Is a new processor enough?

[mcthiel]

Hi, been lurking for years, but finally needed my own thread.

Anyway, I used to game quite a bit but got out of it with school, but now some friends are back into it and I'm feeling lonely.

Current Specs:
Athlon x2 5200+ (OC'd to 3ghz but it's not cutting it :hmm
Asus M2N-E mobo (Am2+)
4gb DDR800
Radeon 6770 (x800 died and I just needed a budget card to fill the void/allow me to play some League of Legends - regretting not making a better purchase now)
Enermax Liberty 500W PS

BF3 medium settings with good frame rates is the goal. I don't need it to last for years down the road (my friends and I tend to fix on a game and play it for years). I don't want to change the video card since I just bought it and everything I've read says it should be fine for my needs. Is a new processor enough to meet my needs?

 

[jacktesterson]

What resolution?

6770 + 945 sounds good.

Your motherboard will support up to a Phenom II 945

The CPU won't be your bottleneck. It will give you another couple years at Medium Settings at majority of games @ 1080p

 

[mcthiel]

What resolution?

6770 + 945 sounds good.

Your motherboard will support up to a Phenom II 945

The CPU won't be your bottleneck. It will give you another couple years at Medium Settings at majority of games @ 1080p

1280x1024

I've been looking at this link and it shows a lot of compatible CPUs but requires some bios tweaking. I'm not uncomfortable with it, but I really just don't want the headaches. Would the 945 be plug and play?

http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-ASUS/M2N-E.html

Also, where do you guys think would be a good place to find one of these? I've checked CL, and Kijiji but most are in bundles.

 

[sm625]

You should be able to run LoL at max settings with a 6770. If you cannot, then you have something else wrong.

Update to bios ver 3001. IF it survives that update, then start shopping for a cheap phenom II X4. It is not difficult to set up, but if something goes wrong you have to have a plan.

 

[mcthiel]

LoL does run fine maxed, but BF3 does not...thats what I meant when I said I'm regretting the 6770 now instead of just going for the 6850 right away.

Already updated bios.

Any idea where to find a 945 guys? No online stores seem to have it (I'm in Canada) and I'm a little sketched about buying from Craigslist or Kijiji since other than bent pins I don't know how to check if it's in working order until I get it home.

Also, a 945 is the best the mobo can handle, but any phenom 2 x4 should get the job done, right?