Upgrading my rig for $500-$600

So... you're definitely on the right track. My input is this:

-You already have 820GB of platter storage, there's no need to spend another $50 for a new TB drive unless you really need the extra space.

-Might as well go with the Z97 Chipset and the new improved I5-4690K; the price difference is like $7.

-You have to have a good cooler for your CPU. The stock one should get thrown in the trash as soon as you open the box. If for some reason you're morally opposed to OCing your cpu, save money and don't get the K series as that's all it's for.

-Your current video card is woefully inadequate and will be the anchor holding the rest of this new system back. You need to stretch your budget out and upgrade your card as well. If you can't swing it now, do it asap.

-Here's my PCPP list for an upgrade build: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Khorneholio/saved/cbkgXL

 

One wrinkle... I didn't look at your PSU. :\

Not to pile on more, but It's definitely something you'll need to upgrade along with the rest of the system... especially if it's 7 years old as well. I'll add a good, economical, 750w unit to the list. You can get away with a little less, but the difference is going to be like $20 or so and this will leave you headroom to add a second video card in the future if you want to.

 

+1 on the GPU thing. I have a GTX 660 Superclocked I am trying to get rid (if you interested in a cheap option that's better then what you got) of also check ebay out if you want a high end card. Bitcoin miners buy up alot of high end cards and only use them for a few months before reselling them again to get the latest high end card. I got a AMD R9 290x (retails between $500-$650) for $300 complete in box and I was able to register it in my name for warranty.

 

If you're going to get something at Microcenter, get the processor there! The i5 4670K is $180 if you go and pick it up. HUGE savings, since everyone else sells that processor for $235.

Also, if you're not upgrading your GPU, you're not going to see a significant performance jump, even with your new parts. That GTX 460 is not going to cut it. Get something at least as good as that 660 that UnclearAsh-- I mean Nuclear Messiah has. Oh, and get 16 gigs of RAM. 8 GB is sooo 2011. Most modern and upcoming games are going to need more than 8 GB to flourish. Just make sure your OS supports it. I didn't know when I upgraded several months ago.

Newegg sells the ASUS Z-97C motherboard for $125. Should have everything you need, including their AI Suite II software that pretty much will overclock your system for you. I can get a 40% jump in clockspeed using my current motherboard and processor. For aftermarket cooling, just grab a CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus or Evo. Both are pretty much the same, the Evo just has a slightly better design on its pipes that gives it more surface contact with the CPU. My OC'ed processor (goes from 3.4 GHz stock to 4.64 GHz OC) never gets above 55 degrees Celsius.

That Windows 7 OEM may support higher memory, but I am pretty sure you won't be able to sysprep that and move it over to new hardware. Microsoft explicitly states that the OEM software is only for use in ONE system. If you can figure out how to get it to transfer over, let me know!

 

Where are you located Roden? If you are anywhere near a Microcenter you can get a cpu\mb bundle and save quite a bit.

Your PSU is fine. Main thing is video and what you will be able to squeeze. If you got a really nice system minus the video would you be able to replace it in the next cpl months? If so I would go that route. If not and this is really it for your budget for the next 6+ months I would squeeze in a gpu upgrade. Nuc's GTX 660 SC is about as good as you will get in the $150 and under range.

Some number comparisons for you to look over:
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/evga_geforce_gtx_660_sc_review,18.html

As for MB, as Khorn said Z97 at this point. The Asus Z97-A is a solid board.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132118

If your going to OC, get a 212 Hyper Evo. If your not going to even turn on turbo mode just get a H97/non-K cpu and save the money.

An AMD combo wouldn't be totally out of line. Would save you $150 or so and it will still easily put you in good mid-high range cpu performance.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1730152

SSD, I would choose Samsung Evo or Crucial MX100 at this point. M500 getting a little long in the tooth.
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX100-adapter-Internal-CT256MX100SSD1/dp/B00KFAGCWK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404919860&sr=8-2&keywords=crucial mx100

HD's I would not worry about right now. You don't really have the budget, you have 2 ok storage drives now. Unless your desperate for more storage space, in which case I would hold on and buy a 2-3TB drive later, just put the money elsewhere for now.

The other item in desperate need of updating to me is your monitor. 19" 1440x900 is rough. It does allow your GPU to stretch a little farther than it would be pushing a 1080p res but a new screen will make all the difference in enjoying your gaming. There are quite a few 23-24" Asus gaming monitors in the $125-175 range that would be very nice. Here is one:
http://slickdeals.net/f/7048406-asu...itor-w-built-in-speakers-119-99-ar-back-again

 

or you could be stpid expensive like me.......but anyways.

Like they all said, go gpu upgrade or you will not see any noticable change and start to question why did you put out the money for nothing. cooler system water cooling is the way to go

 

Not really it only has 1 gig of memory

Here is a good site to check out to compare cards and check stats

www.gpuboss.com

 

Customer service? Bah who needs customer service, go in get what you want, and get out. Half hour? That is like next door.
The bundle prices there are way to much savings for you to pass by.
http://www.microcenter.com/site/products/amd_bundles.aspx
http://www.microcenter.com/site/brands/intel-processor-bundles.aspx

If you go AMD you can move up to an FX8350 and stay in the $220-240 range. Avoid the Asus M5A97 for now seeing alot of issues reported on it. Or save even more with a FX6350 to put towards gpu. If you go Intel an i5-4690K is the only real choice with the cheapest at $305.

The base GTX 750 is not very good. If your still going to be using your monitor with the lowest res and typically medium quality settings you would still be able to get a pretty decent frame rate. If you want new the R9 270 is the minimum I would recommend you putting money into.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202090

 

Daleon's Microcenter links don't have the i5 4670K on the bundles page, which is sold individually for $180. The 4690K is $200, but is marginally better than the aforementioned 4670K. Up to you if you want to save or spend $20.

 

Pretty nice vid card sale on newegg today.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=7034161&SID=

Also a nice price on decent memory:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8685619&CatId=11479

Also, not sure if this coupon will stack... but if it does it's even sweeter:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/sectors/campaigns/reddit/redditopt.asp

 

The rock bottom system:
FX 8350/Gigabyte 990 - $240
Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB DDR3-1600 - $75
R9 270 - $155
Crucial MX100 256GB SSD - $115
Total = $595

Upgrade accordingly if you got more to put into it.

 

Pretty good plan. My only tweaks would be the components I have listed above:

Patriot Viper 8GB Memory $45 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8685619&CatId=11479

R9 280 3GB $200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=7034161&SID=

Brings your total to $610 or $595 if the coupon I linked stacks on your order.

 

FX8350 is a stellar chip, it is the one I have. Overclocks like a champ (easy) and powerful. Comes stock at 4ghz and I got my OC to 4.5ghz

 

I avoided that Patriot ram because its 1333. Would be a small, very small, but still there performance hit. I don't even care for 1600 these days myself. I also hate rebates and calculating the cost savings into budget builds because you still have to put out full price when you buy it which doesn't make stretching a budget any easier.

 

I have 16 gigs of 1333 Unless you go up to 2000+mhz you will not see a noticeable speed increase in 1600 or the 1800 ones. General rule of thumb with RAM, more is better before speed.