4K gaming upgrade ideas?

I am looking to make the jump to 4K gaming soon, so I am trying to figure out what upgrades are necessary and what kind of resale value I might expect for my current setup.
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7950 3GB (Gigabyte)
CPU: Intel Core i5 3570K @ 3.40GHz (overclocked to 4.00GHz)
MB: MSI Z77A-G41 (MS-7758)
PSU: Xfx Pro 550W
RAM: 8GB
I realize I will need a new GPU, a better power supply, and an additional 8GB of RAM, but I am uncertain if the CPU and motherboard need replacing as well.
I am considering picking up an NVIDIA GTX 1080; what are your thoughts on that choice?

I wouldn't sweat the processor too much—it’s really that graphics card that's holding you back, just like you already suspected. Honestly, 8GB of RAM is still perfectly fine for most things. And why would you even need to swap out your power supply? Your current one works just fine, right? Besides, that NVIDIA GTX 1080 actually pulls less power than what you're running now... (the AMD Radeon HD 7950 3GB draws about 200W, while the NVIDIA GTX 1080 is only around 180W).

That’s just how it works. I honestly thought I would need at least a 700W unit.
How does this affect the motherboard?

What about the motherboard? Don't take this the wrong way—and I'm really not trying to be rude here—but you don't exactly sound like an expert if you're picking up an $1.75 without knowing the basics. I honestly think it’s better to ask questions now rather than just running headfirst into a bad purchase... As far as the motherboard goes, it's pretty straightforward. If you just want to know if it'll support your new card, the answer is yes; a PCIe slot is a PCIe slot, and your AMD Radeon HD 7950 uses the exact same interface as an NVIDIA GTX 1080. You basically just pull out the old card, slide the new one into the slot, plug in the 8-pin connector, and you're good to go. Since your power supply is solid and your processor is fine, there isn't much else you need to worry about changing.

You would never guess that an NVIDIA GTX 1080 actually draws less power than this.
What does that mean for the motherboard?

Brian James4 said:You would never guess that an NVIDIA GTX 1080 actually draws less power than this.
What does that mean for the motherboard?

Well, I think I covered all those bases in my previous reply...

Brian James4 said:You would never guess that an NVIDIA GTX 1080 actually draws less power than this.
What does that mean for the motherboard?

It would take you two seconds of Googling to find out the wattage.😁
Basically, the GPU power draw is similar, and you still have plenty of headroom anyway.

Don't worry about the motherboard; just grab the GPU.

My apologies, I’m having some trouble loading the forum properly; I think I just asked about the motherboard for the third time.
To be honest, I don't have much technical expertise, which is why I'm asking here. Nothing is set in stone yet. My first step is to figure out exactly what needs replacing and how much trade-in value I can expect. If the budget doesn't hold up, I might just opt for something more modest.
I'm not looking to make any major moves right this second; I'm mostly planning for the future, and prices might drop even further down the road. 😉

Let's say you drop about $800 $300 on a new GPU. For instance, if you go with an Inno3D iChill starting at $1767 for an NVIDIA GTX 1080 or better. Then, you might spend roughly $1000 on a budget 28" 4K TN panel (though honestly, a high-quality 1440p setup is usually the smarter move), or maybe somewhere in the $5,000-$2000 range for a decent 32"+ IPS/PLS 4K monitor. That said, 4K resolution can actually be overkill even for an NVIDIA GTX 1080 in certain titles...

I forgot to mention that I'm planning to play on my Samsung 49-inch TV.
So, it’s just the graphics card I need to worry about... I should probably start saving up. I've done some reading, but I'd value your input: do you think an NVIDIA GTX 1070 is enough? I don't necessarily need everything set to ultra, but hitting a steady 60 fps would be ideal.

It really depends on which game you're playing—as a general rule of thumb, a NVIDIA GTX 1070 is decent for 1440p
while a NVIDIA GTX 1080 can handle 2160p

But honestly, everything boils down to the specific title, the settings you choose, and how much FPS you're chasing. To be truthful, I think even an NVIDIA GTX 1080 might struggle or stutter a bit at 4K resolution in certain games...

I honestly hope you aren't planning on playing shooters on a Samsung entry level 4K TV

I play pretty much everything, mostly single-player titles, though I enjoy all genres.
Anyway, thanks for the help. It’ll take me a little while to save up for a new GPU, but it's good to know I don't need to change anything else. 😁