To upgrade or not

[igarashi]

Hi,

Needs comments and recommendation on whether to upgrade or get new system or not. Recently PC suddenly can't start up, have not bring in to diagnose yet.

My specs as in my profile on the right.

I mainly play games like Dota 2, hope to play COD and Crysis 2 with at least mid to high settings.

Do alot of graphic design work, photoshop, Illustrator, adobe products, Lightroom.

So hopefully to seek for some advice.....

THanks so much.

 

[GrimaH]

Have the problem diagnosed and fixed, sell the system, and get a spanking new Haswell + maybe a HD7850 2GB system.

 

[igarashi]

Nope not yet diagnose and fix yet.
Maybe i should get it fix and sell it off.
But specs to recommendation for the above stated usage ?
And which brand will be a good IPS Monitor ?

 

[Koenig168]

I suggest you upgrade the graphics card first. Try it with your existing system (after you get it fixed). If the results are satisfactory, you will not need to upgrade the rest of the system.

 

[GrimaH]

The Dell U2412M is a pretty good eIPS monitor. Actually any Dell U2x1x monitors are solid.

Intel Core i5 4570 + Asrock B85M Pro4 - $388
Crucial Ballistix 1600MHz CL9 8GBx2 - $169
Plextor M5P 128GB SATA-3 SSD - $172
WD Caviar Blue 1TB 64MB SATA-3 HDD - $85
Powercolor HD7950 3GB PCS+ - $399
24X DVD-RW - $25

Using PC Themes pricelist. Mynextcom might have lower prices.

I won't make a recommendation on casings because I don't know enough about the better ones that are >$100. (I'm assuming you're not going to cheap out on it.)

The CPU listed won't overclock, so if you wanna play around with overclocking the 4670K + a H/Z87 mobo (B85 mobos aren't exactly suitable for OC-ing, though one can try) should set you back around $100+ extra.

 

[igarashi]

I suggest you upgrade the graphics card first. Try it with your existing system (after you get it fixed). If the results are satisfactory, you will not need to upgrade the rest of the system.

If it still work, may take your suggest upgrade graphics card as well as ram to 8G.

But one thing i can't figure out why is every time i start up can hear the graphic card running full speed but there no display, like can't detect the monitor or something. Have to force shut down and unplug replug the VGA for it to start up. Sometimes have to try 3 - 5 times then it work. Tried changing to a new VGA, new power cord still same thing happen.

 

[igarashi]

The Dell U2412M is a pretty good eIPS monitor. Actually any Dell U2x1x monitors are solid.

Intel Core i5 4570 + Asrock B85M Pro4 - $388
Crucial Ballistix 1600MHz CL9 8GBx2 - $169
Plextor M5P 128GB SATA-3 SSD - $172
WD Caviar Blue 1TB 64MB SATA-3 HDD - $85
Powercolor HD7950 3GB PCS+ - $399
24X DVD-RW - $25

Using PC Themes pricelist. Mynextcom might have lower prices.

I won't make a recommendation on casings because I don't know enough about the better ones that are >$100. (I'm assuming you're not going to cheap out on it.)

The CPU listed won't overclock, so if you wanna play around with overclocking the 4670K + a H/Z87 mobo (B85 mobos aren't exactly suitable for OC-ing, though one can try) should set you back around $100+ extra.

But Dell monitor don't support HDMI, looking for one with HDMI.

Thanks for the reco setup and won't do OCing.
The case i may use back my current Lian Li.

 

[ragnarok95]

Not all DELL monitor don't come with HDMI.

 

[Koenig168]

But one thing i can't figure out why is every time i start up can hear the graphic card running full speed but there no display, like can't detect the monitor or something. Have to force shut down and unplug replug the VGA for it to start up. Sometimes have to try 3 - 5 times then it work. Tried changing to a new VGA, new power cord still same thing happen.

Depends on whether the system is starting up but no display only or the system is not booting at all. If the latter, usual culprit is the power supply. Do the paper clip test. If not PS, then try changing the CMOS battery (for older motherboards, probably a good idea to change the CMOS battery in any case). If problem persist, then likely a motherboard problem.

 

[Arrow32]

Lightroom.... i5 and i7 makes lots of difference if convert lots of RAW. To JPEG..

 

[RockaRolla]

Lightroom.... i5 and i7 makes lots of difference if convert lots of RAW. To JPEG..

you have any benchmarks to show the difference in time? Am considering haswell i5 or i7, and Lightroom editing is one of the major point that will decide which i get

cuz i convert alot of RAWs, and mine i5 is really slow, especially for those with lots of editing

 

[igarashi]

Lightroom.... i5 and i7 makes lots of difference if convert lots of RAW. To JPEG..

Oh ok..... so i7 will be ideal, hmmmm.....

 

[Arrow32]

you have any benchmarks to show the difference in time? Am considering haswell i5 or i7, and Lightroom editing is one of the major point that will decide which i get

cuz i convert alot of RAWs, and mine i5 is really slow, especially for those with lots of editing

I dont have benchmark... But i used i7 2600k and i5 3570k before.... I feel the i5 is a lot slower...
When converting, the i5 reach 100% for all 4 threads and the computer is very slow, but for the i7 is around 60-80% for all the 8 threads and im still able to surf net and video conference smoothly...

 

[igarashi]

I dont have benchmark... But i used i7 2600k and i5 3570k before.... I feel the i5 is a lot slower...
When converting, the i5 reach 100% for all 4 threads and the computer is very slow, but for the i7 is around 60-80% for all the 8 threads and im still able to surf net and video conference smoothly...

Great.... i7 it is.....