So around this time last year I built my computer, and it was built on quite a tight budget as my job wasn't paying too great. However, since then I've had a temporary summer job and have gotten a better job that pays more. Due to this I have started slowly upgrading some things in my computer. For example; got a second monitor, two SSDs and a new case. I'm struggling to decide whether or not to upgrade two other parts of my computer; the PSU and the Motherboard. The current PSU I have an OCZ ModXStream 700W 80+ and the current Motherboard I have is the Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3.
The reason that I want to replace the PSU is that I have never been happy with it, it as advertised to me as a modular PSU and when it came it wasn't. The PSU I am looking to replace it with is either the EVGA SuperNOVA 650W 80+ Gold Modular for £69.98 or the Corsair CS650M 650W 80+ Gold for £73.01.
The reason that I want to replace my Motherboard is because it doesn't have USB3 headers and my case has the capability for them. This was another thing that was advertised to me incorrectly. The one I'm looking at replacing it with is the Asus M5A97 R2.0 for £64.44.
I'm not sure whether it is worth it just yet. Or whether there are some other better options. If you could give any help towards either of these decisions that would be brilliant, thanks!
You can get the ASUS M5A97 R2.0 EVO. It has a better power phase delivery than the non-EVO variant. It's priced at £68.
What GPU and processor are you using?
Seems like more or a sidestep than an upgrade... I'd get the 990 chipset just so I was actually spending money on an ACTUAL upgrade (though the board Berserker suggested is a good board)...
I'm not sure I'd replace the PSU just because it's not modular? I mean is the cable management THAT bad?
+1 for the EVO, i own this board. And it works fine, so far.
psu upgrade i personaly doubt if that is worth it, honnestly if the psu doing well, why botter to upgrade something, that does not give you more performance? i would look into a gpu upgrade, (depending on the cpu) or maybe some other parts.
But could you give us a partpicker list of your current setup? it´s easier to give some good advices, wenn we know what your complete system is.
I agree. A GPU upgrade might be more suitable - when we find out what it is!
Where is that? And the GPU is a Radeon 7870 and the processor is an AMD FX-6300.
http://www.ebuyer.com/393524-asus-m5a97-evo-r2-0-amd-socket-am3-970-90-mibjj0-g0eay0mz-m5a97-evo-r2-0
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008RPZ5H8/?tag=pcp0f-21
I think you should wait and just purchase an entirely new, up-to-date platform. Just wear out the FX6300 until it doesn't perform very well, and then upgrade. No point purchasing a motherboard now, when you're probably going to shift platform entirely in a year or two.
I know probably yeah, just that its annoying me that I can't take advantage of my new case.
And not particularly, there are only two cables that are annoying me, one is a cable that isn't being used but can't be removed and the other is the cable for the GPU being too short. It is currently sitting on top of my motherboard and it panics me slightly.
Okay yeah, I'll put a parts list together and post it on here. Including the new SSDs that I have.
And it seems to be agreed that the EVO is better so I will probably go for that one instead.
That's what I've been thinking too, just thought I would get a second opinion to make sure. I was thinking upgrading RAM, getting new storage, etc doesn't matter too much because I can always put that into a new system.
Also, sorry for taking a while to post CPU/GPU combo, posted just before shopping and then cooking and eating dinner!
Well you could just get a pretty braided cable extension for like $10 for your short cable.
That'd be a lot cheaper then upgrading your whole PSU if it's just those 2 cables.
I was wondering about that but the only thing that I was worried about was whether that would affect the efficiency of that cable.