Need a new video card, or should I do a new build from scratch?

[JediKnight]

My current system:
Intel Core2 Quad 6700 (2.66GHz)
4GB RAM (DDR2)
GeForce 8600GT (512 MB)
2x500 GB HD (7200RPM)
Windows Vista

I need an upgrade so I can play recent games. I had a better video card installed until recently (it died, and I replaced it back with the stock card).

I'm debating whether I should simply upgrade the video card, or build a new box (it's 4 years old.. getting a bit long in the tooth, I think). One factor in favour of starting from scratch is the mobo and case really weren't designed to accommodate large video cards (anything taking up two slots because of cooling is a particular PITA).

Thoughts and suggestions?

 

[lehtv]

Is your intention to be able to run new games, or play them at respectable image quality settings and smooth framerates? If you built a new PC from scratch, how much would you be willing to spend? Also, what's your PSU?

 

[JediKnight]

My intention is to play new, or at least new-ish games (I bought most from Steam sales) at smooth framerates, hopefully w/o turning down the detail or resolution (my monitor supports 1080p) much. Crysis (is that still considered an intensive game?), Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age, Fallout: NV, DNF, Saints Row the Third are a few examples of the games in my library. The game that I'm most looking forward to is Bioshock: Infiinte, and I'd definitely want to get something with enough horsepower to play that.

My PSU is a 500W Corsair:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

 

[lehtv]

In that case you'll want to do a full upgrade. Please fill in:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

You can reuse the OS, the PSU and those hard disks. Is your DVD drive SATA or IDE?

 

[Termie]

In that case you'll want to do a full upgrade. Please fill in:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

You can reuse the OS, the PSU and those hard disks. Is your DVD drive SATA or IDE?

He may not be able to reuse the OS if that's an OEM build. Probably worth moving on from vista anyway.

And yes, I agree, for new games a non-overclocked q6700 is very limiting. If it can be overclocked, I'd actually consider buying a 650ti to drop in there. It's tiny and will pose no problem for your PSU, although it is two slots as is every modern card other than specialty single-slot cards cards (you can get an XFX single-slot HD7770 for instance).

None of the games the OP listed require much CPU. You paid probably $20 total for those on steam. No reason to spend $500-600 on a new rig just to enjoy them!

 

[mfenn]

None of the games the OP listed require much CPU.

Eh? Gamebryo (the Fallout 3 engine) is famously CPU intensive.

At any rate, given the OP's goal to "play new, or at least new-ish games (I bought most from Steam sales) at smooth framerates, hopefully w/o turning down the detail or resolution (my monitor supports 1080p) much," he needs a significant GPU and CPU upgrade. Crysis alone needs at least a GTX 670 to run 45 FPS 1080P all max).

To your larger point, the OP could get by with less, even forgoing the CPU upgrade altogether, but that would require modifying his goals.

 

[Termie]

Eh? Gamebryo (the Fallout 3 engine) is famously CPU intensive.

At any rate, given the OP's goal to "play new, or at least new-ish games (I bought most from Steam sales) at smooth framerates, hopefully w/o turning down the detail or resolution (my monitor supports 1080p) much," he needs a significant GPU and CPU upgrade. Crysis alone needs at least a GTX 670 to run 45 FPS 1080P all max).

To your larger point, the OP could get by with less, even forgoing the CPU upgrade altogether, but that would require modifying his goals.

Fallout may be cpu-intensive, but that's only because it needs very little gpu. It's a really old engine.

Point is, if he can overclock, he doesn't need a new cpu to play the games he listed. If he can't, then he should upgrade.

 

[riversend]

OP, as lehtv suggested, I would say it is time for you to edit your first post with answers to this sticky.
That should help us to determine what exactly what we are dealing with. Still need an answer on your budget etc.

I assume your original system is an OEM build of some sort with a future GPU upgrade that finally died on you. That is why you are having issues with the case etc. As much info as you can provide would be helpful, what you are seeing here is a lot of speculation based on incomplete info. More is better! 🙂

 

[lehtv]

Fallout may be cpu-intensive, but that's only because it needs very little gpu. It's a really old engine.

It's not like CPU performance is the only benefit in upgrading it. He would also move from 4GB DDR2 to 8GB DDR3 and gain USB 3.0, SATA 6gb/s, PCIe 3.0, lower power consumption, integrated backup graphics, better integrated sound... et cetera.

Point is, if he can overclock, he doesn't need a new cpu to play the games he listed. If he can't, then he should upgrade.

It's not like the games he listed are the only ones he's going to play. Better to upgrade the system on one go to get it up to date rather than upgrading the GPU only just to find that the CPU can't handle some new game he just bought. Using the current CPU also limits the potential of the graphics card even if he overclocks. He would have to resort to a $200 card and even then there would be bottlenecking in CPU intensive games.

 

[Termie]

It's not like CPU performance is the only benefit in upgrading it. He would also move from 4GB DDR2 to 8GB DDR3 and gain USB 3.0, SATA 6gb/s, PCIe 3.0, lower power consumption, integrated backup graphics, better integrated sound... et cetera.

It's not like the games he listed are the only ones he's going to play. Better to upgrade the system on one go to get it up to date rather than upgrading the GPU only just to find that the CPU can't handle some new game he just bought. Using the current CPU also limits the potential of the graphics card even if he overclocks. He would have to resort to a $200 card and even then there would be bottlenecking in CPU intensive games.

Well, that all depends on what he's willing to spend. I agree his system is out-of-date in regard to more than just speed. But he didn't give a budget, and that's probably because he's not sure if he needs a new system in the first place.

My advice stands - if he's using a custom PC, he should buy a GPU first, see if the performance is sufficient, and if it's not, he can go the whole platform route. If his system is an OEM Dell, HP, or something similar, however, upgrading will likely cause compatibility problems that aren't worth the hassle.

 

[lakedude]

he should buy a GPU first, see if the performance is sufficient,

I agree with this, regardless of OEM vs hand built PC issue. Provided of course that the video card fits the case and provided that the PS is adequate or can be replaced with an adequate unit.

I have put together a gaming system in this way and it works fine. Took a Dell with minimum options (to save money) and added a power supply and video card. Works great except you can't really OC. It has been a great system, totally reliable, been running BOINC 24/7 for years now.

 

[mfenn]

Well, that all depends on what he's willing to spend. I agree his system is out-of-date in regard to more than just speed. But he didn't give a budget, and that's probably because he's not sure if he needs a new system in the first place.

I can get behind that. We really need to know what PSU the OP has and how much he's willing to spend.

 

[szvwxcszxc]

4 years old? build a new box and sell yours before it's completely worthless. I get a new PC every 6mo to 1 year and sell the old one for almost what I bought it for.