Looking For Upgrade Help: RAM, Processor

Hi Germaximus.... You didn't mention your cpu, but unless you're looking to get into Sata Express or M.2 storage cards, there is no benefit upgrading from Z87 to Z97 chipset for a gaming rig. If you want hyperthreading for other than gaming, and you have a i5 cpu, then a i7 upgrade would help.   The new Z97 does allow for the future Broadwell cpu, but that would be the time to upgrade if needed.

For ram, 8gb is still fine for most gaming. If you want to add ram, best bet is to go to a site like Crucial.com for an example and use there memory compatibility tool to check your system.   Or just get ram with the same specs, like 1.5 volts at 9-9-9-24 as an.example. CPU-Z can be used to see your specs.

The gtx 770 is an excellent card. Don't know your monitor resolution but if you need more, the latest gtx 970/980 will give you a 20-30% better frames.

For most, what you have should game great for the near future, assuming a single 1920x1080 monitor.   You can certainly upgrade the mobo but no real benefit unless there's something specific you need.

Hope this helps.

Edited by bprat22 - 18 Dec 2014 at 4:17am

Take a look at AverMedia's Live Gamer HD or Game Broadcaster HD to off-load processing of the live stream from your processor. These Avermedia cards do take a bit of power, so hopefully your power supply was a bit overspec'd for your current components. Disclaimer: I have not used these cards so I can't speak to how well they work, but I have used one of their TV tuner cards and it worked well (but I did have a PSU issue with it).

These are PCI-e cards that will fit into the expansion slots on your motherboard. When you get a card, turn your computer and power supply of (there is a switch on the power supply by the power cord). Make sure you're free of static electricity (don't work on a carpet and touch a large conductive grounded object). Then take the side panel off so you're looking at your motherboard. Find a free PCI-e slot you can fit your card in. Take a screw driver and remove the blank slot cover. Insert the card and screw down. Replace side panel and turn computer on. After you've booted into you O/S, insert the driver CD and install the necessary drivers for the card. It might need to restart, but otherwise good to go. There may be one or two other steps to follow with HDMI cables, but they should be laid out in setup instructions.

If a dedicated streaming device won't work, I'd look into using NVIDIAs streaming capabilities in the GeForce Experience program.

I had used Nvidias live streaming platform for a bit before moving on to OBS. The thing about Shadowplay is that you cannot really customize the overlay so it's kinda lame.

Thanks very much for your answers, guys! I'll probably end up upgrading both my CPU and RAM. The minimum requirements for the Highest Recommended settings of RAM just keep going up.

I can't even run Shadow of Mordor with Ultra Textures without stuttering while not live streaming. /sigh

Edited by Germaximus - 18 Dec 2014 at 10:25am