Need ideas for new gaming monitor & general rig updating question

[Danny Bateman]

Hey all. I know there's some pretty bright folks on the board when it comes to PC rig building and maintaining. To that end, I've got a couple questions:

1. The monitor I've had since i bought this rig has started doing some weird dynamic brightness thing that I definitely didn't enable. It dims to match the background color - meaning dark background webpages are straining my eyes. Very annoying. I wondered if it meant the monitor was starting to fail. Regardless, I'll probably replace it - it's a cheapo one that's worked fine, but it's got no HDMI and I was hoping to upgrade to something nicer. What are the important metrics to check for new monitors?

2. Anybody have any advice on programs or tests to use to assess hardware and determine when it's time to consider upgrading something? I tried to future proof mine, but I've had it probably 4 or 5 years now since when I was back in college, and I'm wondering how everything is aging. The one program I've used in the past was called HWiNFO64 to check internal temps when I had some really funky lag going on with Skyrim.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Saunders]

For gaming monitors, go 144hz or bust. The increased refresh rate makes a huge difference, especially in shooters. As for your PC, it's kinda hard to tell with specs. Can you post your CPU/Ram/GPU specs? That's a good start. Also, if you don't have an SSD, you absolutely should.

 

[Danny Bateman]

Have SSD, good there.

Will post the specs tomorrow when I get more time.

What do you think of this? Saw this popped up as a daily deal. 29 in is much bigger than I had previously, and it's an ultrawide. Looks pretty sleek. Though I noticed it only has a maximum refresh rate of 90 Hz. I'm contemplating going with this, and if not I may just peruse Amazon to see what they've got over there at a similar price point.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/311745701493?rmvSB=true&afepn=5337259887&afepn=5337259887&rmvSB=true

 

[Danny Bateman]

Wound up taking you advice, Saunders. Went with a 144 Hz. Overspent a little bit but wound up with this beauty here:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-xf270hua-27-ips-led-hd-freesync-monitor-black/5622408.p?skuId=5622408

Pictures are old, The one I got has a zero bezel design.

I did some research and I guess AMD is getting ready to release a kickass new GPU called Vega this quarter. I'm thinking that's my next purchase. I'm running an old GTX 660 from back when I bought my rig, and upgrading to at the Vega would allow me to use their FreeSync feature.

 

[Saunders]

Good call!. I have the G-Sync version of that monitor to go with my 1070, and it's really, really good.

 

[Danny Bateman]

Good call!. I have the G-Sync version of that monitor to go with my 1070, and it's really, really good.

Ahhh, an Nvidia man eh? Honestly they're way ahead of AMD at the moment. I would've liked to go G-Sync with a better GeForce card but I figured AMD would save a few bucks. Got to hope AMD rebounds - both because I don't want a monopoly and since I obviously invested a bunch into a FreeSync monitor!

Hoping Vega is as good as everyone hopes... Noticed Nvidia just dropped a new card on par with their Titan. Maybe preemptive?

Now I'm trying to figure out what I want to install for some aftermarket cooling. Any suggestions?

 

[Saunders]

Good call!. I have the G-Sync version of that monitor to go with my 1070, and it's really, really good.

Ahhh, an Nvidia man eh? Honestly they're way ahead of AMD at the moment. I would've liked to go G-Sync with a better GeForce card but I figured AMD would save a few bucks. Got to hope AMD rebounds - both because I don't want a monopoly and since I obviously invested a bunch into a FreeSync monitor!

Hoping Vega is as good as everyone hopes... Noticed Nvidia just dropped a new card on par with their Titan. Maybe preemptive?

Now I'm trying to figure out what I want to install for some aftermarket cooling. Any suggestions?

I'm still on a 2500K with a hyper 212+. I "might" go closed loop water cooling with a new build, something like a noctua or corsair h60, not sure yet.

 

[Danny Bateman]

Good call!. I have the G-Sync version of that monitor to go with my 1070, and it's really, really good.

Ahhh, an Nvidia man eh? Honestly they're way ahead of AMD at the moment. I would've liked to go G-Sync with a better GeForce card but I figured AMD would save a few bucks. Got to hope AMD rebounds - both because I don't want a monopoly and since I obviously invested a bunch into a FreeSync monitor!

