Consider suggestions for improving my outdated gaming computer?
Consider suggestions for improving my outdated gaming computer?
Hi,
I'm new to this forum and my upcoming project involves upgrading an old gaming PC. As someone who's retired and not very familiar with the latest technology, your insights and expertise would be incredibly valuable for confirming or giving guidance. Thank you...
The original system specifications are:
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-3770 (3.4GHz) 8MB Cache
ASUS® P8Z77-V PRO/THUNDERBOLT: PCI-E 3.0 READY, WIFI, SLI, X-FIRE
8GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz, X.M.P (2 x 4GB KIT)
CORSAIR 650W ENTHUSIAST SERIES™ TX650 V2-80 PLUS® BRONZE
Super quiet 22dBA TRIPLE COPPER HEATPIPE INTEL CPU COOLER
NVIDIA 1080 Graphics card.
The new setup aims to run X Plane 12 as a Master PC. This would involve the core XP12 application alongside a second PC with three 38" displays. The Master would also handle Navigation, multiple cockpit screens, and interfaces with Raspberry Pi and Mega 2560 for over 100 switches. The current system functions adequately but is slowing down—FPS is now low in the 20s. The main reasons for the switch are that Windows 10 won’t be supported soon and the existing hardware is outdated compared to modern requirements like TPM and WIN11.
My research so far suggests moving the CPU and motherboard to utilize the existing case and power supply, while considering an upgrade path. I’m considering:
- Intel Core i7 14700KF
- ASUS TUF GAMING Z790-PLUS WIFI
- 32 GB Corsair VENGEANCE 5200MHz (2 x 16 GB)
plus
An AMD RX 6700 XT GPU from the other PC, which will be upgraded for better graphics support.
Would the current power and cooling still suffice? Yes/No?
DDR5 could improve performance with multiple apps running at once—probably yes.
The other PC handles visuals well with an Intel i5, so this setup seems feasible.
Budget matters too; are there more affordable options worth exploring?
There are many choices available!
Thanks in advance for any advice or recommendations.
Cheers, Nik
Welcome to the forums, newcomer! Users are advise to stylize their threads with info asked of in this thread; *How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice* How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice First off, respect where respect is due - this is an adaptation of the Animal's *How To Ask For New Build Advice* Sticky. I created this because there's a lot of posts nowadays asking for upgrade advice both on here and on the CPU forums, and I feel... forums. which helps lend some context to your predicament and the community will chime in with worthwhile suggestions. 1| I'd avoid Intel's 13th and 14th Gen platform. 3| Please list the specs to your build like so: CPU: CPU cooler: Motherboard: Ram: SSD/HDD: GPU: PSU: Chassis: OS: Monitor: include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time. For context here are the system requirements; X-Plane 12 System Requirements | X-Plane Minimum Hardware Requirements:Contents1 Minimum Hardware Requirements:2 Recommended Hardware Requirements:3 Supported Video Cards:4 Supported Operating Systems: Disk Space: 25GB CPU: Intel […] www.x-plane.com
Avoid 14th and 13th generation Intel processors due to oxidising problems that are hardware defects. These issues have been addressed with microcode updates, though a complete fix remains pending. They tend to be high-power chips as well. On an AM5 platform, you can find a B series chipset if it supports sufficient ports. DDR5 is now the norm, so I wouldn’t consider DDR4. A 6000MHz clock speed offers the best balance of cost and performance. For GPUs, models above 2070 are advisable; a 5060/Ti or 9060XT would meet requirements without exceeding budget unless you require higher specs. Gaming performance mainly depends on resolution rather than screen size.
The power source, likely more than twelve years old, was probably replaced during the V2 model produced by Seasonic.
Your I7-3700 features eight processing threads and a passmark score of 6371. It has a single thread rating of 2074.
Your recommendation for an i7-14700KF Passmark (28,536/4470) seems sensible and represents a significant improvement in performance.
It is priced around $315 on Newegg.
The 13th and 14th generation models generally receive limited attention here, though problems have been addressed.
https://community.intel.com/t5/Mobi...en...-p/1633442
Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen Vmin Shift Instability Update – New Microcode Update (0x12F)
To enhance system stability, Intel has issued a new microcode update (0x12F), building on the September 2024 release of microcode 0x12B. This update aims to stabilize performance issues.
community.intel.com
The main solution involves updating your motherboard BIOS and avoiding overclocking.
Overclocking offers limited benefits anyway.
Nonetheless, consider the similarly priced but more robust Ultra 265K model, which supports 20 threads, has a rating of 58261, and includes the important 4812 single-thread score.
https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-u...-1...6819118506
This chip is low-power and requires minimal cooling.
You’ll need an LGA 1851 motherboard and a basic cooler.
Your existing cooler won’t fit LGA 1851 without an adapter, even if one exists.
The thermalright peerless assassin will work with LGA 1851:
https://www.newegg.com/p/13C-000Y-000M3?...VHXKCK2083
It supports DDR5 RAM and a 2 x 16GB configuration should suffice.
For intensive multitasking, a 2 x 24GB RAM package around $110 might be worthwhile.
Begin by upgrading to your 1050 or the 6700XT.
This will help you gauge your graphics requirements more accurately.
With age, replacing the 650W PSU would be reasonable.
Opt for an 850W unit with a solid 10-year warranty to accommodate future GPU upgrades.
It will consume only the power it needs.
Modern GPUs can experience substantial power spikes that a more capable PSU can manage.
Corsair and Seasonic are excellent starting points.