[jaco1]

Well now I am looking to make something big and something fast. A system that is ideal for gaming and possibly a TV screen that I can attach my computer to. Of course the TV screen would just be to stream media and use to play games. I am also contemplating whether I should use SSD or both HDD and SSD. I would also like the system to have high security. Also space on the chassis for Blu ray storage.

 

I am not sure whether I should sell my current build as it is and then use that money in addition with some of my wages to buy the other parts for this build or upgrade my current build before selling it or if I can actually just us my current build to upgrade it to have everything that I am talking about here.

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Gday jaco1.

In which country would you be selling\buying from?

Please give a list of your current specs.   Brand and model of everthing, including the PSU.   Then we can see if it is worth upgrading. 

[iammykyl]

Gday jaco1.

In which country would you be selling\buying from?

Please give a list of your current specs.   Brand and model of everthing, including the PSU.   Then we can see if it is worth upgrading. 

[jaco1]

Gday jaco1.

In which country would you be selling\buying from?

Please give a list of your current specs.   Brand and model of everthing, including the PSU.   Then we can see if it is upgrading.

 

Hello there iammykyl,

 

I remember you along with philpower2 helping me build my first PC some time ago. And this is the computer I am on about now. The parts you picked out for me can be found here: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/f6rjRB

 

And the country I would be selling\buying from would be UK.

[terry1966]

to be honest that's a pretty good pc, so i wouldn't bother selling it and starting fresh. what i'd do is upgrade the cpu to either an i7 4790k or i5 4690k, add an ssd for os and use the 1TB drive for storage and also upgrade the gpu to a nvidia gtx 970 or 980ti. (the gtx 970 isn't really that much of a step up from what you have now so i'd go 980 ti.)

 

if you do decide to build new then i'd sell the motherboard, cpu, ram, video card and keep the rest of the parts, and build the latest intel i7 or i5 skylake socket lga 1151system. (i'll let iammy recommend those parts.)

 

for your bluray collection/backup/storage because they typically need 40+GB of storage space each (uncompressed/ripped, even compressed/ripped they typically are about 8GB in size) so i'd add 2 x 4TB wd red drives (or hitachi/hgst drives.) just for video content. 1 for the blurays and all other video content you may have and the 2nd to backup the 1st drive.

 

 

check case size for graphics card, might need a different case too.

Edited by terry1966, 01 May 2016 - 09:16 AM.

[iammykyl]

Gday Mates.

Thanks for the input terry1966, agreed, upgrading the PC is what I would recommend.

 

Some points jaco1.

If you do not intend, in the near future, to do photo/video editing, or workstation related tasks? an i5 CPU would be powerful enough for a gaming computer.   

If you do not have external backup, consider using one internal Data drive and purchasing a external Drive.

look at the existing case cooling, determine if more fans are needed.

Determine the max size of the GPU that can be installed.

Does your TV have the required inputs?

What would be your budget?   A CPU/980ti/SSD+ parts will cost but, the 980ti/SSD/HDD could be moved to a future build, then reconfigure the old build with the Pentium, 270X, wiped original HDD,sell with the OS.

 

What you think?

[iammykyl]

Done a little research and a parts list to give some idea of costs.

 

Your PSU, good, will handle the upgrade.

Case, limits the choice of GPU length, 293 mm (11.5”), only 3 available from major manufacturers, the best being GTX 980 Ti Gaming 6GB, this review one of many i looked at, > http://www.legitrevi...nd-zotac_176648

After testing, you may need a front intake fan in the case.

Extra to the parts list, external 4TB My Book, , Choose where and when, > http://www.pcworld.c...011091-pdt.html

 

Storage configuration

SSD for OS/programs.

Existing 1TB HDD, Move User Date, My Docs etc from OS.

New 2TB HDD, first partition, 400GB, backups, OS drive image/user data, remainder for Video storage.

New 4GB external, 1TB partition, backup, OS Images and  1TB Data drive. remainder, video files.

Use Easus Partition Manager that includes Todo backup.

 

> http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/xff9dC + WD My Book.