Hoping Vega is as good as everyone hopes... Noticed Nvidia just dropped a new card on par with their Titan. Maybe preemptive?

Now I'm trying to figure out what I want to install for some aftermarket cooling. Any suggestions?

I'm still on a 2500K with a hyper 212+. I "might" go closed loop water cooling with a new build, something like a noctua or corsair h60, not sure yet.

Noctua is supposed to be really good. I was looking at their NH-D15, which is supposed to be one of the very best air coolers you can get - superior even to most water coolers - but that thing is a BEAST and wouldn't fit in my case:

I may go the water cooling route as well. I feel it offers great cooling and helps save space within the case. Make sure you get a decent one, though. I've read some horror stories about them springing a leak and frying rigs.

I was looking at some of the Corsair line the other day too... was going to go with an h100i but I'm also waiting for the right deal.

 

[Saunders]

Nice setup! I don't have a closeup of my PC, but here's my office setup right now.

I'm kind of a nerd...

 

[Danny Bateman]

Ha! I wish. That was just a picture of a random rig I found to illustrate the size of the NH-D15. I can upload a picture of my rig sometime soon... I'll have to open it up again to install my new cooling.

I think I'm going to go with this offering from EVGA. It's on the large side for CLCs, but if I'm going to install something, I'm going to just do it up right instead of half-assing it!

It's supposed to be right on par with Corsair's competitor model, too. Some really cool testing in that link.

 

[Danny Bateman]

BTW, nice digs man! I'm never going to begrudge a guy for having a bunch of Star Wars and NU memorabilia! Plus, the gaming setup looks SWEET.

 

[Saunders]

BTW, nice digs man! I'm never going to begrudge a guy for having a bunch of Star Wars and NU memorabilia! Plus, the gaming setup looks SWEET.

It works really well. I've got a long HDMI cable run to the TV so I can play games on that, or my TV. I play most 3rd person or controller games on there, or single player stuff like fallout, the witcher, etc...

I'm lucky because my wife doesn't hate (enables?) my obsessions/nerdiness. Pretty much all the lego stuff they've gotten me for gifts.

 

[Saunders]

Ha! I wish. That was just a picture of a random rig I found to illustrate the size of the NH-D15. I can upload a picture of my rig sometime soon... I'll have to open it up again to install my new cooling.

I think I'm going to go with this offering from EVGA. It's on the large side for CLCs, but if I'm going to install something, I'm going to just do it up right instead of half-assing it!

It's supposed to be right on par with Corsair's competitor model, too. Some really cool testing in that link.

Cool, I'll add those to my amazon wishlist. I'm pretty sure I'm building a new machine in the fall, and giving my old box to the kids to start messing around with. They've been bugging to play astroneer.

 

[Elaida]

I'm a little late to the party but wanted to add my two cents.  The processor isn't as important to upgrade as it used to be.  If you're only going to game, an i5 is plenty.  I've got an i5 3570k overclocked to 4.2ghz and it still isn't a bottleneck.  However, if you do more intensive stuff like 3d rendering, by all means, go for virtual cores.  You want to have a great PSU especially if you want to future proof.  I mean you can always buy another one, but why not have a great one out of the gate.  Go for bronze rated at a minimum and shoot for gold or plat. rated if possible.  All that means is it delivers more of the rated power.  As for monitors, I refer VA and MVA monitors for the eye candy, and the tech is getting better so there's not too much of a drop off in response time between those and an ips panel.  My computer is getting a little old, but I'll post specs since  we're all being nerds here. 

NZXT phantom 410 case in white

kingston hyper-x 240gb ssd

2 1tb seagate 7200rpm mass storage drives

corsair xms3 ddr3 1600 ram 16gb

Silverstone Silver 600w bronze 80+ PSU

intel i5 ivy bridge 3570k oc@4.2

nvidia gtx 970 msi gaming edition

msi z77a -gd55 MB

coolermaster evo 212 cooler

There's my setup from  the last apartment.  Too dark in here for a more recent pic, but all the equipment is the same.  Monitor is on a white folding table that i tuck in the back when I'm using the big screen.