[Cage]

Hello guys! My PC is somewhere around 4 years old now, and guess it's a good time to upgrade. I probably won't have a big budget, but I plan to do it over the course of this year, so I'll probably do it bit by bit.

I'd like to ask about some stuff first, since I'm completely non-techie

My current board is ASUS P6T SE LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard with a CORE i7 920 2.66GHz LGA1366 cpu.

• Since I work in resource demanding applications (Adobe After Effects for example), I'd like to get more RAM. I've got 8gb currently ( 2 x DDR3 4096MB PC1333 DUAL 2 x 2048 CL9 ) and I'd like to expand. I thought about getting another 8gb, but the specs say 24gb is the max amount and I'm thinking about maxing it out. There are 4 slots, so that would be a 2x4gb and 2x8gb configuration. Is that okay, or can it cause any problems? Any specific brands/products you would recommend? What about bus speeds? Most 8gb ddr3 are 1600mhz, and judging from the specification, my board supports it.
  
• I've heard that i5 and i7 processors are good for overclocking. I'm considering doing this, however, I have zero experience with it and I'm afraid I'll break something Not sure if it's a good idea in this case. I'd also prefer not going into some crazy cooling solutions, getting a better CPU fan is okay though.
  
• If I'd decide to overclock, I might need a better PSU, right? I have a 500W one currently.
  
• Lowest priority: My current GPU is ASUS GeForce 9600GT 512MB DDR3/256bit DVI/HDMI PCI-E (600/1800). I think I might like to play some newer games soon (Got decent performance in Crysis 2 and DX:HR, but those aren't exactly new anymore ), and I think it doesn't really cut it now. Any suggestions? Having a gaming machine is low priority for me, so it would be great if I could get a decent upgrade without breaking the bank. Maybe somewhere around 180$ max? Would it be possible to find a card that would not only boost performance in games, but also in graphics software, rendering etc., in this price range?
  
• GPU related: how does SLI work? Could I buy a new GPU and keep my old GF9600GT for an extra boost? I've heard that both GPU's have to be identical to work in SLI.

Big thanks for help!

[Inspector Lagomorf]

Cage, on 03 January 2014 - 12:06 PM, said:

• Since I work in resource demanding applications (Adobe After Effects for example), I'd like to get more RAM. I've got 8gb currently ( 2 x DDR3 4096MB PC1333 DUAL 2 x 2048 CL9 ) and I'd like to expand. I thought about getting another 8gb, but the specs say 24gb is the max amount and I'm thinking about maxing it out.

You don't need to.

Really, you don't. 8GB is as much as you'll ever need if your computer is properly optimized. Maybe 16GB at most if you're running multiple virtual machines. Having added unused RAM will not improve your computer's performance unless you multitask like crazy.

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I've heard that i5 and i7 processors are good for overclocking. I'm considering doing this, however, I have zero experience with it and I'm afraid I'll break something Not sure if it's a good idea in this case. I'd also prefer not going into some crazy cooling solutions, getting a better CPU fan is okay though.

Get a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO and stick 'er on your CPU. Some of the more modern ASUS motherboards have "EZ Mode" which let you do some basic turbo-charging without risking your parts too much, but a heatsink fan like the Hyper 212 will cool your CPU by at least 20C more than a stock cooler would... Get a program like CoreTemp so you can monitor your CPU temperatures. Overclocking is nowhere near as dangerous as it used to be, and with an Intel i5/i7 you can do quite a lot. Google some overclocking guides if you're curious. I'm sure Viper will jump into the thread with some advice.

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If I'd decide to overclock, I might need a better PSU, right? I have a 500W one currently.

Rosewill 650W or 700W, modular if you can find it. If you plan to SLI/Crossfire, consider a higher wattage.

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Lowest priority: My current GPU is ASUS GeForce 9600GT 512MB DDR3/256bit DVI/HDMI PCI-E (600/1800). I think I might like to play some newer games soon (Got decent performance in Crysis 2 and DX:HR, but those aren't exactly new anymore ), and I think it doesn't really cut it now. Any suggestions?

GeForce GTX 480s and 660s are looking good right now benchmark-wise if you can find them. Videocardbenchmark.net has 'em at $200.00... get EVGA if you can find 'em. If you want to go the Radeon route, try the R9 270X. Either card will give you the best price value for high graphics quality if you're on a budget.

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GPU related: how does SLI work? Could I buy a new GPU and keep my old GF9600GT for an extra boost? I've heard that both GPU's have to be identical to work in SLI.

That's really a personal decision you have to make, and nowhere near as important as simply getting a newer and more powerful GPU.

[The Commander]

You only need to overclock if you have a small penis like Viper or Forge do.
You really don't see any massive speed increases with it and its more of a bragging thing.

Just get a better GPU and you should be good.

[Forge]

Cage, on 03 January 2014 - 12:06 PM, said:

Hello guys! My PC is somewhere around 4 years old now, and guess it's a good time to upgrade. I probably won't have a big budget, but I plan to do it over the course of this year, so I'll probably do it bit by bit.

