CPU or GPU Upgrade for BF3

[Patrickz0rs]

Hello everyone,

I have about $200 to spend on an upgrade. My system is for video games (BF3).

System Information:

CPU: AMD 720 BE (Triple Core) @ 2.8GHz. "4th" core unlock is stable I keep it at a triple core.
GPU: GTX 280
RAM: 16GB DDR3
Screen Resolution: 1920x1080

Should I get a new video card upgrade or will I be bottlenecked by my cpu? The GTX 280 won't fair well with BF3.

Thanks

 

[GoStumpy]

Triple Core should be sufficient for BF3, it can fully tax 2 cores for sure, I'm thinking the 3rd core can help alleviate (or at least raise) the bottleneck level.

GPU is definitely on your list due to the GTX200 series not supporting DX11.

I would suggest getting a good CPU cooler for ~$25 (one on sale) and overclock your CPU to 3.2ghz, it would help!

Cooler idea:
Coolermaster Hyper TX3 $20 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103064

Leaving ~$180 for GPU:

XFX HD6870 2GB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150563

Or if you can go another $20 for a 560ti:

Gigabyte GTX560ti $200 after MIR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125401

 

[Patrickz0rs]

Triple Core should be sufficient for BF3, it can fully tax 2 cores for sure, I'm thinking the 3rd core can help alleviate (or at least raise) the bottleneck level.

GPU is definitely on your list due to the GTX200 series not supporting DX11.

I would suggest getting a good CPU cooler for ~$25 (one on sale) and overclock your CPU to 3.2ghz, it would help!

Cooler idea:
Coolermaster Hyper TX3 $20 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103064

Leaving ~$180 for GPU:

XFX HD6870 2GB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150563

Or if you can go another $20 for a 560ti:

Gigabyte GTX560ti $200 after MIR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125401

Thanks for the reply. I have a pretty good CPU cooler and have tested it @ 3.2GHz stable. Will a 2GB 6870 be better than a 560Ti?

 

[GoStumpy]

The 560ti is definitely faster, which is why it's more money 🙂 $200 even is the cheapest I've seen a 560ti for, actually!

 

[mfenn]

Yeah, a cheap GTX 560 Ti is probably about the best upgrade that you can do to that machine for $200.

 

[Chappie]

Hey PatrickzOrs...

Unlock that 4th core!! I've unlocked mine and oc'd to 3.2ghz and it runs great!! No fancy cooling either...just the heatsink that came with the cpu. I'm running it with 4 gigs of ram and a radeon HD 5770...runs BF3 just fine. Most settings on high with a few tweaks here and there..looks great. I would like to upgrade the video card soon though.

Good luck,
Chappie