Purpose: make my system from 2011 run current and future games to the best degree possible with budget of <$500
Current Computer:
Case: APEX Vortex 3620 SGCC (1 front and 1 back 120mm fan); vents on side "support" 3x80mm or 2x120mm fans
CPU: i5 2500k
MB: Gigabyte P67A-D3-B3 (rev 1.0)
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-P67A-D3-B3-rev-10#sp
RAM: 2x4GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 1.65V unbuffered; currently running at 1333 for some reason
Edit: running @1600Mhz now. Guess I forgot to enable XMP back in the day
UPDATE: Probably going to get an identical 2x4GB set unless I find sufficient evidence that a higher speed will be needed
Cooler: Stock Intel cooler; limited to <150mm fan height according to case manufacturer
Graphics Card: Zotac GTX 460 SE 1GB GDDR5
Video specs: 1920x1080 60hz (No interest in 4k)
Goals:
a. desired turbo-boost overclock of >= 4.5Ghz
b. 16GB of RAM, preferably fast so games that are CPU bound and that see improvements with memory performance work well in the future
c. get a better videocard
So the main decision points here to balance the monetary distribution around are (to my understanding):
1. What replacement (air) cooler to get that will fit (<150mm, can't be much longer in the direction of optimum airflow than the stock cooler ) and allow the desired level of overclocking? (recommended elsewhere on the forums Coolermaster 212, Noctua NH-U14S don't fit)
2a. How should I get to 16GB of ram (2x8GB or 4x4GB)
2b. If I go 4x4GB, should I keep the RAM I have and find some other 4GB sticks or do I need to get something like a 4x4GB 1866 Mhz package or better latency timings?
2c. If I keep the current RAM, will my 2nd set of dual channel RAM be limited in timings/latencies, clock speed, and voltages by the current set?
2d. If getting new RAM, is overclockability important (from what I understand my current RAM is not very overclockable since its already at 1.65V)?
3. When videocard prices go back down, which card would be the best to get so that it performs well now and hopefully as long as the rest of the components are useful?
(GTX 1060 6GB good enough?)
Other Considerations:
Are any supplementary fans for the case going to be needed? Update: No side fans for now unless cooling solution doesn't perform well enough
I'm also thinking about switching from my orion hp585D to a SuperNova G2 550W since it is vastly more efficient and the data from its THW review was good (and the Orion only has 1x6pin PCIe connector). This can wait until the videocard is bought/ a better sale comes up.
Update: Planning on trying out a Bitfenix Whisper 550W
Some sources I've used :
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2016-is-it-finally-time-to-upgrade-your-core-i5-2500k
http://www.pcgamer.com/the-best-graphics-cards/
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gpus,4380.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-cpu-coolers,4181.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-ram,4057-2.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/276072-29-best-cooler-2500k-5ghz
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2272245/cooler-overclocking-2500k.html
http://hecgroupusa.com/products/switching-power-supply/atx-12v/hp585d/
Current Computer:
Case: APEX Vortex 3620 SGCC (1 front and 1 back 120mm fan); vents on side "support" 3x80mm or 2x120mm fans
CPU: i5 2500k
MB: Gigabyte P67A-D3-B3 (rev 1.0)
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-P67A-D3-B3-rev-10#sp
RAM: 2x4GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 1.65V unbuffered; currently running at 1333 for some reason
Edit: running @1600Mhz now. Guess I forgot to enable XMP back in the day
UPDATE: Probably going to get an identical 2x4GB set unless I find sufficient evidence that a higher speed will be needed
Cooler: Stock Intel cooler; limited to <150mm fan height according to case manufacturer
Graphics Card: Zotac GTX 460 SE 1GB GDDR5
Video specs: 1920x1080 60hz (No interest in 4k)
Goals:
a. desired turbo-boost overclock of >= 4.5Ghz
b. 16GB of RAM, preferably fast so games that are CPU bound and that see improvements with memory performance work well in the future
c. get a better videocard
So the main decision points here to balance the monetary distribution around are (to my understanding):
1. What replacement (air) cooler to get that will fit (<150mm, can't be much longer in the direction of optimum airflow than the stock cooler ) and allow the desired level of overclocking? (recommended elsewhere on the forums Coolermaster 212, Noctua NH-U14S don't fit)
2a. How should I get to 16GB of ram (2x8GB or 4x4GB)
2b. If I go 4x4GB, should I keep the RAM I have and find some other 4GB sticks or do I need to get something like a 4x4GB 1866 Mhz package or better latency timings?
2c. If I keep the current RAM, will my 2nd set of dual channel RAM be limited in timings/latencies, clock speed, and voltages by the current set?
2d. If getting new RAM, is overclockability important (from what I understand my current RAM is not very overclockable since its already at 1.65V)?
3. When videocard prices go back down, which card would be the best to get so that it performs well now and hopefully as long as the rest of the components are useful?
(GTX 1060 6GB good enough?)
Other Considerations:
Are any supplementary fans for the case going to be needed? Update: No side fans for now unless cooling solution doesn't perform well enough
I'm also thinking about switching from my orion hp585D to a SuperNova G2 550W since it is vastly more efficient and the data from its THW review was good (and the Orion only has 1x6pin PCIe connector). This can wait until the videocard is bought/ a better sale comes up.
Update: Planning on trying out a Bitfenix Whisper 550W
Some sources I've used :
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2016-is-it-finally-time-to-upgrade-your-core-i5-2500k
http://www.pcgamer.com/the-best-graphics-cards/
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gpus,4380.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-cpu-coolers,4181.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-ram,4057-2.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/276072-29-best-cooler-2500k-5ghz
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2272245/cooler-overclocking-2500k.html
http://hecgroupusa.com/products/switching-power-supply/atx-12v/hp585d/