[SOLVED] Need tips on what I should upgrade on my quite dated gaming rig

tots4life16

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Feb 23, 2016
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I know obviously I need to upgrade the processor and the motherboard but just curious as to what.
Open to upgrading the PSU as well. Everything else seems to be fine. I would love to upgrade my graphics card but I just became aware of the massive shortage known as the great gpu shortage of 2020/2021. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Budget for upgrades is around $1000

AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor
$138.99 Buy
CPU Cooler

NZXT Kraken X61 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
$129.99 Buy
Thermal Compound

Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste
$6.89 Buy
Motherboard

MSI 970 GAMING ATX AM3+ Motherboard
$97.89 Buy
Memory

Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory
$69.99 Buy
Storage

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
$46.89 Buy
Video Card

Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB STRIX Video Card
$479.99 Buy
Case

NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case
$64.99 Buy
Power Supply

EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
$65.98 Buy
 
Last edited:
Solution
just warzone
You dont need anything more than this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-10700 2.9 GHz 8-Core Processor ($269.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B560 Steel Legend ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($160.60 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $638.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-23 15:52 EDT-0400


I saw you didnt have a SSD, so...
The new Z590 and B560 boards will be available at the end of this month when Intel's 11 gen Rocket Lake cpu's are released. Use your existing cpu cooler or sell it and grab the CM. You can also find those Mushkin SSD's on Amazon. btw I'd look for a new case with front 3.0 USB ports.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-10700F-Desktop-Processor-Graphics/dp/B086MN2XYL/
Intel Core i7-10700F $268.99

https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RR-212S-20PK-R1-Contact-Silencio/dp/B07H25DYM3/
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition CPU Air Cooler $39.99

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-Desktop-Gaming-BL2K8G32C16U4B/dp/B083TRRT16/
Crucial Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 16GB (8GBx2) CL16 $76.99

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157976
ASRock B560 Steel Legend $129.99

or if you want a board with a better audio codec and more PCIe lanes (20 for the Z590 boards vs 16 for the B560 boards)

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157982
ASRock Z590 EXTREME $209.99

1TB SSD w/TLC controller

https://www.newegg.com/mushkin-enhanced-pilot-e-1tb/p/N82E16820226901
Mushkin Enhanced Pilot-E M.2 2280 1TB PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe 1.3 3D TLC Internal SSD $109.99

or 2TB SSD w/TLC controller

https://www.newegg.com/mushkin-enhanced-pilot-e-2tb/p/N82E16820226902
Mushkin Enhanced Pilot-E M.2 2280 2TB PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe 1.3 3D TLC Internal SSD $212.99

https://www.asrock.com/MB/Intel/B560 Steel Legend/index.asp

https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z590 Extreme/index.us.asp

https://www.anandtech.com/show/1634...e-i710700k-review-is-65w-comet-lake-an-option
 
Last edited:

tots4life16

Honorable
Feb 23, 2016
48
7
10,535
The new Z590 and B560 boards will be available at the end of this month when Intel's 11 gen Rocket Lake cpu's are released. Use your existing cpu cooler or sell it and grab the CM. You can also find those Mushkin SSD's on Amazon. btw I'd look for a new case with front 3.0 USB ports.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-10700F-Desktop-Processor-Graphics/dp/B086MN2XYL/
Intel Core i7-10700F $268.99

https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RR-212S-20PK-R1-Contact-Silencio/dp/B07H25DYM3/
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition CPU Air Cooler $39.99

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-Desktop-Gaming-BL2K8G32C16U4B/dp/B083TRRT16/
Crucial Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 16GB (8GBx2) CL16 $76.99

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157976
ASRock B560 Steel Legend $129.99

or if you want a board with a better audio codec and more PCIe lanes (20 for the Z590 boards vs 16 for the B560 boards)

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157982
ASRock Z590 EXTREME $209.99

1TB SSD w/TLC controller

https://www.newegg.com/mushkin-enhanced-pilot-e-1tb/p/N82E16820226901
Mushkin Enhanced Pilot-E M.2 2280 1TB PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe 1.3 3D TLC Internal SSD $109.99

or 2TB SSD w/TLC controller

https://www.newegg.com/mushkin-enhanced-pilot-e-2tb/p/N82E16820226902
Mushkin Enhanced Pilot-E M.2 2280 2TB PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe 1.3 3D TLC Internal SSD $212.99

https://www.asrock.com/MB/Intel/B560 Steel Legend/index.asp

https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z590 Extreme/index.us.asp

https://www.anandtech.com/show/1634...e-i710700k-review-is-65w-comet-lake-an-option
So you recommend intel 11th Gen with the Z590? I’m fine with not upgrading the case if it doesn’t add any performance capabilities. And I’d like to keep the cooler as it fits nicely in the case. But upgrade the RAM, add an SSD, what about the PSU?
 
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just warzone
You dont need anything more than this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-10700 2.9 GHz 8-Core Processor ($269.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B560 Steel Legend ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($160.60 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $638.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-23 15:52 EDT-0400


I saw you didnt have a SSD, so i put on just for Windows and other necessary programs.
Will boost your system operating significantly.
 
