Should I upgrade or start fresh?

[MarkBarteski]

Hello, recently i've been having issues with my pc over heating and just performance issues. It was built in sept/oct 2010 and over 3 years i've only added an SSD and cooler. Right now i'm not sure what I should do so I need some help!

I currently play League of legends, Arma 3, CSGO (I play alot of free fps/cod aswell). I'd also like to stream but on my current pc it's just not cutting it.

Current Rig:
Case
Cooler Master Storm Scout
CPU
Intel Core i5 760 @ 2.80GHz
RAM (Kingston HyperX)
4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 668MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P7P55 LX (LGA1156)
Graphics (ATI Radeon 5870)
1024MB ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
Hard Drives
500GB Seagate ST3500418AS ATA Device (SATA)
500GB Seagate ST3500418AS ATA Device (SATA)
120GB Corsair Force GT ATA Device (SSD)
Power Supply
Corsair HX series HX650 650W
Cooler
Cooler Master X6 Elite

Or would it just be better to start fresh and build a whole new pc? For a new pc I would feel comfortable spending around 1500 (in about a month would be nice if it was cheaper) but that that ballpark i'd like to stay in. Also I live in Canada so Canadian sites would be better

Thanks!

 

[Shneiky]

If you wish to save money then:
Buy a good CPU cooler and overclock. Then buy a good GPU.

If it doesn't work. Then you can purchase the rest of a new system, then just drop in that CPU cooler and GPU.

 

[AxlFone]

How hot is your room when you play?

Here is new build.
PSU you can save and SSD / HDD /DVD / CASE

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1gR5L

CPU cooler maybe CM 212 EVO is enough for you?
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr1

 

[sam_p_lay]

It's actually still a decent setup - I'd stick with it. Get a can of air of clean it out thoroughly. Fresh install Windows. Replace that Radeon with a GTX760 and see how you go with it. If you're still not happy, replace everything else too. I don't think you'll really need to though.

 

[xerxces]

I would not build a new computer. I would get an SSD, Mobo and 8GB of RAM, CPU, and a GFX card. There are many parts you can use from your current build.

 

[MarkBarteski]

How hot is your room when you play?

Here is new build.
PSU you can save and SSD / HDD /DVD / CASE

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1gR5L

CPU cooler maybe CM 212 EVO is enough for you?
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr1

My rooms a tad bit warm since air conditioning isn't really getting up to my room like the other rooms, but its not that hot my gpu when im playing games is like 80-93C :/ and it just feels like my pc is a heater! I currently have a Cooler Master x6 Elite cpu cooler but i'm not sure its doing a great job since its so big and my case isn't.

 

[coozie7]

A new build might work for you, but there is things that can be done to improve the current, already very good, system:
Like my i5 750, that CPU is calling out for a decent overclock, I'm quite timid but it's running happily and well within safe temperatures at 3.4GHz on a less capable cooler. It makes a considerable difference in CPU intensive games.
The HD 5870 is a real holdup here, depending on how you want to play it either the GTX760 or GTX770 would be stellar upgrades, the 760 should easily give you another year of high quality gaming, the '770 will push things further and, if you decide on a new build it will be a great partner for the faster CPU/Mobo/RAM.
I've mentioned the Nvidia GTX760/770 but the AMD HD7950/7970 are viable alternatives provided the price is right (they are a little slower than their Nvidia competitors).
The choice is yours but prices are in constant motion so the best deals are where you find them!
Oh, and if you do a lot of video editing or multitasking an extra 4 Gb of memory wo n't hurt, either😉.

 

[MarkBarteski]

It's actually still a decent setup - I'd stick with it. Get a can of air of clean it out thoroughly. Fresh install Windows. Replace that Radeon with a GTX760 and see how you go with it. If you're still not happy, replace everything else too. I don't think you'll really need to though.

Cleaned it about a couple weeks ago when I installed my cpu cooler and didn't seem to do the trick

 

[MarkBarteski]

A new build might work for you, but there is things that can be done to improve the current, already very good, system:
Like my i5 750, that CPU is calling out for a decent overclock, I'm quite timid but it's running happily and well within safe temperatures at 3.4GHz on a less capable cooler. It makes a considerable difference in CPU intensive games.
The HD 5870 is a real holdup here, depending on how you want to play it either the GTX760 or GTX770 would be stellar upgrades, the 760 should easily give you another year of high quality gaming, the '770 will push things further and, if you decide on a new build it will be a great partner for the faster CPU/Mobo/RAM.
I've mentioned the Nvidia GTX760/770 but the AMD HD7950/7970 are viable alternatives provided the price is right (they are a little slower than their Nvidia competitors).
The choice is yours but prices are in constant motion so the best deals are where you find them!
Oh, and if you do a lot of video editing or multitasking an extra 4 Gb of memory wo n't hurt, either😉.

