upgrade my i5-2400 CPU to an i7 4770k CPU

[will_99]

Two or three years ago I bought a HP Pavilion G5470uk Desktop which runs on an Intel(r) core(tm) i5-2400 cpu @ 3.10ghz. At present it has 6 GB of ram but can be extended to 8 GB.

It has a NVIDIA GeForce GT 530 4047mb

I primarily use it for producing Art images using Photoshop and Corel painter. Recently I went up in the art market and I bought a cintiq 24hd; now because of this my output images have become significantly larger requiring a higher resolution.

Depending on what brushes you use on these programs can slow the software, the dreaded cursor lag.

So I was wondering is it worth it or is it even possible to upgrade my i5-2400 CPU to an i7 4770k CPU or similar.

In a couple of years I will possibly buy a purpose built machine but for the moment would I see a significant increase in performance by upgrading if it is possible.

 

[pfunkmd]

You can but you would need to replace the Motherboard as well. In my opinion it would be worth it and it is not a difficult task.

 

[babachicken]

well you wont be able to do it without changing your motherboard.

the i5 2400 uses a differnt socket than i7 4770k

 

[Lman8786]

Well it's probably the graphics card not the CPU, because resolution is handled by the gpu and not the CPU, secondly your motherboard would be too old to handle a new CPU such as the i7 4770k you'll need to make a new system.

 

[logainofhades]

I would upgrade your GPU. A GTX 750 ti would be the best you can do without getting a new power supply as well.

 

[will_99]

So this is looking like, ‘replace mother board/ CPU and a better graphics card’ and then I might be rewarded with a better result?

Thanks

 

[Joseph DeGarmo]

You can get an i7-3770k CPU because it uses the same socket as your existing CPU. That way, you don't need to replace your motherboard. But your motherboard is nothing special, though, since it's an OEM PC, so you might as well replace that and get the 4770k. You will also need to buy a new Windows license, which will add to the cost. If you're using your PC for studio work and editing, then you can alternatively choose to go with an i7-4820k CPU and an X79 motherboard if you wish. That CPU would perform better in production work.

 

[babachicken]

You can get an i7-3770k CPU because it uses the same socket as your existing CPU. That way, you don't need to replace your motherboard. But your motherboard is nothing special, though, since it's an OEM PC, so you might as well replace that and get the 4770k. You will also need to buy a new Windows license, which will add to the cost. If you're using your PC for studio work and editing, then you can alternatively choose to go with an i7-4820k CPU and an X79 motherboard if you wish. That CPU would perform better in production work.

He doesnt need a new windows with just a new cpu.

only need use windows if changing motherboard

 

[will_99]

This is all looking a tad more expensive than the initial idea of just upgrading the CPU. I suspect that it wouldn't fall much short of building a new dedicated machine.

 

[Joseph DeGarmo]

Then you can just upgrade to an i7-3770k, update your motherboard BIOS, and call it a day.

 

[will_99]

Thanks looks like cheapest option for this month, maybe next month the GTX 750 ti and next year the mother board.

Thanks

 

[Lman8786]

Upgrading the CPU won't do much just get a entire new system, and like I said the CPU isn't the problem here it's the gpu, that handles the resolution and since you got a new monitor the gpu can't handle that resolution well since it's old.

 

[will_99]

'entire new system' oh! now wife's going to moan for sure.

 

[will_99]

I half suspected this could only become more expensive as soon as I bought the cintiq24 and that was expensive.

 

[logainofhades]

Then you can just upgrade to an i7-3770k, update your motherboard BIOS, and call it a day.

The OP's system does not support the 3770k.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02922971&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=5144364#N208

OP, your best option is new GPU.

 

[will_99]

I was hoping for a cheaper solution because I had intended to get another couple of years out of my present machine. In some ways an upgrade after reading the advice almost seems like spending thrupence to save sixpence but with fewer of the benefits; I would almost be better going the full hog for a new PC.

 

[logainofhades]

GTX 750ti is about $150. http://pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-video-card-vcggtx750t2xpboc

 

[Cazalan]

I was hoping for a cheaper solution because I had intended to get another couple of years out of my present machine. In some ways an upgrade after reading the advice almost seems like spending thrupence to save sixpence but with fewer of the benefits; I would almost be better going the full hog for a new PC.

The CPU you have should be fine for the work you're trying to do. The video card however is worth about $50. I would upgrade that first and it can be re-used on the next PC. The suggestion above for the 750 Ti is a good place to start on a budget ($150).

Next up would be the memory, depending on how big the files are you're working on. Use the task manager and check if you're ever actually using more than 6GB, which would make the system start to crawl no matter how fast the CPU is.

 

[will_99]

I frequently work on files of around 4 GB and sometimes I get (Photoshop could not save because the document is bigger than 2 gigabytes). I am working on one at the moment which in black in white is 4gb and when I turn into colour it doubles in size to 8gb; at that size Photoshop becomes unusable and then only way to get around it is to work on single layer at a time.

The trouble is that I am outputting an image of around four feet at 300 dpi and even in black in white its lot of pixels.

The graphics card would appear to be sound advice since it won’t be money wasted, except just how expensive do I want to make my graphics card since it’s going to be incorporated into a future machine that will be capable of working with above size files.


I suppose is there an optimum point where there is little to be gained from spending more money be it on graphics card, CPU or mother board?

 

[logainofhades]

Well, many GPU will require a new power supply as well. The GTX 750 ti is the fastest you can go without upgrading, as it only requires a 300w PSU. Your i5 can work fine with pretty much any GPU you want to throw at it. It really depends on how much you are willing to spend.