Current Specs:
Mobo: Msi p55-g55a
CPU: Intel i3 530
GPU: Visiontek radeon 5750
Memory: GSkill Ripjaw Series 4GB(2x2) pc 12800
Case: NZXT apollo
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7200 RPM
DVD: Light-On 24x DVD RW
Power Supply: CoolerMaster 650W GX
The upgrades I'm going to buy are:
CPU: i5 2500k
Mobo: MSI P67A-gd55-b3
GPU: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0365500
CPU heatsink: undecided
Preffered store will be microcenter or newegg.
I currently run all games fairly well at 1920x1080 but I'm upgrading now because I won't have the funds the next three years while I finish school. I know what I want to get but I still have some questions. If I bought the i5 760 to save money not only on the processor but a motherboard as well and not having to buy windows again (I read that windows detects the motherboard once installed and I have the non-transferable OEM version) would I still be okay for the next several years? I don't currently do any overclocking, but I plan to get some better cooling and start once I upgrade. I'm going to be in Dallas this weekend and plan to go to microcenter and at least buy the processor, whether it's the 760 or 2500k, because the price difference compared to newegg is unbeatable. The rest of the upgrades I'm not so sure are worth it though. I've heard microcenter will check to make sure each component works before you leave the store but that is only hearsay and that's where my questions come in. I can get both the motherboard listed above and graphics card listed above for significantly cheaper on newegg but is it worth it if microcenter will test them before I leave the store (if the hearsay is correct)? Also, I could get a 2gb 6950 with slightly faster clocks (HIS IceQ turbo) than the one I've picked off microcenters website for cheaper than the one I've picked or another brand/card entirely. I also am curious as to which heatsink I should get if I'll be overclocking because I know nothing about heatsinks. So in short I would like to know if I got the 760, even though the 2500k will run circles around it, and overclock it to save money would it be worth the while and I'm deadset on getting a 2gb 6950 and unlocking/overclocking it but if I should stick to newegg and pick out a different one. Sorry for the long post, I'm just trying to gather as much info as possible and make the right decision before I start throwing all the money around. Thanks for all the help I get on this.
Mobo: Msi p55-g55a
CPU: Intel i3 530
GPU: Visiontek radeon 5750
Memory: GSkill Ripjaw Series 4GB(2x2) pc 12800
Case: NZXT apollo
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7200 RPM
DVD: Light-On 24x DVD RW
Power Supply: CoolerMaster 650W GX
The upgrades I'm going to buy are:
CPU: i5 2500k
Mobo: MSI P67A-gd55-b3
GPU: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0365500
CPU heatsink: undecided
Preffered store will be microcenter or newegg.
I currently run all games fairly well at 1920x1080 but I'm upgrading now because I won't have the funds the next three years while I finish school. I know what I want to get but I still have some questions. If I bought the i5 760 to save money not only on the processor but a motherboard as well and not having to buy windows again (I read that windows detects the motherboard once installed and I have the non-transferable OEM version) would I still be okay for the next several years? I don't currently do any overclocking, but I plan to get some better cooling and start once I upgrade. I'm going to be in Dallas this weekend and plan to go to microcenter and at least buy the processor, whether it's the 760 or 2500k, because the price difference compared to newegg is unbeatable. The rest of the upgrades I'm not so sure are worth it though. I've heard microcenter will check to make sure each component works before you leave the store but that is only hearsay and that's where my questions come in. I can get both the motherboard listed above and graphics card listed above for significantly cheaper on newegg but is it worth it if microcenter will test them before I leave the store (if the hearsay is correct)? Also, I could get a 2gb 6950 with slightly faster clocks (HIS IceQ turbo) than the one I've picked off microcenters website for cheaper than the one I've picked or another brand/card entirely. I also am curious as to which heatsink I should get if I'll be overclocking because I know nothing about heatsinks. So in short I would like to know if I got the 760, even though the 2500k will run circles around it, and overclock it to save money would it be worth the while and I'm deadset on getting a 2gb 6950 and unlocking/overclocking it but if I should stick to newegg and pick out a different one. Sorry for the long post, I'm just trying to gather as much info as possible and make the right decision before I start throwing all the money around. Thanks for all the help I get on this.