Need help with an upgrade

Did someone take a hammer to this thing or what? 😁

I don't really get how a case can look this beat up, unless maybe some LEDs are acting funky 🤣

My old rig's been running for almost five years now and I haven't even found a single scratch on it 🙂

crimsonstag84 said:Did someone take a hammer to this thing or what? 😁

I don't really get how a case can look this beat up, unless maybe some LEDs are acting funky 🤣

My old rig's been running for almost five years now and I haven't even found a single scratch on it 🙂

hey, yours didn't come second-hand 😁

crimsonstag84 said:Did someone take a hammer to this thing or what? 😁

I don't really get how a case can look this beat up, unless maybe some LEDs are acting funky 🤣

My old rig's been running for almost five years now and I haven't even found a single scratch on it 🙂

It sounds worse than it actually is when I say it's not in great condition. 🙂 Everything looks fine once you film it, but there are some scratches and it’s a bit dirty—some shots are missing too, but nothing that can't be fixed. Honestly, I'm just being lazy about cleaning it up. 🤣 Once the new parts arrive, I might actually put some effort into tidying things up. 😁

Instead of starting a whole new thread, I'll just keep things going here. Basically, I've saved up some extra cash and spent some time browsing through Futura-IT, which seems like my best bet.
I've put together two different builds that'll mostly be used for gaming, Photoshop, and watching movies. I'd love some advice if I've missed anything or if there are better alternatives out there than what I've listed here 😁

Build 1:

CPU:
MOBO:
Case:
SSD:
RAM:
Cooler:

Build 2:

CPU:
MOBO:
Case:
SSD:
RAM:
Cooler:

For both setups, the SSD and RAM aren't strictly necessary since I already have an HDD and some RAM on hand. I only included them because they're significantly faster than what I'm currently running. Also, I'm wondering if it's even worth opting for liquid cooling, or if Ereboss will be enough to handle a stable overclock up to 4.3 GHz (or maybe higher??). Thanks in advance 😁

That works. You could potentially grab some cheaper RAM (though prices aren't crazy right now), but keep in mind that if you pair them with your current sticks, they’ll just default to the slower speed anyway. Besides, raw speed doesn't really matter in practice unless you're relying on integrated graphics.
Also, I might reconsider the case. I'd suggest going with something standard-sized without those "slats" over the hard drive bays; that way, you'll actually have room to fit longer graphics cards down the road if you need to upgrade. Look into something like a Zalman Z3, Z5, or maybe a higher-end Corsair Carbide 200R or a Fractal 3000, where you can easily pop out the top drive cage if it gets in the way.

Regarding overclocking, you should be fine if you stick with Ivy Bridge. If you decide to go with a Haswell i7, pushing past 4.2 GHz might become a real headache with temperatures. I actually talked to someone using a 4770K paired with an Ereboss who said 4.2 was their absolute ceiling. It really comes down to the silicon lottery with each specific processor.

Kimberly Gomez34 said:That works. You could potentially grab some cheaper RAM (though prices aren't crazy right now), but keep in mind that if you pair them with your current sticks, they’ll just default to the slower speed anyway. Besides, raw speed doesn't really matter in practice unless you're relying on integrated graphics.
Also, I might reconsider the case. I'd suggest going with something standard-sized without those "slats" over the hard drive bays; that way, you'll actually have room to fit longer graphics cards down the road if you need to upgrade. Look into something like a Zalman Z3, Z5, or maybe a higher-end Corsair Carbide 200R or a Fractal 3000, where you can easily pop out the top drive cage if it gets in the way.

Regarding overclocking, you should be fine if you stick with Ivy Bridge. If you decide to go with a Haswell i7, pushing past 4.2 GHz might become a real headache with temperatures. I actually talked to someone using a 4770K paired with an Ereboss who said 4.2 was their absolute ceiling. It really comes down to the silicon lottery with each specific processor.

