PC-GENIUS? Can you help me upgrade my polished turd?

[Elrond of Rivendell (Rocket)]

I'm getting ready to drop around $700 in a couple months into my pc gaming experience i have a 60hz monitor and heres my pc specs http://valid.x86.fr/1t05y6 . I want to game in 1080p ultra settings with medium settings at 1440p. I want to have intel,nvidia technology on my rig, and im willing to drop the right amount of money over time. I dont know what to get and in what order (i know i need to switch out my cpu\motherboard).

[Arya]

You're looking at way more than $700 for that. More like $1500 to $2000 for a good GTX1080/1440p build. Trust me, I built one for myself four days ago.

[Elrond of Rivendell (Rocket)]

Originally posted by 狼 Wolfey:

You're looking at way more than $700 for that. More like $1500 to $2000 for a good GTX1080/1440p build. Trust me, I built one for myself four days ago.

I really cant afford that all at once, but i wanted to buy items that bring me closer to that goal, in a reasonable acheivable manner.

[76561198343548661]

PCPartPicker part list: {LINK REMOVED}https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Kxs6pb
Price breakdown by merchant: {LINK REMOVED}https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Kxs6pb/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($191.91 @ Jet)
Motherboard: ASRock Z170A-X1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($85.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($61.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.78 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card ($249.99 @ Jet)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $722.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-12-09 22:27 EST-0500

or

PCPartPicker part list: {LINK REMOVED}https://pcpartpicker.com/list/zz6vd6
Price breakdown by merchant: {LINK REMOVED}https://pcpartpicker.com/list/zz6vd6/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($191.91 @ Jet)
Motherboard: ASRock B150M Pro4S Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($64.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($52.30 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.78 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card ($249.99 @ Jet)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $691.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-12-09 22:34 EST-0500

[Arya]

I would with a case, you can mount your current PC inside it while you build everything up. Which case you choose is entirely up to you, but I recommend something quite large with good airflow - maybe in the $100-200 price range. Having a good case makes everything easier - installations, cooling, modifications and repairs.

Next I would pick out what CPU you're going to use. I recommend the i5 6600K, it's an extremely powerful gaming CPU and the perfect match for your GTX1080. This also decides the type of Motherboard you'll use, the 6600K needs a Z170 or Z170S type motherboard. These are slightly more expensive but well worth the cost.

I can't really recommend a particular motherboard, it doesn't really matter which one you get. They will all handle your components quite well, and the only performance difference is audio quality - some have better jacks than others. Most of the expensive ones are aimed at hardcore Overclockers, so I wouldn't spend over $200 - the features on these boards will be of limited use to you.

Once you've got a Motherboard, grab some DDR4 RAM. Any RAM will do, but I particularly like Corsair Vengeance LPX. It's physically small RAM and that makes it easier to install a large Heatsink. without any clearance issues. You'll want 16 GB of total RAM, anything under may give reduced performance and anything over is a waste of money for gaming use. Frequency and CAS don't really matter, I use basic 2400 MHz and still get 200 FPS in DOOM on Ultra running 1440p.

Now for the other really important purchase, the CPU Cooler. Intel CPUs aren't really fussy but they run quite hot. I recommend a Cryorig H7 cooler, it's an affordable but high quality cooler and the perfect match for your 6600K. It's got a bit of excess capacity, without being genuinely overkill.

And finally, the GTX1080 itself. Make and model really matters here, and there's a minefield of great cards mixed with some bum deals. I bought an Asus Strix GTX1080 08G, the top of the heap for performance but also the most expensive. Your other high-end option is the MSI GTX1080 Gaming X, which is every bit as good as the Asus but with a different aesthetic. If you want to go a little cheaper, try a Gigabyte G1 Extreme - it's a great card and a great bargain as well - Gig aren't fancy but they're tough and reliable.

Avoid Zotac, PNY and Galax. They're cheap, but you get what you pay for. And I question the logic of buying the cheapest version of the most expensive Mainstream graphics card produced the last ten years... ...why not go all-in?

To recap, I would buy in this order:

> Case
> CPU
> CPU Cooler
> RAM
And at this point you can assemble the new computer, add the PSU, GTX660 and drives from your old computer and actually start playing with it. Finish by adding the GTX1080 whenever budget allows.

[Elrond of Rivendell (Rocket)]

wow thank you guys i am going to do my research on these parts and find a good middle ground. my 1440p fps target is 60, so 200 fps on ultra is quite higher, i was looking to do medium settings on 1440p thats because price is the big factor thats what unstoppable 1080p and pretty decent 1440p. this is very helpful

[Arya]

Well, I have an easy solution to that and it's called the GTX1070. It's powerful enough to hit 60 FPS when running games at Ultra/1440P and costs around half as much as is it's big sister the GTX1080. It's also shorter and much easier to mount in small cases.

There's no card that'll comfortably run at MEDIUM/60 FPS at 1440p. Nvidia designed the GTX1070 to be their 1440p card and the GTX1080 for 1440p and a bajillion FPS. - For people with 165Hz monitors that can actually render more than 60 FPS.

There is the GTX1060, but it's not a good option. Nvidia's product range gets increasingly spread out as you reach the top of the totem pole. There's a huge gap of performance between the 1060 and 1070.