I'd like to ask about some stuff first, since I'm completely non-techie

My current board is ASUS P6T SE LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard with a CORE i7 920 2.66GHz LGA1366 cpu.
[*]I've heard that i5 and i7 processors are good for overclocking. I'm considering doing this, however, I have zero experience with it and I'm afraid I'll break something Not sure if it's a good idea in this case. I'd also prefer not going into some crazy cooling solutions, getting a better CPU fan is okay though.

get a hyper 212 evo cooler

try these bios settings:

CPU Ratio 20
BCLK 190
PCIE Freq 100
DRAM Freq 1400
UCLK Freq 2800

cpu voltage 1.23xxxV
PPL 1.80V
QPI/Dram 1.315V
IOH Voltage AUTO
IOH PCIE AUTO
ICH Voltage AUTO
ICH PCIE AUTO
Dram Voltage 1.58V

Load Line calibration: enabled

All power saving tech: off
Hyperthreading: on
Turbo boost tech: off

you'll need stress testing software like prime95 to make sure the system is stable. (nothing like getting elbow deep into something just to have the system unexpectedly crash)
if you want to "learn" how to overclock then you should read up on it
http://www.overclock...r-930-to-4-0ghz

Cage, on 03 January 2014 - 12:06 PM, said:

• Since I work in resource demanding applications (Adobe After Effects for example), I'd like to get more RAM. I've got 8gb currently ( 2 x DDR3 4096MB PC1333 DUAL 2 x 2048 CL9 ) and I'd like to expand. I thought about getting another 8gb, but the specs say 24gb is the max amount and I'm thinking about maxing it out. There are 4 slots, so that would be a 2x4gb and 2x8gb configuration. Is that okay, or can it cause any problems? Any specific brands/products you would recommend? What about bus speeds? Most 8gb ddr3 are 1600mhz, and judging from the specification, my board supports it.
  

2x4 & 2x8 is fine. try to put the similar ram chips in adjoining slots (i.e. 2x8 in the first two slots, 2x4 in the second two)
1600mHz is good
you really shouldn't need more than 16mb Ram in extreme cases anyway

Cage, on 03 January 2014 - 12:06 PM, said:

If I'd decide to overclock, I might need a better PSU, right? I have a 500W one currently.

Lowest priority: My current GPU is ASUS GeForce 9600GT 512MB DDR3/256bit DVI/HDMI PCI-E (600/1800). I think I might like to play some newer games soon (Got decent performance in Crysis 2 and DX:HR, but those aren't exactly new anymore ), and I think it doesn't really cut it now. Any suggestions? Having a gaming machine is low priority for me, so it would be great if I could get a decent upgrade without breaking the bank. Maybe somewhere around 180$ max? Would it be possible to find a card that would not only boost performance in games, but also in graphics software, rendering etc., in this price range?

GPU related: how does SLI work? Could I buy a new GPU and keep my old GF9600GT for an extra boost? I've heard that both GPU's have to be identical to work in SLI.

you really wouldn't need a new psu just to overclock, but you might need one if you get a new video card. 650w should be more than enough.
an R9 270 or a GTX 660 is in your price range
SLI requires SLI compatible cards and they need to have the same vc bios

[Forge]

The Commander, on 03 January 2014 - 12:20 PM, said:

You only need to overclock if you have a small penis like Viper or Forge do.

i have to overclock. i no longer sport a mullet and drive an american muscle car

[Cage]

Comrade Major, on 03 January 2014 - 12:17 PM, said:

Really, you don't. 8GB is as much as you'll ever need if your computer is properly optimized. Maybe 16GB at most if you're running multiple virtual machines. Having added unused RAM will not improve your computer's performance unless you multitask like crazy.

Thought it wouldn't hurt to get more IIRC, for Adobe After Effects, Adobe's official help recommends at least 2gb per core, so with 4 cores I'm kinda running the minimum spec I guess? As for multitasking, I've had times with Photoshop, Illustrator and AFX running at same time, AFX wasn't doing any rendering at the moment though (That's when he starts to be a hog )

Comrade Major, on 03 January 2014 - 12:17 PM, said:

GeForce GTX 480s and 660s are looking good right now benchmark-wise if you can find them. Videocardbenchmark.net has 'em at $200.00... get EVGA if you can find 'em. If you want to go the Radeon route, try the R9 270X. Either card will give you the best price value for high graphics quality if you're on a budget.

I might go with the GTX series, since Adobe lists them as supported for GPU acceleration during rendering. LINK

The Commander, on 03 January 2014 - 12:20 PM, said:

You only need to overclock if you have a small penis like Viper or Forge do.
You really don't see any massive speed increases with it and its more of a bragging thing.

No problems with the size of my penis, I was just curious if it's a worthwhile performance boost My i7 CPU is still really good, no point in replacing it. Just curious if it's worth getting "more" out of it.

[Inspector Lagomorf]

It seems that Forge essentially gave the same advice that I did regarding GPU and cooling choices. So that should tell you something.

Edit: Also watch YouTube videos of PC techies assembling the Hyper 212 EVO. The instruction guide given with the packaging may not be helpful at times, and since you're basically sandwiching a giant fan onto your CPU core with some thermal paste and a funny little mounting bracket, you'll want to make sure you do it properly so you don't make a big pastey mess or worse.

