Possible upgrades (w/o bottleneck-ing CPU)

[_Patrick_]

Hi,

Im currently on i5-2500K, and CF 5850 1gb.

I would like recommendations on the possible upgrades without bottleneck-ing my CPU with a 6-Yr-Old Dell E228WFP...

Games:
FIFA 14
COD Ghosts
BF 4
mainly FPS...

Thanks!

 

[csbin]

280X CF or 290

 

[_Patrick_]

Hi,

Any mid / mid-high ones...?

 

[Termie]

If you're using a stock 2500K, you don't really want to go much above a 280x. But the 2500k has a lot of OC headroom, so consider looking into that. If you push it well above 4GHz, a 290 makes sense.

The problem with midrange cards is that they aren't necessarily a huge upgrade from 5850CF, except where 1GB of VRAM isn't enough (BF4, for instance). A GTX760, for instance, is about equivalent to 5850CF in raw horsepower, but will typically outperform it at high resolutions. Given that your monitors is 1680x1050, however, I don't think the upgrade would necessarily be worthwhile for you.

 

[_Patrick_]

Hi,

Yeah, still on stock.

Haha... Precisely, I was tempted to get the GTX 760 and after a comparison between them, i gave up. Seems like i dont have much of a choice.

 

[Techhog]

Hi,

Any mid / mid-high ones...?

Is your issue with the cost, or do you feel that your CPU will bottleneck them? Except in specific games and especially after an overclock, a 2500K will not be the bottleneck even with a high-end card if you overclock. In the games you mentioned, either you won't have a bottleneck, or both the CPU and GPU will be bottlenecks. I agree with the 280X suggestion. GTX 770 is a good one as well.

 

[_Patrick_]

Is your issue with the cost, or do you feel that your CPU will bottleneck them? Except in specific games and especially after an overclock, a 2500K will not be the bottleneck even with a high-end card if you overclock. In the games you mentioned, either you won't have a bottleneck, or both the CPU and GPU will be bottlenecks. I agree with the 280X suggestion. GTX 770 is a good one as well.

Hi,

I see.

It has partially to do with cost too, and guys to be honest, i dont know how to oc the 2500K. I'm on Biostar TZ68A+, got it at sale price.

Would appreciate if you guys could post some links to it, else it's fine.

 

[horza]

..

 

[_Patrick_]

That board only has a 4+1 power setup so I'd stay in the 4.3-4.5ghz range which should be pretty easy to achieve. TPU seemed to have no problem with overclocking.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Biostar/TZ68A_PLUS/12.html

280x seems like it would suit you pretty well, the 770 is a great card but you really want the 4gb model at this point and that puts the price much closer to a R9 290. I'm assuming a monitor upgrade is in your future sometime during the cards lifetime.

Edit: What would you like some links to? Sorry didn't follow.

Hi,

Thanks for that.

Oh, I'd like some guides on overclocking the 2500K with TZ68A+...

As for monitor upgrade, yes, just not entirely sure if i should go for 120Hz/144Hz or just 1080p on 27" ones.

 

[horza]

..

 

[_Patrick_]

Some board specific info here > http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2177995&page=1

Any general 2500k overclocking guide will tell you most of what you need to know.

http://www.overclock.net/t/968053/o...voltages-temps-bios-templates-inc-spreadsheet

^^Has some good general information about testing for stability etc.

We are getting off topic for VC&G though, maybe start a new thread if you need some more overclocking advice, be happy to help.

Hey, thanks alot! Shall read'em up!

Appreciate it!

 

[FalseChristian]

I have an i5 2500K overclocked to 4.5GHz using a piddly 1.275v at full-load on an Asus Pz68-V\GEN3 Sanday Bridge mobo. It only cost me $119.99 new 3 years ago. Why buy an 'K' series i5 and then buy a motherboard that can't overclock it? You only buy a 'K' series TO overclock it! It increases the lifespan of the i5 2500K by many, many years!

 

[_Patrick_]

I have an i5 2500K overclocked to 4.5GHz using a piddly 1.275v at full-load on an Asus Pz68-V\GEN3 Sanday Bridge mobo. It only cost me $119.99 new 3 years ago. Why buy an 'K' series i5 and then buy a motherboard that can't overclock it? You only buy a 'K' series TO overclock it! It increases the lifespan of the i5 2500K by many, many years!

Hi,

So are you suggesting that my mobo is non-ocable?