New something

[KING_OF_SAND]

I have been out of the PC realm for a number of years now due to work and finances but was able to just build a new computer with old parts. (REALLY old parts) haha. My current rig is:

Asus Maximus IV Gene-z Gen 3
Intel 3570k (no OC)
Nvidia 660ti
16GB 1866mhz DDR3 running at 1600 right now
240GB Corsair RED boot drive
3TB WD RED storage
Corsaid AX850 PSU
Crappy case

What should I upgrade next? I am thinking GPU and just popping in a 10 series Nvidia or an AMD R9 series. Just want to get some opinions before jumping into something. I can't just overhaul the whole MOBO yet as I don't have the money to do that, I just want to play some of the latest games again. I wont get back into Benching and OCing till much later again.

 

[Excalabur50]

Welcome back KOS and dude give yourself a smack you should know better than to not tell us the res you will be gaming at so we can properly advise you
That being said if you are gaming at 1080p then an AMD rx480 or a GTX 1060 should be plenty good enough, if 1440p then a 1070/80 is the way to go or the new AMD card that's due in the next couple of months I think should suit admirably

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

Welcome back KOS and dude give yourself a smack you should know better than to not tell us the res you will be gaming at so we can properly advise you
That being said if you are gaming at 1080p then an AMD rx480 or a GTX 1060 should be plenty good enough, if 1440p then a 1070/80 is the way to go or the new AMD card that's due in the next couple of months I think should suit admirably

Haha I know! My bad! Yea it is 1080p. I have been out of the loop for so long... I have been in IT the entire time but keeping up with computer technology is something I need to get back into!

Maybe 1440 in the future but I can always SLI or Crossfire in the future. I prefer 1 GPU but drivers seem to be better than they were 3 to 5 years ago.

 

[AlienALX]

Sort the ram speed and OC the CPU to around 4.2ghz.

Then just buy a GPU, as it's all you need for that rig.

 

[Excalabur50]

Just be advised though that the 1060 is not capable of sli if my memory serves me correctly so if you do plan on going 1440p later then you may want to consider a decent 1070/80 or go with an AMD solution as the 480 is xfire supported and their new cards are due early next year I think and one of those may serve well also

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

Man I am so behind on tech right now. HAHA. Games now a days require SO much to run on high settings. On a side note though I can run BF4 on HIGH in 1080p with my single 660 haha. Runs pretty smooth! Although iTunes doesn't like the 660 too much. But if I were to upgrade GPU I will want at LEAST 4GB vRAM.

I will be OCing my CPU in the future, honestly I don't even know how well this chip can OC, it was my brothers that I salvaged that he used for a NAS/Plex server that he NEVER OCed at all. I am running an Enermax 120x AIO right now with NO fans! HAHA stays quiet but in order to keep temps under 70c I had to underclock the CPU to 2.8 with no boost and 1v. Which seems to be working great actually! No issues running any games. But when I get a new case and a push pull config going with some nice fans I plan on pushing it to 5ghz.

My Gene z board has been a true champ though, my Intel 2500k OC in my sig used it. Never had an issue with it. By far one of my favorite boards.

As another side note the only thing in my Rig that was mine was my motherboard and case. The CPU, GPU, RAM, PSU, SSD, and HDD came from my brothers server. I had to salvage it because his dog got on top of his computer and peed inside of it. Amazingly though even with pee all over HIS motherboard, RAM, and GPU, AND PSU nothing fried. He was running the server 24/7 for about a year after that incident. I was able to clean up the GPU and PSU and luckily nothing got IN the PSU, just some of the connectors were a tad sticky and the RAM had some doggy juices.

 

[Excalabur50]

Have seen a test on this 480 and it's really good the XFX RX480 GTR its on special atm on new egg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150773 and its the 8gb model or here's the 1070's and some of them are on special too http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007709 601204369

 

[Kaapstad]

Man I am so behind on tech right now. HAHA. Games now a days require SO much to run on high settings. On a side note though I can run BF4 on HIGH in 1080p with my single 660 haha. Runs pretty smooth! Although iTunes doesn't like the 660 too much. But if I were to upgrade GPU I will want at LEAST 4GB vRAM.

I will be OCing my CPU in the future, honestly I don't even know how well this chip can OC, it was my brothers that I salvaged that he used for a NAS/Plex server that he NEVER OCed at all. I am running an Enermax 120x AIO right now with NO fans! HAHA stays quiet but in order to keep temps under 70c I had to underclock the CPU to 2.8 with no boost and 1v. Which seems to be working great actually! No issues running any games. But when I get a new case and a push pull config going with some nice fans I plan on pushing it to 5ghz.

My Gene z board has been a true champ though, my Intel 2500k OC in my sig used it. Never had an issue with it. By far one of my favorite boards.

As another side note the only thing in my Rig that was mine was my motherboard and case. The CPU, GPU, RAM, PSU, SSD, and HDD came from my brothers server. I had to salvage it because his dog got on top of his computer and peed inside of it. Amazingly though even with pee all over HIS motherboard, RAM, and GPU, AND PSU nothing fried. He was running the server 24/7 for about a year after that incident. I was able to clean up the GPU and PSU and luckily nothing got IN the PSU, just some of the connectors were a tad sticky and the RAM had some doggy juices.

Get one of the Corsair AIO CPU coolers so you can overclock the CPU.

Go for a RX480 GPU as these are ok for CF later on.