Possibly thinking about a new build

[heymrdj]

I've been using my build since about 2008 or so. AMD X6 1090T and an AMD 5870, 32GB RAM. At this point it's getting too long in the tooth to stand the upgrades of my truck simulator games (ETS2 update 1.8 just came out, and with the increased graphics needs, my GPU is pegged 100% through the game just to maintain medium, I can't enjoy the new graphics features of the game). I play at 1920x1080, though the game now offers triple and quadruple screen cockpits so I've considered doing that as well (officially supports Eyefinity so that the main screen is windshield, monitor below it is cockpit, side monitors are side windows/mirrors). Just wondering what's good out there in the GPU world, and if there's a need to wait. I haven't bought a GPU since that 5870 all those years ago. I'm guessing modern single GPU's are much more powerful now? I also suppose that the CPU will be a bind in feeding a bigger GPU. Thanks for any insights

 

[cen1]

I'd wait to see what AMD offers with 300 series in a couple of weeks, it's probably the worst time to buy at the moment.

 

[daveybrat]

If i were in your shoes i'd go with the following upgrades (assuming you use your other parts):

1) Intel i7 4790K

2) Your preferred brand of Z97 chipset motherbord

3) Nvidia GTX 970 4GB GPU


Should be a massive upgrade over what you have and allow you to still use your existing parts.

Hell, i upgraded from an AMD 960T X4 Phenom II with a GTX 660 video card to what's in my sig and it was night and day faster.

 

[Ketchup]

Yes heymrdj, you are at the point where you need a better video card, but you probably need to upgrade the whole thing if you don't want other parts to be holding you back.

The waiting game is just that, a game. Considering the age of your system, there isn't a huge need to keep waiting for what is "around the corner."

The only thing I would say is to make sure you have a decent budget. I wouldn't say you need to go all the way to a 4790 and a 970 to see a large improvement, but I am not saying that would be a disappointment either.

My advice would be to open a thread in general hardware with answers to the questions in the sticky and see what they put together for you:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=24043454&postcount=1

 

[heymrdj]

I'd wait to see what AMD offers with 300 series in a couple of weeks, it's probably the worst time to buy at the moment.

Thanks for the advice. I think I want to wait until the honeymoon is done in a month or so anyway, and another month to finish paying it off. So I can definitely wait.

If i were in your shoes i'd go with the following upgrades (assuming you use your other parts):

1) Intel i7 4790K

2) Your preferred brand of Z97 chipset motherbord

3) Nvidia GTX 970 4GB GPU


Should be a massive upgrade over what you have and allow you to still use your existing parts.

Hell, i upgraded from an AMD 960T X4 Phenom II with a GTX 660 video card to what's in my sig and it was night and day faster.

Glad to hear from someone that was in a similar build as mine. I love the I7 2xxx series that are in our workstation laptops at work. Powerhouses!

Yes heymrdj, you are at the point where you need a better video card, but you probably need to upgrade the whole thing if you don't want other parts to be holding you back.

The waiting game is just that, a game. Considering the age of your system, there isn't a huge need to keep waiting for what is "around the corner."

The only thing I would say is to make sure you have a decent budget. I wouldn't say you need to go all the way to a 4790 and a 970 to see a large improvement, but I am not saying that would be a disappointment either.

My advice would be to open a thread in general hardware with answers to the questions in the sticky and see what they put together for you:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=24043454&postcount=1

Thanks for the advice! Now that I look at it, I think I really want to splurge a bit and just replace everything except the newer SSD's I can keep. Probably keep the PSU as well unless it's better to replace. I've made a GH thread here: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2433295

Thanks guys!