Next Upgrade

[lifeblood]

So I'm ready for my next upgrade but can't decide what it will be. My current system is in my Sig. The 24" LCD is new and my current video card can't quite max out the settings on my current game-of-the-month, RIFT. While the CPU is is doing well, note it is a AM3 CPU in a AM2+ MB with DDR2. My main concern (albeit not a big one) is graphics performance in games (Rift, Mass Effect 2, Civ 5). Should I:

Upgrade the GPU to a 6870 or equivalent GPU?
Upgrade the MB to AM3+ and RAM to DDR3?
Upgrade something else?

I do not throw out whole systems and buy new from the ground up. I prefer incremental upgrades. If Bulldozer comes out and is a flop, I may consider a platform change to Sandy Bridge, but for now I want to stay with AMD.

 

[fffblackmage]

I would upgrade the GPU first. If that doesn't work, then you can move it to a new cpu+mobo platform entirely. Don't upgrade to a Phenom II. Upgrading the ram is unlikely to be very helpful either.

 

[z1ggy]

How much are you willing to spend..?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I would upgrade the GPU first. If that doesn't work, then you can move it to a new cpu+mobo platform entirely. Don't upgrade to a Phenom II. Upgrading the ram is unlikely to be very helpful either.

THIS :thumbsup:

 

[mfenn]

THIS :thumbsup:

Thirded. OP, your CPU is "ok", but the 4830 is getting really long in the tooth. The 6870 is a good deal if you're looking to spend $180 or so.

 

[lifeblood]

Thirded. OP, your CPU is "ok", but the 4830 is getting really long in the tooth. The 6870 is a good deal if you're looking to spend $180 or so.

Yea, the only time the CPU & RAM really have problems is in a large event in RIFT when lots of people are in a small area. Then all four cores are nearly maxed and memory is too. So I know I'll need to upgrade at some point, just not right this moment. I just thought I'd check and see what the rest of the world thought.

Time to start watching for a good deal on a new video card.