Modernize your outdated machine.
Modernize your outdated machine.
I've been checking out sales for Black Friday and holidays to upgrade my PC. Right now I have a Z87X-UD4H motherboard with 4x8 DDR3 RAM and an i7-4770K CPU. I'm aiming for a total budget of around $400 to $600. My graphics card is an EVGA GTX 1070 8GB. If anyone has any tips or recommendations, please share! Thanks ahead of time!
For a budget between $400 and $600, you can achieve a full system overhaul. Costs have improved significantly for many parts. Here’s a comprehensive upgrade to an AM4 setup with power supply included. PCPartPicker list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/rHtNTn
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 3.4 GHz, 8 cores ($234.98 on Newegg)
Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB (66.17 CFM) ($39.90 on Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI B550-A PRO ATX AM4 ($139.99 on Amazon)
Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Force Dark Za 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 ($76.99 on Newegg)
Storage: Silicon Power A60 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVMe ($57.49 on Newegg sellers)
Power Supply: Cooler Master MasterWatt 650 W, Bronze Certified (80+ ATX) ($40.98 on Newegg)
Overall cost: $590.33 (shipping, taxes, discounts applied where possible)
Created by PCPartPicker on 2022-11-07 14:51 EST-0500
This configuration provides an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 3 CPU, 32GB DDR4-3600 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD.
If your power supply is already solid, consider an Intel 13th gen option; however, overclocking isn’t supported. For a Z690 board, expect around $150, but you might prefer the higher-end build shown.
Looking at the format for new builds and upgrades can be useful. Which games do you enjoy or focus on? Do you have specific cases, fans, or storage setups? These details often help when moving to a newer build to cut costs. Your GPU is definitely worth keeping, especially if you’ve maintained it well. It might be time to reapply thermal paste if you haven’t already.
Thanks for your messages! I apologize for the delayed reply—I was really swamped. This is most of the build I could locate online: https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Nutella1337/saved/h8sTMp. I’m not sure what my specific setup is since I couldn’t find it anywhere. There’s a "powered by EVGA" plaque on the side and soundproofing on the front and sides. I think my PSU is still in good condition. My main tasks are replacing the motherboard, CPU, and RAM.
I play a lot and also use it for work (I work remotely). The main game is Escape from Tarkov, which I can handle smoothly at decent settings, but not so well at low or medium.
That's correct, my mistake. The link points to a PC part picker page.
With a reliable PSU and a dependable SSD—even if it’s SATA rather than NVMe—I’d opt for a 13600K build and stick with your existing SSD and power supply. The main concern is the cooler; newer Intel boards feature different mounting points. If you locate an LGA1700 bracket, you might still use your 120mm AIO. It won’t be spectacular, but it should suffice. You might also look at a board such as the Asus Prime Z690-P D4, which offers compatible mounting for both LGA1700 and older Intel designs. That option is pricier than the MSI Pro Z690-A, so using a bracket would likely save money. Also, you may prefer replacing the cooler entirely. This leaves you with around $60 for a good dual-tower air cooler. PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pLLmKp CPU: Intel Core i5-13600K 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor ($300.00 @ Amazon) Motherboard: MSI PRO Z690-A DDR4 ATX LGA1700 ($159.99 @ B&H) Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 ($76.99 @ Newegg) Total: $536.98 Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available Generated by PCPartPicker 2022-11-10 22:49 EST-0500