I'm honestly quiet disappointed with my ATI for how much i spent on it (400$ish) and its just been meh (my first pc had a 8800 ultra which was great!) would my currently system be able to handle a 770? and what kind of memory would you recommend?

 

[sam_p_lay]

Then fresh install Windows and get a GTX760 in there 🙂

 

[MarkBarteski]

Then fresh install Windows and get a GTX760 in there 🙂

I think that's what I'm going to do!

 

[sam_p_lay]

Good stuff 🙂 Let us know how it goes.

 

[AxlFone]

You can try to remove the GPU thermal paste and put some new in there.. That can help too.
How much fans do you have in that case?
put one more floor of that case to get in some fresh cool air to gpu. This can help too.
But if you want to go to GTX 760 then it is a good choice
get gigabyte card. That do have really good cooler .

 

[MarkBarteski]

Good stuff 🙂 Let us know how it goes.

1 more question! which card should I get? http://www.memoryexpress.com/Search/Products?Search=gtx+760
this is my local pc shop! I'll run out and grab 1 tmw but which one?

 

[MarkBarteski]

You can try to remove the GPU thermal paste and put some new in there.. That can help too.
How much fans do you have in that case?
put one more floor of that case to get in some fresh cool air to gpu. This can help too.
But if you want to go to GTX 760 then it is a good choice
get gigabyte card. That do have really good cooler .

4 fans in the case, Do you think that maybe the x6 elite is just to big for my computer?

 

[AxlFone]

hehe this one: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn760oc2gd
😀

4 fans in the case, Do you think that maybe the x6 elite is just to big for my computer?

No

 

[coozie7]

The system will run a GTX770, the only question is monitor resolution: If you're on 1080 res then the '770 is the more expensive option but would be a better fit, if the resolution is lower the GTX760 is the way to go.
Again, there are options for the memory but rather than add two extra 2Gb modules I'd drop a 2x4Gb kit in there, check the motherboard manual for what speeds it supports. I've never been one to get the top uber flashy stuff, the big heatsinks and special coolers are really not needed unless you start to seriously push the memory for the maximum possible overclock.

 

[MarkBarteski]

The system will run a GTX770, the only question is monitor resolution: If you're on 1080 res then the '770 is the more expensive option but would be a better fit, if the resolution is lower the GTX760 is the way to go.
Again, there are options for the memory but rather than add two extra 2Gb modules I'd drop a 2x4Gb kit in there, check the motherboard manual for what speeds it supports. I've never been one to get the top uber flashy stuff, the big heatsinks and special coolers are really not needed unless you start to seriously push the memory for the maximum possible overclock.

I play some games on 1080 and some lower like alot lower I think i'll try out a 760 for now and see how it does..How hard would it be to overclock my current pc?

 

[coozie7]

Overclocking is not difficult but there are risks, the higher speeds generate more heat so it's important to get monitoring software and do some research first. Take a look over at the Overclocking Forum and read the relevant stickie/s to begin with.
Sounds like the GTX760 is the best choice for you.
How are the fans arranged? I've found the top fan on my Antec 200 case seems to upset the airflow to the CPU cooler.
Right now, my CPU is at 39C BTW so it's possible your cooler is not making good contact with the CPU heatspreader or you may have applied too much thermal paste if your CPU is much hotter.

 

[MarkBarteski]

Hey guys so I put the new video card in and fixed my CPU
Coller my PC gets to starting windows and that's it. This happened after I removed my old video card drivers

 

[sam_p_lay]

That was fast! GTX760 + overclock + fresh install and it's still slow? I'm off to bed now but I'll be back on here tomorrow.

 

[MarkBarteski]

That was fast! GTX760 + overclock + fresh install and it's still slow? I'm off to bed now but I'll be back on here tomorrow.

I mean it's freezing at "Starting Windows" so i did safe start and changed some setting but nothing is working so i did a system restore to yesterday and now it loads...even though I hate doing them guess i'll reformat my sdd tonight and everything should be good

 

[MarkBarteski]

Got everything running well! my heat issues are fixed everything is nice a cool, the card just barely fit! but seems to be working well I think I need to get some new ram and get 8gbs since it doesn't seem to be much of a difference from my old 5870 :/

 

[sam_p_lay]

That's disappointing (and surprising) that you're still not getting decent performance. What exactly is letting you down performance-wise? You're not trying to max Crysis 3 or something?

 

[MarkBarteski]

That's disappointing (and surprising) that you're still not getting decent performance. What exactly is letting you down performance-wise? You're not trying to max Crysis 3 or something?

I still cant stream csgo, and league of legends 🙁