Team GX2 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8 GB XC GAMING Video Card ($683.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G1+ 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $1505.40
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-03-18 03:21 EDT-0400

1440p - Ryzen - Option(c):
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/J7jFYH

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($289.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i PRO 75 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($134.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI X570-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Blue SN550 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Team GX2 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8 GB XC GAMING Video Card ($683.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G1+ 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $1461.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-03-18 03:22 EDT-0400

[This build could accommodate a 512 GB SSD and a 1TB SSD instead of a regular 256GB SSD]

Points to Note:

• If you want to stick with 1080p, the GPUs can be taken down a notch to RTX 2060's or 2060 Supers' or you can even stick with your 1070s.
• You will need Windows for these new Systems as there will be new motherboards and CPU's, so install windows using a USB and get an authentication key online.
• You will have noticed the Ryzen builds being cheaper by a margin. If I were you and looking for bang for buck, Ryzen would be the way to. But Intel is still slightly better at gaming than Ryzen is but honestly, Ryzen would be the way to go.