Need an opinion

[oldguy123]

I`m thinking of upgrading my computer so I could play these new high end games which are goming this autumn.
i already have an efficient power supply so i`m keeping it. I have 512mb GTS 250 which i wouldn`t like to change also.
I am thinking of buying i5 2400 3,1GHz with ASRock H61M/U3S3. Because i`m not thinking about OCing. Also I`l add 4 gb of memory.
What to you think, is it enough or should I reconsider smoething.

 

[VirtualLarry]

What resolution will you be playing games on? That would tell us whether or not you could keep the GTS250. Chances are, though, that you will need a new video card.

 

[Puppies04]

Also how much $ do you have for the upgrade?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Fill out sticky

 

[Ken g6]

My table of GPU TDPs (how much power they use) says a Radeon HD 6870 uses almost exactly the same power as your GTS 250. (So you don't need to buy a new PSU for it.) I'd give you a benchmark comparison between them, but the GTS 250 was apparently too slow to benchmark!

Get at least a card like the 6870. What other parts do you currently have?

 

[mfenn]

OP, we really need to know what you currently have and your budget. If upgrading to a 6870 won't do you very much good if your CPU is a P4.

 

[oldguy123]

I currently have a core2duo 4400 which i very old, because of that I`m thinking of upgreading my CPU+motherboard rather than my newer GPU.
I`m playing on 1280X1024.
I have right now around 300 $ but I could get 100 $ or something more.
I could sell my GTS250 and buy a 6870 but is it realy neseseary?

 

[Ken g6]

Well, [thread=2174147]Core 2 is not P4[/thread]. If I had that machine, my first choice would be to overclock that processor, sell the GTS 250, and buy either a $160 AR 6870 or, considering your low budget, maybe a $148 AR 6850. Your monitor is relatively low-resolution these days, so either should be OK.

Then, if you still think your processor is holding you back, you could get:
- $50 - a cheap motherboard
- $45 - cheap 8GB RAM or $26 - cheaper 4GB RAM, and
- whichever processor fits the rest of your budget, depending on how much you got for the 250.

Heck, $148 GPU + $50 mobo + $26 RAM + $78 G620 = $302, before selling your 250! But an i3-2100 or 2120 would be a significant step up from that.

 

[BoomerD]

Just out of curiosity, what is your PSU? All you say is "i already have an efficient power supply," but don't tell us what brand or wattage it is.
Some of the newer video cards are power hungry.

 

[Ken g6]

The GTS 250 has a 150W TDP. The 6870 also has a 150W TDP, and the 6850 is only 127. So swapping them out should be no problem. A more powerful PSU could support more powerful GPUs, but I don't think they'd matter on his 1280x1024 monitor.

On the other hand, the PSU would matter for overclocking the existing C2D 4400.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Sell that 250
and upgrade to an i3 and get a better gpu

 

[mfenn]

Well, [thread=2174147]Core 2 is not P4[/thread]. If I had that machine, my first choice would be to overclock that processor, sell the GTS 250, and buy either a $160 AR 6870 or, considering your low budget, maybe a $148 AR 6850. Your monitor is relatively low-resolution these days, so either should be OK.

Then, if you still think your processor is holding you back, you could get:
- $50 - a cheap motherboard
- $45 - cheap 8GB RAM or $26 - cheaper 4GB RAM, and
- whichever processor fits the rest of your budget, depending on how much you got for the 250.

Heck, $148 GPU + $50 mobo + $26 RAM + $78 G620 = $302, before selling your 250! But an i3-2100 or 2120 would be a significant step up from that.

Good advice!

OP, you have a GTS 250, which is the latest iteration of the venerable 8800GT. The 6870 falls somewhere between the 5850 and 5870 in performance. These charts should give you a rough idea of how much faster the 6870 would be. That is to say, twice to three times faster.