Upgrading Performance at Microcenter Without Breaking the Bank
Upgrading Performance at Microcenter Without Breaking the Bank
Hello All. My initial purchase included an FX9590 and a Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 R5. I encountered stability problems when trying to push overclocking beyond 4.8GHz. The VRM temperatures became excessive, causing the board to power down within seconds during Prime95 tests, which led me to consider giving Intel another chance. I then attempted the Intel 4790K paired with an Asrock Z97 Extreme4 motherboard. Unfortunately, the board failed to recognize any of my RAM in either channel, even when other systems worked fine. I plan to return both the board and CPU for warranty purposes. My wife is growing concerned about the build expenses, but she still wants a reliable system that performs well. I’ve already received these components via Gift Card at Microcenter. Most Z97 motherboards are sold "Open Box," which makes me cautious about their condition. My current choices, balancing cost and performance, are:
- FX 9590 with an "Open Box" Asus Crosshair Formula Z for $323.98
- A new 990FX Sabretooth board paired with FX 9590 for $329.98
- A fresh Asus Crosshair with FX 9590 for $409.98 (may exceed budget)
- Intel 4790K with an Asrock Z97 Extreme4 for $375
Alternatively, I could opt for the Z97 Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 7 "Open Box" board for $379.95 or the Z97-A "Open Box" motherboard with a new MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition for $379.98.
What do you think is the most suitable option? I mainly play Star Wars games, so gaming performance matters. The computer will mostly be used for recording clients in my studio, making reliability crucial. Cost is also becoming a bigger consideration. My existing hardware includes:
- EVGA 1600w Platinum Power Supply
- R9 295X2 Graphics Card
- Define R4 Case
- 32GB DDR3 RAM
- Cooler Master Seidon 240M Cooler
Thank you for your support. Visiting Microcenter is a long drive each way, so I don’t want to make any more trips soon after this purchase, even though I enjoy working with computers. I truly appreciate your help.
If anyone has any comments on these choices, I'd appreciate it. I'm heading to Microcenter today. I'll also be increasing my build's speed, specifically the 9590 up to 5GHz and the 4790K to 4.5-4.8GHz. I understand the Z97 options are somewhat restricted, which is why I recommended the 9590 models. Thanks.