XPS 8930, upgrades and New build advice

Hi everyone,

This will be a loong post, sorry fot that, , I will try to make it easy to read and organized.

First at all, please note that I am not in the US, I am in a country where electronics are so expensive and choices are limited, you can't find everything you want. Really, I am talking about at least US price x 1.5, but it's generally more that that. To make thing easier, I will use USD (sorry for EU and POUND users ^^). Some prices fluctuate so I put the minimal am maximum amount.

 

Let's start : I own a Dell XPS 8930  with these specs (memory and storage upgraded):

• CPU: Intel i7-8700 (non k)

• RAM: Kingston HyperX 2666 C16 4x16GB

• GPU: GTX 1070

• SSD: Toshiba XG5 NVMe PCIe M.2 256GB

• HDD: 2 x 2TB 7200 rpm

• HDD: 8TB 5400 rpm

Display:

• Monitor 43" (4k)

• 43" TV used as second monitor (1080p)

• Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 (4k)

 

This is my main setup for work and gaming. I want to build a secondary budget computer for digital art only with the Wacom and put it on the second desk on my room that I rarely use these days. I use the software Clip Studio Paint (CPS) mainly, but also Paint Tools SAI, Photoshop and Corel Painter. Well I personally find CPS more optimized than the other, it focus mainly in CPU (single thread, not too much MT) and memory. GPU is only for 3d models that can be used as ref. SSD is a given.

Since I have to purchase a discrete GPU, a PSU and the other stuff for the new build, I got and idea: Why not upgrade my main computer in the same time and use its parts on the new build?

 

This where it really starts, I need some advice on the matter since upgrading this computer seems complicated.

I have two scenarios:

 

OPTION 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- DELL XPS 8930 UPGRADE and use its parts in the new build (tricky) : I plan to upgrade:

CPU cooler: Arctic-Cooling Freezer 11 LP $35

Exhaust cooler: Noctua NF-A12x25 / Noctua NF-S12A ULN 120MM Cooling Fan 800RPM

GPU (have absolutely to be blower type for this case?), need advice considering the outrageous prices here :

• RTX 2060 $520

• 2060S $610

• 2070S $740

The original PSU is 460W, maybe enough for the 2060 but not for the 2 others I think. Any idea? I still need to buy one for the new build so why not upgrade ?

PSU: what do you advice here? 750 -- 850W Gold? Or go for a cheaper 650W? Is 750W Platinum worth it?

• Seasonic Focus Plus 750W 80 Plus Gold $172

• Seasonic Focus Plus 850W 80 Plus Gold $200

• Seasonic Focus Plus 750W 80 Plus Platinum $205

 

- New Build: using this parts from the XPS:

GPU: GTX 1070

PSU: 460W $0 fwould this work?

CASE: any advice for a cheap mini/mid tower cool enough for the CPU and the full length GPU?

This is the first option. I have seen people in here with those upgrades.

 

OPTION 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- DELL XPS 8930 DOWNGRADE : move the cpi to the new build and:

CPU: change to a cheaper compatible one.

• Intel Core i3-8100 $110-190 used and new

• Intel Core i5-8400 USED on ebay $150

• Intel Core i3-9100F (not sue if it works on Z370 chipset) $130-170

• Intel Core i5-9400F (not sue if it works on Z370 chipset) $200-250

CPU cooler: Arctic-Cooling Freezer 11 LP $35 (still worth it or the stock one will be enough?)

 

- New Build: this will become my main computer with the Dell CPU, RAM and HDDs.

 

 

That's it, finally! Now I hope I will get help on this!

 

Thank you for reading all of this.