Need assistance with improving a system from 2015
Need assistance with improving a system from 2015
I think this setup has reached a point where older hardware could fit inside, offering better performance, though it might still lag behind newer components. In the near term, if you're not planning a full budget overhaul, I could recommend upgrading to a high-quality graphics card tailored for your future build and selecting a power supply that matches that vision. The PSU choice would depend on the age of other components—replace it if it's original to avoid issues.
This machine is quite capable of becoming an excellent HTPC and could be adapted well for network storage needs. I don’t see much potential for meaningful improvements here that align with the motherboard or justify the investment. The 970 chipset remains useful for editing and casual use; you might prefer switching platforms while retaining the graphics card, which could actually serve your specific scenarios better.
For an HTPC it works fine.
For VR and audio/video editing...it requires a completely different setup.
This means you'll end up with two separate systems.
It would be a good fit to add an RTX3060 with 12GB RAM. With this budget, constructing a complete system is manageable. You might adjust the chassis and possibly the CPU cooler by ordering an LGA1700 mounting kit from Noctua. Increased memory capacity, more cores that perform significantly better than your current setup, and some E-cores for applications needing multiple threads are available. The RTX3060 is suitable for gaming or tasks requiring CUDA acceleration. A 1TB NVMe SSD would work well; a 2TB option is suggested since prices are currently very low.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: Intel Core i5-13500 2.5 GHz 14-Core Processor
($244.49 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Assassin X Refined SE PLUS 66.17 CFM
($20.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B760 AORUS ELITE AX ATX LGA1700
($159.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36
($83.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($49.49 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Focus 2 ATX Mid Tower Case
($79.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W, 80+ Gold Certified, Fully Modular
($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1008.82
Costs cover shipping, taxes, and any available discounts
Generated by PCPartPicker
2023-08-18 15:29 EDT-0400
what kind of daw software do you use? some tools work best with certain hardware setups. i’m not a builder, but a new i7 with plenty of cache is essential. i need at least 32gb ram and two ssd drives—one for the operating system and programs, another for completed projects. additionally, programs such as fl studio, cubase, and sonar are demanding higher minimum specs all the time. if you rely on your work for income, consider using an external hdd for backups.
Others have suggested considering a fresh start, maybe replacing a few components. A 4060 seems reasonably priced, so would it make sense to invest in additional pixels or allocate resources differently?
I like this... but consider a 512gb and a 2tb ssd. Avoid putting your work on just one ssd to prevent failure or catastrophe. Also, ensure you have at least 6-8 usb ports.
I've bumped up my budget and this is what I've come up with.
Any thoughts on things I could tweak?
Processor:
Intel Core i5-13600K 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor
CPU Cooler:
Noctua NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler
MOBO:
Gigabyte B760 AORUS ELITE AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
RAM:
G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory
Storage:
Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
GPU:
Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce RTX 3060 Ti LHR 8 GB Video Card
Case:
Lian Li LANCOOL 215 ATX Mid Tower Case
PSU:
Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
WiFi Adapter:
TP-Link Archer TX55E 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax PCIe x1 Wi-Fi Adapter