Advice needed for desktop overhaul.

[tangene]

Upgrade help needed.

Thinking of upgrading my rig with some existing parts. Need advice.

Tentative specs:

CPU : Intel i5-4460
MB : Asrock H81M-HDS
GPU : GTX-960 or R9-380
HDD1 : Crucial MX100 256GB*
HDD2 : WD Green 3TB*
RAM : Kingston Value RAM 4GB 1333MHz PC3-10600 DDR3* x 2
PSU : Seasonic M12II EVO 520W*
Case : Cooler Master Centurion 5*
*Items recycled from old rig

Here is what I need to know:

1) Should I upgrade to higher bandwidth RAM?

2) GTX-960 vs R9-380. Which graphics card is better for on-off gamer wanting to play occasional AAA title at 1080p.

3) Is my existing PSU enough to run either GPU in above spec?

4) Alternative case / motherboard suggestions if any.

5) What wattage UPS to get for above rig + 4-bay NAS?

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Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

 

[tangene]

Advice badly needed.

 

[beemer]

Gtx 960 not worth the for the price range though.
Either top up a bit more for gtx 970 or get the r9 380

Sent from OnePlus A0001 using GAGT

 

[Koenig168]

Here is what I need to know:

1) Should I upgrade to higher bandwidth RAM?

2) GTX-960 vs R9-380. Which graphics card is better for on-off gamer wanting to play occasional AAA title at 1080p.

3) Is my existing PSU enough to run either GPU in above spec?

4) Alternative case / motherboard suggestions if any.

5) What wattage UPS to get for above rig + 4-bay NAS?

1. Higher bandwidth RAM will not make any noticeable difference. You might want to consider upgrading to 8 GB RAM as 4 GB is on the low side.

2. See below post.

3. Should be fine.

5. Depends on how long you want to keep the system up after a power failure.

 

[tangene]

Gtx 960 not worth the for the price range though.
Either top up a bit more for gtx 970 or get the r9 380

Sent from OnePlus A0001 using GAGT

Cheapest 3yr warranty card I could find for each : 960 = 279 / r9 380 = 350

Just to confirm, at those prices would it still make sense for a 1080p gamer like me to go for the R9-380?

 

[tangene]

@Koenig168

I just require my UPS to keep both deaktop/NAS powered and maybe stay on for 5-10mins in event of failure. Best if there's an auto power down function.

 

[Jian19]

if got the budget get 380, no budget get 280

they are the same

 

[Gaiason]

Get the more value one

 

[tangene]

As it stands, 960 = 279 / r9 380 = 350.

Value or not? I don't know since I'm completely clueless.

But so far the advice I get is to go with the R9-380. If there are no opposing opinions I'll go with that.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Cheapest 3yr warranty card I could find for each : 960 = 279 / r9 380 = 350

Just to confirm, at those prices would it still make sense for a 1080p gamer like me to go for the R9-380?

Either R9-290 4GB if you still can find for under $400 or GTX 960. R9-380 is neither here nor there.

 

[tangene]

Either R9-290 4GB if you still can find for under $400 or GTX 960. R9-380 is neither here nor there.

Will look out for a reasonably priced 290 as you suggest.

Will all the cards run with my 520w PSU and current specs though?

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Will look out for a reasonably priced 290 as you suggest.

Will all the cards run with my 520w PSU though?

Will be too tight for R9-290. Need 600W and above.

 

[tangene]

Will be too tight for R9-290. Need 600W and above.

But fine with 960/380?

 

[kaixax555]

But fine with 960/380?

Yes it is fine with the GTX960

 

[NobunagaOda]

Gtx 960 not worth the for the price range though.
Either top up a bit more for gtx 970 or get the r9 380

Sent from OnePlus A0001 using GAGT

Which is better, GTX970 or R9 380?