Need Advice on Existing Build Upgrades

[pivey101]

I built this computer around Christmas time in 2011 and I am wondering whether I should replace a few components or scrap and start from scratch. This build had been great to me up until last year when I started noticing things were slowing down. I mainly play League and sometimes WoW. I notice my computer has problems multi-tasking when I'm gaming on my main monitor and doing anything on my secondary monitor. My main concern is compatibility with current components on the market compared to what I have in my system. My budget range is around $4-500. Any advice is helpful.

Build:
CPU: i5-2500k SB Quad-core 3.3Ghz (Never OC'd)
Motherboard: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 1155 Intel Z68
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaw series (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333
Power Supply: FirePower ModXStream Pro 700W 80 Plus Semi-Modular ATX
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 550Ti 1GB PCI Express 2.0
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal HD
Case: Raidmax Smilodon ATX-612WB
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (Been reinstalled a few times)

Thank you for taking the time to read this thread and respond. I appreciate your insight.

 

[smorizio]

the older sandy/ivy bridge cpu still have a lot of life left in them for gaming pc. haswell cpu are about 10 percent faster then older cpu and the newer skylake are still only a little faster then a haswell cpu. on looking at your build the newer 950/960 gpu would be an upgrade for you. also using a 256g ssd would also speed up boot and game loading over the older hard drive. the 850 ssd runs 80-100 when not on sale. the 950/960 runnning 160-210 online. the newer gpu and ssd can move with you to a newer rig if your old pc dies and needs to be rebuilt in a few years.

 

[Karadjgne]

Invest in a decent cpu cooler, something along the lines of a cryorig h7 and then learn how to OC your cpu. It's a relatively cheap investment that will carry over to a future build.

If you haven't already, download OC software for your gpu. Msi Afterburner, Asus gpu tweak etc and do some research on that too. I can take my 660ti to the same performance as a Gigabyte 960 G1, your 550ti should at least see 660ti levels of performance.

That's the cheap answer. Your 2500k is still a respectable cpu, 8Gb of 1333 isn't very far behind the 1600MHz standard ram so you aren't in bad shape really.

More expensive is swap to a decent SSD for OS. Samsung 840/850, crucial bx/MX 100/200, Kingston SSD etc.

More expensive, naturally, new gpu. Gtx 960/970.

Most expensive. SSD, gpu, cpu cooler, OC cpu (4.2-4.4)

 

[Outlander_04]

In your budget for upgrades

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.00 @ Adorama)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($333.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $452.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-23 00:32 EDT-0400


Newer cpu's are a little faster , but for gaming it wont make much difference at all .
A better graphics card will though , and so will a new SSD and fresh install of the OS