Upgrading Build - Feedback on upgrade choices

[guinness74]

I am a novice PC builder and put together my first rig in 2011. I use my rig primarily for gaming (RPGs, some occasional FPS). I always say I want to overclock but never seem to get around to it. Specs are the following:

Mobo: Gigabyte GA z68x-UD3H-B3 MOBO
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K CPU
GPU: Radeon HD 6970 2GB GPU
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600 RAM
PS: XFX 650W PS
Case: NZXT Phantom Case
Monitor: Dell eIPS U2311H Monitor

I think my rig is getting a little long in the tooth so was interested in upgrading several components without gutting the whole thing. Could use some feedback on the upgrade choices. Not looking to break the bank but would love it to last a couple more years.

Mobo: ASRock Z97 Extreme6 Mobo
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K CPU
GPU: Geoforce GTX 970 GPU

I also recently upgraded my hard drive to a 128GB SSD Boot Drive and 2TB HDD (as well as kept my original 1TB HDD for photos and such), but everything else would remain the same.

 

[guinness74]

bump

 

[RazerZ]

The performance gain from the latest i5 will be very small and it won't be worth it at all. Get the GTX 970 and you will be set. Could also pick up an aftermarket cooler and OC your i5 to squeeze some more performance out of it.

 

[guinness74]

The performance gain from the latest i5 will be very small and it won't be worth it at all. Get the GTX 970 and you will be set. Could also pick up an aftermarket cooler and OC your i5 to squeeze some more performance out of it.

Thanks RazerZ. I actually already have this fan & heatsink.

CoolerMaster Hyper212 Plus
Fan & Heatsink

So you do not think I will create a CPU bottleneck with my GTX 970 running on a PCIe 2.0x16 vs. PCIe 3.0x16? That might be a better option in the near term. I also was anticipating having to upgrade soon once DX12 comes out b/c I am currently using Windows 7 OS, which I am reading won't be compatible. May not be worth it just for that support though.

 

[logainofhades]

There is no difference in performance between PCI-E 2.0 vs 3.0 in a single GPU setup. I agree with the GTX 970. Just give that chip an overclock to at least 4.0ghz, which is just a simple multiplier change to 40. You motherboard manual will show you where the setting is.

 

[RazerZ]

^Agreed. I haven't seen any concrete evidence that DX 12 won't be supported on Windows 7. I'm placing my bets that it will be, but time will only tell.

 

[guinness74]

Thanks everyone...that helps me a ton (in addition to saving me some cash). I'll just grab the new GPU, try my hand at the simple OC, and wait a bit longer to upgrade everything else.

 

[RazerZ]

Sounds like a plan.