Opinion on setup/Upgrade suggestions

[klondin376]

Hello guys,

I have a budget set aside, so I was considering upgrading my system.

The rig:

CPU: i5-4690k @3.5GHz
CPU cooler: stock
GPU: Nvidia GTX-970 4gb
Mobo: Asus H81M-plus
PSU: Aerocool Integrator 600w
RAM: 8GB

Well, I was considering upgrading my CPU, either just getting more RAM (16 GB DDR3 1600) plus a better cooler for the CPU (Cryorig CR-H7A).

Do I even need an upgrade or am I just being dumb and my PC is just fine ?

Thank you for your time.

 

[King Dranzer]

What is your budget?

 

[R_1]

What can't you run?
RAM is always good. careful just adding RAM. pairs are sold in kits for a reason, there is no guarantee two sticks from the same maker and model will work together. I suggest replacing the RAM with a kit. if you add RAM test the ability of the modules to work together well.
SSD's are nice to have as well

 

[Kasper Jorgensen]

First thing you wanna do before anything else, is to get rid of that dangerous PSU ASAP and get a better quality and safe unit.
Next your only CPU upgrade is to the 4790K, but as you are running a non Z series mobo you cannot overclock it.
Do you have any FPS issues in your games? If not, then no reason to upgrade now. Better save up for a new system then with current Coffee Lake CPUs or Ryzen.

 

[klondin376]

What is your budget?

£400

 

[klondin376]

I feel my fps dropping from time to time, only on aaa titles. I was considering to upgrade so the machine would hold up in the near future too. Also, could you explain further on the PSU being unsafe ?

edit: Initially I had some power surges and my system would shut down. When rebooting it took me to BIOS. I researched this and it was apparently a common issue with the mobo.

 

[Kasper Jorgensen]

I feel my fps dropping from time to time, only on aaa titles. I was considering to upgrade so the machine would hold up in the near future too. Also, could you explain further on the PSU being unsafe ?

edit: Initially I had some power surges and my system would shut down. When rebooting it took me to BIOS. I researched this and it was apparently a common issue with the mobo.

It means if the PSU fails you risk the following.

-It can kill rest of your components as well.
-It can start a fire.
-It can give you electrical shock.

Never go cheap on the PSU, you don't need to look long in these forums to find horror stories about what has happened when peoples cheap crap quality PSU fails.

 

[klondin376]

I feel my fps dropping from time to time, only on aaa titles. I was considering to upgrade so the machine would hold up in the near future too. Also, could you explain further on the PSU being unsafe ?

edit: Initially I had some power surges and my system would shut down. When rebooting it took me to BIOS. I researched this and it was apparently a common issue with the mobo.

It means if the PSU fails you risk the following.

-It can kill rest of your components as well.
-It can start a fire.
-It can give you electrical shock.

Never go cheap on the PSU, you don't need to look long in these forums to find horror stories about what has happened when peoples cheap crap quality PSU fails.

Been using this setup for a little more than 2 years and the only problems were the one I mentioned. Although a fire or all my components ruined doesn't sound like fun. What would be a better alternative for the psu ?

 

[R_1]

When a quality power supply dies. it dies, you replace and continue on. a quality supply will take the hit for the system, jumping on the grenade so to speak.
when a crap supply dies, it could send a surge to all the other parts or the thin wiring will overheat and could start a fire. and those are the most common issues, thin wiring and destructible surges.
also likely cheap capacitors feeding out of spec power slowly killing parts

 

[Kasper Jorgensen]

Best quality ones would be like Corsair RMx series or EVGA Supernova G2 series or Seasonic Focus series.
More budget friendly options, not best quality but still decent and safe at least, could be like Corsair CXm or TXm series or Seasonic S12II series.

R_1 is spot on btw. in his post above.

 

[klondin376]

Then I might completely replace with with a EVGA supernova g2.

Also, any thoughts on the Cryorig CR-H7A cooler ? I've been using the stock cooler for quite a while now and have noticed temperatures up to 75c when heavy gaming; to which point I just stop and give it a rest. I don't want to force it over 80 to be honest.

 

[Kasper Jorgensen]

Then I might completely replace with with a EVGA supernova g2.

Also, any thoughts on the Cryorig CR-H7A cooler ? I've been using the stock cooler for quite a while now and have noticed temperatures up to 75c when heavy gaming; to which point I just stop and give it a rest. I don't want to force it over 80 to be honest.

Very good choice of PSU.
The cooler should be pretty decent, if you want better look for a Noctua NH-D15.

 

[R_1]

consider the warranty of the PSU too.
price/time covered
example the corsair RM650X is 100 before rebate, but it has a 10 year warranty @ 10 bucks a year
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Rp8H99/corsair-power-supply-cp9020091na
the seasonic M12ii evo is 60 bucks and has a 5 year warranty
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Tc3RsY/seasonic-power-supply-ss620gm2
to me the seasonic is the more expensive unit
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qZKhP6/seasonic-prime-gold-650w-80-gold-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-ssr-650gd
the seasonic Primes have a 12 year warranty @ 9.5 a year
it pays to pay for the PSU

EVGA g2 at 750W have a 10 year warranty, 650W and lower have a 7 year warranty

 

[klondin376]

consider the warranty of the PSU too.
price/time covered
example the corsair RM650X is 100 before rebate, but it has a 10 year warranty @ 10 bucks a year
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Rp8H99/corsair-power-supply-cp9020091na
the seasonic M12ii evo is 60 bucks and has a 5 year warranty
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Tc3RsY/seasonic-power-supply-ss620gm2
to me the seasonic is the more expensive unit
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qZKhP6/seasonic-prime-gold-650w-80-gold-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-ssr-650gd
the seasonic Primes have a 12 year warranty @ 9.5 a year
it pays to pay for the PSU

Good point, I think 7 years should do it. That is a long time to be honest in that time I might completely build a new rig from 0.
I just need this rig to keep running as smooth as possible for another 3 years until I finish uni.

 

[klondin376]

Then I might completely replace with with a EVGA supernova g2.

Also, any thoughts on the Cryorig CR-H7A cooler ? I've been using the stock cooler for quite a while now and have noticed temperatures up to 75c when heavy gaming; to which point I just stop and give it a rest. I don't want to force it over 80 to be honest.

Very good choice of PSU.
The cooler should be pretty decent, if you want better look for a Noctua NH-D15.

I think it's a little too big. I use a Corsair spec-03 case. Maximum cooler height would be 156mm

 

[Kasper Jorgensen]

Then I might completely replace with with a EVGA supernova g2.

Also, any thoughts on the Cryorig CR-H7A cooler ? I've been using the stock cooler for quite a while now and have noticed temperatures up to 75c when heavy gaming; to which point I just stop and give it a rest. I don't want to force it over 80 to be honest.

Very good choice of PSU.
The cooler should be pretty decent, if you want better look for a Noctua NH-D15.

I think it's a little too big. I use a Corsair spec-03 case. Maximum cooler height would be 156mm

Yeah, I see. Well, a Cryorig H7 is a decent cooler for a cheap price.