I wasn't planning on going with Haswell anyway, mostly because of all the overheating issues I read about online. Since I've never used liquid cooling before, is it smarter to switch to water or just stick with air? I built this whole setup thinking it would last me another 3 or 4 years without needing to swap parts. Once my GTX 7850 finally gives up the ghost, I'll pick up a new card, hoping this Intel won't bottleneck it.

Honestly, you're fine sticking with Ereboss. I guess low-end liquid cooling usually ends up being worse than a decent air cooler anyway. If it were me, I’d go with the Z5+ for the case, and maybe just grab 4GB of the cheapest RAM available instead of what you have there.

With that OC, I guess you shouldn't have to worry about any bottlenecks, even when you start looking at upcoming GPU generations.

crimsonstag84 said:Honestly, you're fine sticking with Ereboss. I guess low-end liquid cooling usually ends up being worse than a decent air cooler anyway. If it were me, I’d go with the Z5+ for the case, and maybe just grab 4GB of the cheapest RAM available instead of what you have there.

With that OC, I guess you shouldn't have to worry about any bottlenecks, even when you start looking at upcoming GPU generations.

I didn't realize that. So the Intel Core i7 3770k could actually hit 4.3 GHz with an Ereboss while keeping temps normal under full load? Also, I'm wondering what the difference is between the Z11 Plus and the Z12 Plus... I was watching some reviews on YouTube and those cases look pretty decent.

Just give it a quick Google search; you'll find plenty of reviews specifically for that CPU.

http://www.pcgameware.co.uk/reviews/...cooler-review/
http://www.pureoverclock.com/Review-...-cpu-cooler/6/

The case is solid, though I did mention one drawback earlier. As long as you aren't planning on installing a high-end graphics card longer than 29 cm, you should be fine. That said, I'm assuming that by the next generation, you'll likely be looking at something in the ballpark of an R9 290 or a GTX 780 for a more reasonable price—it's just hard to predict exactly how long those cards will be.

Kimberly Gomez34 said:Just give it a quick Google search; you'll find plenty of reviews specifically for that CPU.

http://www.pcgameware.co.uk/reviews/...cooler-review/
http://www.pureoverclock.com/Review-...-cpu-cooler/6/

The case is solid, though I did mention one drawback earlier. As long as you aren't planning on installing a high-end graphics card longer than 29 cm, you should be fine. That said, I'm assuming that by the next generation, you'll likely be looking at something in the ballpark of an R9 290 or a GTX 780 for a more reasonable price—it's just hard to predict exactly how long those cards will be.

In that case, I'll stick to that plan. Since I've decided against liquid cooling after all, I'll grab a better case like you suggested. I was checking this one out and it looks top-tier; if you've used it before, would you recommend it? http://www.futura-it.com/catalog/comp...tower/0150904/

Not even by accident 🤣
It’s way too expensive and honestly underwhelming for the price tag. I've talked to folks who have swapped out their xy TT cases and run various PC shops, and the consensus is clear: every single TT case is overpriced when you consider the actual build quality versus what you get. In my opinion, the sweet spot for value is staying under $110—and even then, only if you really have the cash to burn for something unique. Take the Fractal Define R4 (review), for instance, or maybe a Corsair 330R. Those actually offer decent sound dampening, solid features, and high-end construction. They sport a clean, minimalist aesthetic, whereas it looks like you're leaning toward something more angular and aggressive, so I'm not quite sure what to suggest. Personally, I find those flashy designs ugly, but hey, it's your call. Just don't overspend; those types of cases definitely aren't a "best buy"
.
Maybe check out this full tower http://www.futura-it.com/catalog/comp...c3191-06c2222/ or perhaps look into those LC Power or NZXT wonders from the link to get a better idea

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the help. Windows is booting up right now, so fingers crossed everything goes smoothly. I ended up pulling the trigger on the i7 3770 and that Thermaltake unit, plus I grabbed the SSD you guys recommended. Thanks again, cheers...