[Cage]

What do you think about GeForce GTX570 or GeForce GTX 580? Those are officially listed as cards which provide GPU acceleration in AFX and guess those are in my price range (the second one if I could stretch it)

[Inspector Lagomorf]

Both kick ass on the benchmarks but are on the pricey side. If you're willing to invest the money, though, go for it.

[Forge]

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817371044
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814500286
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835103099

you can stick with 8mb ram and o.c. it to 1600 with a volt & freq bump


technically if you don't overclock, you really don't need the cooler and you can probably get by on the power supply you have now

you can always piecemeal it together over time

the video card will be your biggest performance gain

get the gpu, then get power supply. get the cooler last and bump your system

[Cage]

Ok, I've read more about the subject, and the listed cards are for the raytraced rendering support in AFX CS6, which I don't have. Plus, for more complex 3d I can use other software. So I guess this leaves me with more freedom to choose. Besides, GeForce GTX570, 580, 470, are either available used or out of my price range, from what I can see - Judging from the price in stores, but it seems they don't have it in stock, at least locally. Are they discontinued?

Just curious, since In the end, I might go with the GeForce GTX 650 Ti. Is it worth it to buy the 2GB version instead of 1GB one?
EDIT: Also considering the GeForce GTX 660

Big thanks for the help so far!

[Hendricks266]

Cage, on 03 January 2014 - 02:11 PM, said:

EDIT: Also considering the GeForce GTX 660

I snagged one over Black Friday. Love it. I haven't pushed it to its limits yet and I really should.

[Forge]

Cage, on 03 January 2014 - 02:11 PM, said:

Just curious, since In the end, I might go with the GeForce GTX 650 Ti. Is it worth it to buy the 2GB version instead of 1GB one?

memory interface is more important than memory size
a 192bit 1Gb card is better than a 128bit 2Gb card

on the average 128bit card there is some performance gain between a 1Gb and a 2Gb. Playing games it probably wouldn't be worth it, but for what you're using it for, i would say it most likely would be beneficial to make that little extra investment

[Cage]

Ok, big thanks for all the info!

So the plan is:

• Ram expansion to 16gb, 24gb maybe sometime later
  
• GFX GTX660
  
• PSU & Cooler

What brand of GPU you recommend? My old 9600GT is ASUS made and I've had no problems with it, from what is available in local stores (Poland), Gigabyte (2GB OC) is most affordable and widely available.

Ram question: I was deeply convinced I've had only 4 slots but in fact I have six. Is either a 2x8gb or a 4x4gb configuration better? Price wise it's simillar from what I can see.

As for 8gb ram, the decent affordable/available model (local, but solid brand) is available in either 1333mhz/CT9 or 1600mhz/CT11. From what I've read, CT's should be lower. Does it make a big difference?

[Forge]

GPU - MSI, EVGA, Zotac
i would feel safe with an Asus or a Gigabyte as well.

if that board has six ram slots, but only has a 24gb capacity you'd better double-check the slot capacity/compatibility
http://www.asus.com/...P6T_SE/#support

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either 1333mhz/CT9 or 1600mhz/CT11. From what I've read, CT's should be lower. Does it make a big difference?

speed (mHz) trumps latency/timing. 1600/11 is better than 1333/9

[Person of Color]

Don't buy a used GTX 480 if you come across one, those cards have terrible VRM's and a high failure rate. It doesn't matter who makes it, they all suck.

+1 for the Hyper212 EVO. You can't really break anything by overclocking it.

[DustFalcon85]

Cage. I would go for either i5-3570K or the i5-4670K CPU if I were you. Saves a Benjamin over the i7's.

[Forge]

oh yea.
it's totally worth the effort to ditch his board and i7 chip to change over to a newer socket i5
it'll really help the performance with all those games he plays

[Inspector Lagomorf]

Forge, on 14 January 2014 - 08:19 AM, said:

oh yea.
it's totally worth the effort to ditch his board and i7 chip to change over to a newer socket i5
it'll really help the performance with all those games he plays

Yeah, that sounds just a bit dubious to me as well.

[Person of Color]

A newer i5 will kick the crap out of that old 920. My old 2500k at stock clocks would give it a black eye.

If I had one of those I would just overclock it to something like 3.8. I mean, shit, it'll only cost thirty bucks and you'll jump a generation.

[Forge]

Dial V for Viper, on 14 January 2014 - 09:02 AM, said:

A newer i5 will kick the crap out of that old 920. My old 2500k at stock clocks would give it a black eye.

If I had one of those I would just overclock it to something like 3.8. I mean, shit, it'll only cost thirty bucks and you'll jump a generation.

he has an 1366 mobo now, wouldn't he need an 1155 board for that?

for what he's doing, i don't think he needs the upgrade in that area.

[Person of Color]

Yeah I already said that. He should just overclock his current processor.

[Forge]

the way i read it i was applying your second statement (if i had one of those) to your first about the i5. i was thinking the "generation jumping" was physical hardware from 1366 to 1155.

i'm old and senile. get off me man