Need help upgrading

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1

I need help with some ideas on how to upgrade my current PC. Here are my current specs:

AMD FX-8350

Gigabyte GA-970A-D3

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866  

Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM

Rosewill BlackHawk

Xion 700W 80 PLUS Bronze

Xfx 7790 1GB

I was looking to get a smaller case because I took my current case to college this year and it ended up being a huge chunk of space in a small dorm room. I'm just looking for something that I could just put under my desk and not worry about it taking up space elsewhere. I was looking at getting the Cooler Master XB Evo. I know that this case is still kind of big but it just isn't as tall as my current case and it seems like it could easily fit under my desk and I'd still have access to the front of the case. I would also like to upgrade my motherboard in order to finally get into overclocking with my 8350. I'd like to keep this under $200. I'd also be open to any other suggestions you guys may have.

 

Thank you

2

GPU maybe? Other than that, motherboard DOES seem like a good idea.

3

Well, you won't be able to shrink that below ATX, due to the power draw of the FX-8350.

As for overclocking, look into the following motherboards:

Asus M5A99FX Pro R2.0

Asus M5A99X Evo R2.0

MSI 990FX Gaming

Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P

ASRock 990FX Killer

You can also look at higher end boards such as the sabertooth or maximus, but that's probably out of your price range

4

All are good options for overclocking. 

Honestly though I would much rather upgrade the GPU first. 

5

Totally missed that 7790 in the build.

Upgrading the GPU would provide a massive performance boost.  +1.

6

SSD?

Depends on what you want, I would say GPU first, and maybe mobo second, if you don't got for ssd.

I have the same mobo, and it does not please me.

7

Yep .. your biggest bang for $200 is definitely GPU. ...

right now there are only R9 280s at that price point.....

  • Gigabyte GV-R928WF3OC-3GD WINDFORCE Radeon R9 280 3GB 950MHz (3)
  • $199.99
  • HIS H280QC3G2M IceQ OC Radeon R9 280 3GB 847MHz (0)
  • $199.99 
  • Sapphire 100373-2L DUAL-X Radeon R9 280 3GB 850MHz (0)
  • $199.99 
  • XFX R9-280A-TDFD Double Dissipation Radeon R9 280 3GB 827MHz (3)
  • $199.99
  • Asus R9280-DC2T-3GD5 DirectCU II Radeon R9 280 3GB 874MHz (5)
  • $204.99
  • Sapphire 100373L Dual-X Radeon R9 280 3GB 850MHz (6)
  • $205.66 

Up your game $50 and you have more options ......

  • MSI R9 280 GAMING 3G TWIN FROZR Radeon R9 280 3GB 933MHz (10)
  • $222.98
  • HIS H280QMC3G2M IceQ X² Radeon R9 280 3GB 847MHz (0)
  • $229.99 
  • XFX R9-285A-CDBC Double Dissipation Radeon R9 285 2GB 975MHz (0)
  • $229.99
  • XFX R9-280A-TDBD Black Edition Double Dissipation Radeon R9 280 3GB 1.0GHz (2)
  • $238.99 
  • Sapphire 100363L R9 280X Dual-X Radeon R9 280X 3GB N/A (22)
  • $239.99 
  • PowerColor AXR9 285 2GBD5-TDHE TurboDuo Radeon R9 285 2GB 945MHz (0)
  • $248.99 
  • Gigabyte GV-R9285WF2OC-2GD WINDFORCE 2X Radeon R9 285 2GB 973MHz (0)
  • $249.99 
  • XFX R9-285A-CDFC Double Dissipation Radeon R9 285 2GB 918MHz (0)
  • $249.99

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/video-card/#c=167,148,182

 

8

Or you could get a mobo and a SSD

Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0   ............. $115

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a99fxpror20       and

Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ................. $86

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te120bw

total ..................... $201