[jaco1]

Hi,

 

I have decided than based on what you're saying that I will upgrade. My budget would be about £1000.00 maximum but I probably won't finish this upgrade for another few months. I am predicting getting it exactly how I want it would be December max. 

 

At the moment I need to focus on getting the parts and then may need help configuring everything once I have the parts.

[iammykyl]

Thanks for the update jaco1.

You might consider staged upgrades, leaving the GPU to later, prices may drop by the end of the year, or a newer/better GPU be released.

Regardless of when you upgrade, your first step would be backing up your important Date.

1.  External 4TB My Book,  > http://www.pcworld.c...011091-pdt.html 

Download EaseUS Partition Manager, > http://www.partition...om/personal.htm

2.   Install SSD, reinstall OS, move User Data/video to existing HDD.

3.   Upgrade GPU, test games to see if/when the CPU is bottlenecked.  Ultra settings may not be achievable, try using CPU boost, test again.

If at that point, you are happy with performance, look at video storage again, do you need more?

If not happy, want more, decide than, upgrade the CPU, run with the 1150 platform or upgrade MB to socket 1151 and Skylake CPU.

[jaco1]

Hi, sorry for the late reply as I have been really busy with studdies and things. I did actually think I had already replied here to say it might be a while before I get back with this project but I obviously hadn't which I apologize for.

 

So here's an update. I have decided that the OS I would like to use is Qubes https://www.qubes-os.org. I would also like to get the Librem 13 laptop with Qubes installed too https://puri.sm/librem-13/ but this will have to wait as I think this works out to be a bit more expensive than installing Qubes on my custom built PC. I like a system that is secure, fast and has good graphics.

 

Furthermore I have just been looking at the PC part picker site and noticed that SSD for £84.99. I don't know why but for some reason I kept thinking that SSDs were far more expensive which I guess was kind of putting me off from going ahead with this project sooner.

 

Moreover here are the system requirements and hardware compatibilty stuff:

• https://www.qubes-os...m-requirements/
• https://www.qubes-os.org/hcl/

Some of this this stuff I understand while other bits I do not. So what are your thoughts on this?

 

Thanks.

[iammykyl]

Gday.

No worries, good to hear from you again.

I don't know much about Qubes, but from some light reading.

It is designed to create a secure environment to keep you info as private as possible.   a very long learning curve.   Slow as everything is done manually.   Not for multiple users or a duel Boot system.

Looking at system requirements, iGPU, highly recommended.   The more RAM the better.   Don't think such a build would be much good for gaming as 3D discrete GPU not supported.

 

Read this page, https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/

I would read all the FAQ, https://www.qubes-os...videos-in-qubes

Introduction, https://www.qubes-os.org/intro/

Video,  https://www.qubes-os.org/video-tours/

 

It would be a bit aways from the build/use you indicated in your first post.

[jaco1]

Well in that cas iammykyl I think I will leave the qubes os for the laptop which I could always buy at a later date and continue with the ofiginal project.

 

[iammykyl]

 

Compatible parts upgrade to your existing computer. 

Updated the GPU, a lot better performance and cheaper.

Added a fan for the front intake of the case,

> http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/  See reply #14.

Add, external storage, > http://www.pcworld.c...011091-pdt.html

.

[jaco1]

Hi iammykyl,

 

Thanks for the update. I will be getting the SSD tomorrow and will be purchasing some of the other parts at the end of the month. By the way with the first link you gave me I don't actually see an updated list of the parts.

 

Thaks.

[iammykyl]

  Picked up the wrong link.

Updated parts list, > http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/GnyYXH

Add, external storage, > http://www.pcworld.c...011091-pdt.html

 

If you do not have a spare SATA cable, you will need one as the SSD is a bare drive, no cable.  It just has to be a standard SATA 2.0 one as a SATA 3.0 one is identical, just a marketing ploy and extra cost.

 

As you are not in a mad rush, Nvidia may drop their prices next month.

 

Search here for all your parts as sometimes these outlets do not appear on PCP. > http://www.staticice...ing ACX &spos=3

[jaco1]

Thank you.

 

I take it the next step then is to get a SATA 2 cable.