[Elrond of Rivendell (Rocket)]

Originally posted by 狼 Wolfey:

Well, I have an easy solution to that and it's called the GTX1070. It's powerful enough to hit 60 FPS when running games at Ultra/1440P and costs around half as much as is it's big sister the GTX1080. It's also shorter and much easier to mount in small cases.

There's no card that'll comfortably run at MEDIUM/60 FPS at 1440p. Nvidia designed the GTX1070 to be their 1440p card and the GTX1080 for 1440p and a bajillion FPS. - For people with 165Hz monitors that can actually render more than 60 FPS.

There is the GTX1060, but it's not a good option. Nvidia's product range gets increasingly spread out as you reach the top of the totem pole. There's a huge gap of performance between the 1060 and 1070.

a quick question about the 1070 because i have noticed good things about its price point. lets say i saw someone using 7700mb on their gtav , that is the game i want to base my satisfaction on, so should i get an 8gb vram version to happily accomidate my wants which literally when it ultras gtav im satisfied

[Arya]

Originally posted by Captain Insano "The White Devil":

a quick question about the 1070 because i have noticed good things about its price point. lets say i saw someone using 7700mb on their gtav , that is the game i want to base my satisfaction on, so should i get an 8gb vram version to happily accomidate my wants which literally when it ultras gtav im satisfied

Yeah, it should handle that easily. The 1070 is a seriously powerful bit of kit, it's more powerful than Nvidia's old flagship model - the GTX980Ti.

[Evil Ninetales]

Originally posted by Captain Insano "The White Devil":

I want to game in 1080p ultra settings with medium settings at 1440p.

Originally posted by 狼 Wolfey:

More like $1500 to $2000 for a good GTX1080/1440p build. Trust me, I built one for myself four days ago.

You clearly did not read the OP's post before responding. They were not looking for an Ultra setting 1440p experience. They were looking for a medium detail 1440p experience.

You don't need a 1080 for that.

I'm with little cat. A 1060 is more than enough ( Depending on the game but CS:GO / Overwatch / BF1 should run no problem at 1440p @ medium settings. )

[Elrond of Rivendell (Rocket)]

so since i have my hard drive and a decent case and 630w powersupply i should be wanting to buy my i5(gotta decide) and motherboard(price makes that decision), then should i get a monitor or my baby 1070 cuz im fairly certain my gpu is capable of more than my monitor will give my its 60hz

[Arya]

I would get the 1070, it's capable of running better monitors than yours - but who cares. Get it first, start having fun with it, upgrade to a better monitor when you can afford it.

Thankfully 1440p monitors are getting pretty cheap, I would budget a few hundred - max.

[Evil Ninetales]

Originally posted by Captain Insano "The White Devil":

so since i have my hard drive and a decent case and 630w powersupply i should be wanting to buy my i5(gotta decide) and motherboard(price makes that decision), then should i get a monitor or my baby 1070 cuz im fairly certain my gpu is capable of more than my monitor will give my its 60hz

Definetly go for the i5-6600k or If you don't plan on overclocking go for the non-k variant. I Recommend it as I use it myself in my build ( http://valid.x86.fr/5v23bv ).

If you're getting a monitor ( Especially a 144hz / 165hz ) You need to bear in mind you need to be able to output that many fps for the experience to be worth it.

Personally I'd go for a 1080p 144hz monitor. You will have a much better chance hitting 144fps and you can always use nvidia's DSR if you have a game capable of being played at a higher resolution.

[Elrond of Rivendell (Rocket)]

Originally posted by Evil Ninetales:

Originally posted by Captain Insano "The White Devil":

I want to game in 1080p ultra settings with medium settings at 1440p.

Originally posted by 狼 Wolfey:

More like $1500 to $2000 for a good GTX1080/1440p build. Trust me, I built one for myself four days ago.

You clearly did not read the OP's post before responding. They were not looking for an Ultra setting 1440p experience. They were looking for a medium detail 1440p experience.

You don't need a 1080 for that.

I'm with little cat. A 1060 is more than enough ( Depending on the game but CS:GO / Overwatch / BF1 should run no problem at 1440p @ medium settings. )

I think i need need to find out the power beween the 2 cards, i dont understand why they get theyr number all i understand is the vram. I did indeed see a 1060 on youtube medium on 1440p, not sure what game it is, but thats definatly a problem i want to adress, i dont want to fall short of that threshold, so it may just be better to get the more capable card in that "want" category

[76561198343548661]

PCPartPicker part list: {LINK REMOVED}https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wkj8bj
Price breakdown by merchant: {LINK REMOVED}https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wkj8bj/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($227.49 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 74.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-P ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($92.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($88.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card ($429.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $859.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-12-09 23:02 EST-0500

[Elrond of Rivendell (Rocket)]

Originally posted by 狼 Wolfey:

I would get the 1070, it's capable of running better monitors than yours - but who cares. Get it first, start having fun with it, upgrade to a better monitor when you can afford it.

Thankfully 1440p monitors are getting pretty cheap, I would budget a few hundred - max.

when i go to buy a monitor should i look for the hertz it runs at? i saw on a TV box it was rated 60hz and i understand there are 120, and 144hz monitors i would be needing for games. maybe you could recommend a fair priced gaming monitor for this generation?