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Upgrading an old PC..

Oldscool

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Nov 30, 2022
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Hi all,
I'm looking to upgrade my old PC & looking for recommendations.
I hope I'll get away with just a graphics card but I'll leave the recommendations to the experts.

It's currently running a Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H with an i5-3570k CPU overclocked to 4.40ghz, 8GB RAM with a pair of GTX 8800 in SLI, all watercooled.
I'm not fussed about running the latest games, although I'd like it to be capable of running Flight Simulator, or DCS. (This may be a bit of an ask, I know)
My PSU is an Enermax Galaxy 1000w

Are there any decent graphics cards which will run this & be compatible? Or am I looking at a new motherboard too?
My case is a Corsair Obsidian 900D so plenty of space if needed.

Thanks in advance.
 
and @OP that PSU is about 15 years old now , i would deffo factor in a new psu......
Really?
I remember when I bought it at the time I figured it would do me the rest of my days! Cost a fortune to me at the time.
Will it not be enough or have connections changed over the years?
 
OP has kept his build for ten years. It isn't smart to buy cheap second hand, slower parts to save a few pounds, when he'll probably keep the new build for another decade.

He's told us the budget already.
 
Really?
I remember when I bought it at the time I figured it would do me the rest of my days! Cost a fortune to me at the time.
Will it not be enough or have connections changed over the years?
Your PSU is good, I mean it hasn't been loaded even 50% throughout the years, so it's more than adequate for a new build, which won't load it past 50% either, so no worries there. If it works well, let it work.
One could possibly argue that the MOV's (varistors) are tired, but not necessarily. Just use it, it's good, inspect the capacitors from time to time as with any PSU...
 
Your PSU is good, I mean it hasn't been loaded even 50% throughout the years, so it's more than adequate for a new build, which won't load it past 50% either, so no worries there. If it works well, let it work.
One could possibly argue that the MOV's (varistors) are tired, but not necessarily. Just use it, it's good, inspect the capacitors from time to time as with any PSU...
plus the money saved can go towards other things
Really?
I remember when I bought it at the time I figured it would do me the rest of my days! Cost a fortune to me at the time.
Will it not be enough or have connections changed over the years?
it'll be fine, I'd say anything new you get would use less power than the two 8800's and overclocked quad core you got there. while also being at least 15X as fast (for the RX 6600XT)

really just get anything you feel like would suit you as any of these options are orders of magnitude faster while also drawing less power if that matters to you. though if you haven't already I'd say also get an ssd.
 
Your PSU is good, I mean it hasn't been loaded even 50% throughout the years, so it's more than adequate for a new build, which won't load it past 50% either, so no worries there. If it works well, let it work.
One could possibly argue that the MOV's (varistors) are tired, but not necessarily. Just use it, it's good, inspect the capacitors from time to time as with any PSU...
So when the OP builds a new computer costing him hundreds and hundreds of pounds and uses a 15 year old unit that came with a 3 year warranty when new
,you put all those lovely new components at risk, for what reason?
Why o why would anyone advise them not to buy a more efficient, up to a 10 year warranted new unit and have newer ATX specs?
I don't get it....

Just to put this into perspective,
I had a similar upgrade recently from a 4470k, Z97, 16Gb DDR3, 1080ti setup and the first thing on MY list was a new PSU, it would go on to replace my 14ish year old Corsair TX750, it like his PSU was and is a great one , but to be sure on my part that I was trusting the most important thing in a PC to power all those new expensive components, I bought a new one. just my 2 cents

EDIT/TLDR: MTBF
 
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I have an even older 2700K CPU with a 2080 SUPER and that runs just fine. Yes, the card loses performance due to the old CPU, but there's still enough there to play at decent framerates at 1080p or 4K in many games. G-SYNC with my new monitor really helps here too, as the actual framerate isn't as critical and there are no dropped frames that lead to stutter.
 
I have an even older 2700K CPU with a 2080 SUPER and that runs just fine. Yes, the card loses performance due to the old CPU, but there's still enough there to play at decent framerates at 1080p or 4K in many games. G-SYNC with my new monitor really helps here too, as the actual framerate isn't as critical and there are no dropped frames that lead to stutter.
yeah, this might be the best thing for them to do. they can use the gpu again if they decide to build a new pc.
 
Update:
First, thanks for the advice from all involved.
I started with an Asus prime Z690-P but returned it as it wasn't compatible with the CPU. I ended up with an ASRock 1700 Z690 EXTREME DDR4 as the BIOS can be updated without any components fitted.
CPU, I went for the i5-13600K (Hence the BIOS update required)
RAM, Kingston Fury Beast 32GB
I also was able to source a used Radeon RX 5700 XT with waterblock to tie in to the current system to keep it cool & practically silent. Not the highest, but a massive improvement over what I had!
New PSU for safety.
I didn't need a new CPU cooler as the previous one I have fitted fine.

All in, I came in over budget at just over £1100, but it runs both DCS & Death Stranding perfectly well, so hopefully it'll do me another ten years!
;-)
 
Update:
First, thanks for the advice from all involved.
I started with an Asus prime Z690-P but returned it as it wasn't compatible with the CPU. I ended up with an ASRock 1700 Z690 EXTREME DDR4 as the BIOS can be updated without any components fitted.
CPU, I went for the i5-13600K (Hence the BIOS update required)
RAM, Kingston Fury Beast 32GB
I also was able to source a used Radeon RX 5700 XT with waterblock to tie in to the current system to keep it cool & practically silent. Not the highest, but a massive improvement over what I had!
New PSU for safety.
I didn't need a new CPU cooler as the previous one I have fitted fine.

All in, I came in over budget at just over £1100, but it runs both DCS & Death Stranding perfectly well, so hopefully it'll do me another ten years!
;-)
Glad you got it all sorted-nice looking system btw( and you stuck a new psu in there!)
 
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