Solution

tots4life16

Honorable
Feb 23, 2016
48
7
10,535
You dont need anything more than this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-10700 2.9 GHz 8-Core Processor ($269.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B560 Steel Legend ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($160.60 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $638.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-23 15:52 EDT-0400


I saw you didnt have a SSD, so i put on just for Windows and other necessary programs.
Will boost your system operating significantly.
Could I keep my existing liquid cooler?
 

tots4life16

Honorable
Feb 23, 2016
48
7
10,535
You dont need anything more than this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-10700 2.9 GHz 8-Core Processor ($269.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B560 Steel Legend ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($160.60 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $638.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-23 15:52 EDT-0400


I saw you didnt have a SSD, so i put on just for Windows and other necessary programs.
Will boost your system operating significantly.
And the current power supply is more than capable of handing the new hardware or is it better to upgrade at the same time
 
So you recommend intel 11th Gen with the Z590? I’m fine with not upgrading the case if it doesn’t add any performance capabilities. And I’d like to keep the cooler as it fits nicely in the case. But upgrade the RAM, add an SSD, what about the PSU?
After seeing a few of the early pre release Rocket Lake benchmarks you might be better off saving almost $100 and go with the Comet Lake i7 10700F although it won't hurt to wait until the end of this month to see the official benchmarks/reviews. Your psu looks to be solid. If you upgrade your gpu later on then I might look at a new psu depending on what video card you end up going with. The Z590 I posted has the better audio codec which is a plus imo for people playing FPS games (hearing footsteps ftw) and it has more PCIe lanes which isn't all that much of biggy tbh.
 
Newegg just now listed this Asus B560 board up on their site (more are showing up every day now). It isn't cheap but it also has that newer Realtek audio codec with DTS. Normally I'd recommend the Asrock Steel Legend B560 but your budget is pretty sizeable.

https://www.newegg.com/asus-rog-strix-b560-a-gaming-wifi/p/N82E16813119382
ASUS ROG STRIX B560-A GAMING WIFI $174.99

 

tots4life16

Honorable
Feb 23, 2016
48
7
10,535
Newegg just now listed this Asus B560 board up on their site (more are showing up every day now). It isn't cheap but it also has that newer Realtek audio codec with DTS. Normally I'd recommend the Asrock Steel Legend B560 but your budget is pretty sizeable.

https://www.newegg.com/asus-rog-strix-b560-a-gaming-wifi/p/N82E16813119382
ASUS ROG STRIX B560-A GAMING WIFI $174.99

Do you recommend the z590more? Or the b560?

edit: also do you recommend the 10700 or 10700F more for gaming
 
Do you recommend the z590more? Or the b560?

edit: also do you recommend the 10700 or 10700F more for gaming
The 'F' version of that cpu means it doesn't come with integrated graphics and that's why it's cheaper than the non F version. No need for integrated graphics if you already have a graphics card. As far as boards go ... probably that Asus B560 seeing how its cheaper and offers pretty much that same goodies as the Z590 board. I noticed how Asus threw in wi fi on their upper tier boards so they can add an extra $20 to the price but it is what it is.
 

tots4life16

Honorable
Feb 23, 2016
48
7
10,535
The 'F' version of that cpu means it doesn't come with integrated graphics and that's why it's cheaper than the non F version. No need for integrated graphics if you already have a graphics card. As far as boards go ... probably that Asus B560 seeing how its cheaper and offers pretty much that same goodies as the Z590 board. I noticed how Asus threw in wi fi on their upper tier boards so they can add an extra $20 to the price but it is what it is.
So the B560 with the i7 10700 and 3200 MHz 16gb of DDR4 ram and an internal SSD and I should have a decent boost in performance until I can get a new gpu sometime next year?
 
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So the B560 with the i7 10700 and 3200 MHz 16gb of DDR4 ram and an internal SSD and I should have a decent boost in performance until I can get a new gpu sometime next year?
If you already have a gpu then go with the cheaper i7 10700F. For RAM you want 16GB (2x8) 3200MHz CL16. The Rocket Lake version of that cpu (i7 11700F) will be released in less than two weeks and sites such as this one will do reviews on it to see if it's worth the extra cost. No matter what, either of those cpu's will have you flying .. especially with an SSD which means programs such as Windows along with games will load up in no time flat. Maps/levels load up quicker than you can ever imagine.
 

tots4life16

Honorable
Feb 23, 2016
48
7
10,535
If you already have a gpu then go with the cheaper i7 10700F. For RAM you want 16GB (2x8) 3200MHz CL16. The Rocket Lake version of that cpu (i7 11700F) will be released in less than two weeks and sites such as this one will do reviews on it to see if it's worth the extra cost. No matter what, either of those cpu's will have you flying .. especially with an SSD which means programs such as Windows along with games will load up in no time flat. Maps/levels load up quicker than you can ever imagine.
Also I was curious about the difference between the 10700KF and just the 10700F
 
Also I was curious about the difference between the 10700KF and just the 10700F
The KF is unlocked and almost identical to the 10700K with the only difference is it doesn't have integrated graphics .. which isn't needed for those running a graphics card so it saves them a few dollars. The 10700F is a locked chip which means it doesn't overclock and it doesn't have integrated graphics. That cpu runs cooler than the unlocked chips and uses less power. If you go with an unlocked cpu you want a Z590 board and adequate cpu cooling.