New CPU to pair with current GPU

[Raduque]

After the holidays are over, and I'm fully settled into my new job, I plan on buying a new CPU for my system.

Currently, I'm running an E8500 Wolfdale on an EP45 board with 6gb and a GTX460GC 768.

I'm sitting on an Intel P67 and a set of 16gb DDR3. Will a Core i5 3470 do ($189) or should I spring for a 3570 ($209)?

 

[Torn Mind]

Any reason why you aren't going with a Z77 board? I haven't heard of issues like boot loops or SATA ports eventually dying like I've heard with the first-gen Sandy Bridge chipsets. Besides, you'd first probably need a BIOS update on that P67 board to get it to work with the Ivy Bridge chips.

 

[Ajay]

After the holidays are over, and I'm fully settled into my new job, I plan on buying a new CPU for my system.

Currently, I'm running an E8500 Wolfdale on an EP45 board with 6gb and a GTX460GC 768.

I'm sitting on an Intel P67 and a set of 16gb DDR3. Will a Core i5 3470 do ($189) or should I spring for a 3570 ($209)?

For the price diff, I'd go with the 3570 unless you plan on overclocking. Wait, a single GTX460 - I would sell the 460, your Wolfdale and anything else you've got, go with the 3470 and get a better video card - if you game.

If you list your requirements, people will be able to respond better (what OS, games, etc.).

 

[Essence_of_War]

If you already have a dGPU, I might pick up an i5-3350P for $180, but it's tough to give specific advice without your use case, and other hardware.

 

[Raduque]

Any reason why you aren't going with a Z77 board? I haven't heard of issues like boot loops or SATA ports eventually dying like I've heard with the first-gen Sandy Bridge chipsets. Besides, you'd first probably need a BIOS update on that P67 board to get it to work with the Ivy Bridge chips.

I already have the board. I got it from a friend who RMA'd it to Intel due to the SATA bug. I'm pretty sure they updated the BIOS. While he waited to get it back, he got impatient and bought a newer board and CPU. I've also got 4x4gb DDR3 DIMMs, I think they're Crucial Ballistix.

I'd be re-using my Galaxy GTX460GC 768, my drives, my sound card and my Season S12-II 500.

My usage is mostly general use, watching HD content and gaming on Windows 7 x64.

My primary monitor is 1680x1050. Games I'm wanting to play maxed out at this res are Bioshock Infinite, Crysis 3, Metro Last Light, Max Payne 3, and Tomb Raider w/hair effects enabled, Watch_Dogs, Black Flag and Call of Duty Ghosts (SP).

No, I'm not upgrading my monitor. I'm also not going to sell my current parts, because they're worth maybe $30 at most, and more valuable to me as a new HTPC.

 

[Torn Mind]

I say get the 3570. 200 Mhz is not much, but its still something in case you need to do the very limited overclocking allowed on non-K "Bridge" chips, which is 4 bins above turbo.

 

[Raduque]

I won't be overclocking. I'll also just shell out the extra $20 for the 3570. Thanks!

 

[Ajay]

Good luck with your new system and the new job!

 

[Raduque]

Thanks Ajay!

 

[RaistlinZ]

I have my doubts a 460 768MB card will give you a great experience with maxed out settings. Even a 7870 is roughly twice as fast overall.

I would upgrade to an R9 270 which is slightly faster than a 7870 and only costs $179.99 MSRP.

 

[Raduque]

I have my doubts a 460 768MB card will give you a great experience with maxed out settings. Even a 7870 is roughly twice as fast overall.

I would upgrade to an R9 270 which is slightly faster than a 7870 and only costs $179.99 MSRP.

Gotta keep in mind two things: My resolutions is low compared to everybody else in here, and my budget for this is about $230. So it's new CPU OR new GPU, not both.

Believe me, if I had $400, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a new GPU.

 

[2is]

I think you're on the right track considering your budget. Being a little weak on the GPU is preferable to being a little weak on the CPU. You can still get good performance on a weak GPU by turning down a number of different settings, but there isn't much you can do to get more performance if your CPU is what's limiting you.