Replacing My 10 Year Old PC

newtz on 27/01/2025 - 17:29
Last edited 27/01/2025 - 19:51 by 1 other user

I'm way out of touch with whats what in computer hardware. My PC is 10 years old now - and whilst it still does most things I want it to do (gaming now and then, and occasionally editing gopro/drone footage in 4k - I (edit:) DO need to run cache and proxy for this to work smoothly), I'm wondering if I can get a decent upgrade for under $1000.

Current setup is:
i5-4690K 3.5GHz
16GMB Ram
GTX 970
256gb SSD

I might move this machine into a virtual pinball setup - and get something that can edit 4k video a bit smoother for my main. Can the brainstrust here direct me to what would be a decent improvement (I'm assuming everything after 10 years - but current prices look a bit crazy!)

Computing Computer Desktop Computer

Comments

  • newtz on 27/01/2025 - 17:33
    +2

    I'm assuming just updating the GPU is a no go as I'd probably be bottle necked

    • Dejy on 27/01/2025 - 19:13
      +3

      The i5-4690K is already a bottleneck for the 970 (https://pc-builds.com/bottleneck-calculator/result/0AQ0LE/1/…) so I wouldn't update the GPU alone.

      I had a newer i7-6700k in my old setup and updated my GPU, when I started playing new games I found that I was getting stuttering and other issues and upon further checks I found that the CPU usage was near 100% while the GPU was barely using 50% on some games. After I also upgraded my CPU then things worked much more smoothly.

      Heaps of good builds sub-$1k in the desktop computers deals:
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/desktop-computer

    • simplystu on 27/01/2025 - 19:18
      +2

      OP hasn't stated what games … GTX 970 == held up for soo many years (+ still handles current games well) +++ video editing.

      assuming rest of parts are also 10 years old …
      would also want to upgrade SSD (before it dies) +++ I also assume OP has a backup solution in place too.

      16GB RAM - while can get by for general "website viewing" (on Win 10/11) - ideally should be looking at 32GB these days.
      +++ since editing video footage.

  • CrispyChrispy on 27/01/2025 - 17:42
    +1

    What games are you playing OP?

    That CPU can still hold up just fine if you're mainly playing older games or on lower graphics generally, your GPU is the bottleneck in your current system IMO. An upgrade to a RTX 4000 series GPU (even just a 4060) will do wonders (I don't know if there's still the performance gap between AMD and NVIDIA GPUs for video encoding and editing workflows)

    And if you're editing footage and playing around with that kind of software 32GB RAM is really nice.

    But if you know you are CPU bound in the applications you are using then yeah you might want to consider an entire system upgrade.

  • newtz on 27/01/2025 - 17:51
    +2

    I barely play games at all these days so not too concerned about cutting edge tech there. Just after something reasonable incase I get the urge to play something newish.

    I was thinking the CPU might hold back any GPU upgrade?

    • CrispyChrispy on 27/01/2025 - 18:01

      I was thinking the CPU might hold back any GPU upgrade?

      Wouldn't say so, no. If we're still talking about gaming, the GPU does the heavy lifting in most games (bar RTS/sim games).

      My old OptiPlex with an i7-2600 and a RTX 570 could play NBA 2K23 on highest graphics at a stable ~70FPS, and could run RDR2 at ~60FPS on medium/high (no upscaling). It breezed through older titles like GTA V and Fallout 4 without issue.

      • newtz on 27/01/2025 - 18:36

        That's good to know! Maybe I'll put the new GPU in the pinball cab and keep the 970 on the main PC

    • simplystu on 27/01/2025 - 20:20

      Even iGPU …. can handle majority of games that OP has alluded to.

  • netjock on 27/01/2025 - 18:08
    +1

    I went from a 4th Gen to AMD 5600G ($175), 32gb DDR4 ($90), MB ($100), 1TB NVME ($85) about 4 months ago.

    • newtz on 27/01/2025 - 18:36
      +1

      That's a nice cheap PC! How's it go?

      • netjock on 28/01/2025 - 10:50

        Nothing to complain about. 6 core, 12 thread. I got gigabyte B550M-K (it doesn't overclock in the bios) but has 2 NVME slots. A DP and HDMI port so you can do 2 monitors (I saw ones with dual port but HDMI and VGA. I needed it to drive 4k 32 inch display so thought otherwise).

        Note that integrated graphics at least for AM4 is limited to PCI-E 3 although the hardware for (B550 chipset) is capable of PCI-E 4. Doubt you'll notice.

        I went from SATA SSD to NVME and you will notice the difference in boot times and access times due to ability to read / write more in bursts.

        Good luck. Tell us what you settle on.

        I didn't go AM5 because IGP was like $300 and ram is $50 more (basically 50%). I'll probably let this run for like 5 years and see how cheap AM4 CPUs get on the second hand market and drop in a cheap CPU or not at all.

        Also being a fellow Intel 4th gen owner (4 core, 8 thread) you'll notice the difference! So for what it cost me or there abouts I'd say go for it. Worth the investment.

  • ihbh on 27/01/2025 - 19:38
    +2

    If you're not in a rush, wait for deals like this to come around: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/868685

    I was lucky - 10 year old PC as well, I think the power supply of my old PC died 2 months after getting this.

  • Mechz on 27/01/2025 - 19:41
    +2

    Optiplex refurb from ebay plus the fastest video card that will run in it.

    • bargaino on 27/01/2025 - 22:25

      GTX 970 is plenty fast enough IMHO, but most Optiplex only take half-height. If you can find a mini-tower, great!
      e.g. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/256630630771
      (easy to add more RAM)

    • jv on 27/01/2025 - 23:14
      +2

      Optiplex refurb from ebay plus the fastest video card that will run in it.

      plus an upgraded power supply for the video card.

  • jv on 27/01/2025 - 23:14
    +4

    Replacing My 10 Year Old PC

    A 10yo is a bit young to be a police constable.

    • jk82 on 28/01/2025 - 11:26
      +3

      maybe that's why he's replacing it?

  • skid on 28/01/2025 - 08:38
    +1

    Due to inflation, $1000 won't get you far nowadays. Can you up the budget to $1500 or $2000?

    • ItsMeAgro on 28/01/2025 - 10:52

      Yeah $1000 will beat what OP has, but maybe not by enough to bother upgrade just yet.

      If GPUs were cheaper it'd be a different story, can you wait until April, OP?

      Both NVIDIA and AMD will have launched their new GPUs by then, might help prices normalise a bit.

      • newtz on 28/01/2025 - 11:34
        +1

        Definitely can wait.

  • Triceratops on 28/01/2025 - 17:39

    Buy a whole new PC and keep it for the next 10 years.

    • newtz on 28/01/2025 - 19:29
      +1

      That's the plan

  • weee on 28/01/2025 - 21:41
    +1

    still rocking my faithful 3930k, I was using 970 then it was replaced by 2070S, best 2 gpus I've ever used, 970 price/performance ratio was at its best

    • newtz on 29/01/2025 - 12:29
      +1

      Yeah for sure. The longevity I've got out of it is amazing. Got to find the modern day equivalent

  • scrimshaw on 29/01/2025 - 13:58
    +1

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/891006

    You might be interested in this sub $1000 pc

    It has no Gpu so reuse your own card

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