Should I upgrade or build new system for Starcraft 2?

[asphodyne]

I run SC2 at 1920x1200. I'm a casual player. I just want it to run smoothly at normal settings at that resolution. Right now it's choppy.

I built my current system core back in August 2007, with prices from that time listed:

CPU INTEL|C2D E4400 2.0GHz 775 2M R $125.99
VGA SAPPHIRE 100186L X1950XT R $167.99
MEM 1Gx2|CRUCIAL BL2KIT12864AA804 R $109.99
Some cheap motherboard
(now running Windows 7)

So my question is am I GPU-limited, CPU-limited, or both?

I assume my choices are either to upgrade the graphics card, or to upgrade the whole thing (motherboard-CPU-memory-GPU). What should I do?

I'm willing to spend up to $200 for a GPU only upgrade, about $500-600 max for a whole system upgrade.

 

[mfenn]

You're being limited by both. I think you can definitely keep your case, HDD, and optical drive(s). Since you have an X1950XT, you probably have decent PSU. Please post the specs of that though.

With that in mind:
i5 760 + GA-P55-USB3 combo $305
G.Skill DDR3 1333 4GB $82
GTX 460 1GB + Just Cause 2 combo $205 AR
Total $592

If you do indeed need a new PSU, I would probably swap the i5 to a Phenom II 955 combo like the Phenom II X4 955 + MSI 870A-G54 for $215 AR and pick up a 650TX for $60.

 

[asphodyne]

My PSU is a Corsair 520HX.

 

[asphodyne]

In terms of getting most from my current system, do you think it's feasible to overclock the CPU a bit to 2.4GHz (on Scythe Ninja), then get the GTX 460. Then upgrade the mobo/CPU/RAM down the line?

I could play at 1680x1050 with normal settings.

 

[Throckmorton]

You need more RAM

 

[mfenn]

My PSU is a Corsair 520HX.

That should be fine then.

In terms of getting most from my current system, do you think it's feasible to overclock the CPU a bit to 2.4GHz (on Scythe Ninja), then get the GTX 460. Then upgrade the mobo/CPU/RAM down the line?

I could play at 1680x1050 with normal settings.

See below

You need more RAM

See above

The gimped cache on the E4400 really hurts in gaming, so you need to go a LOT higher than 2.4 to make a significant difference. Of course, any overclock will help.

 

[yh125d]

You need a modern GPU and maybe more ram more than you need a new CPU, that's for sure

 

[asphodyne]

OK, I picked up 2GB of Crucial Ballistix DDR2
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280560620917#ht_500wt_947

And I'll probably pick up the GTX 460 for now.

I'll try OCing the E4400 more but it didn't post at 2.6 =(

 

[yh125d]

OK, I picked up 2GB of Crucial Ballistix DDR2
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280560620917#ht_500wt_947

And I'll probably pick up the GTX 460 for now.

I'll try OCing the E4400 more but it didn't post at 2.6 =(

It ought to do at least 2.8. What are your voltages?

 

[asphodyne]

I have memory at 2.2V 4-4-4-12 and CPU at stock voltage 1.325. Using 1:1.66 divider right now, but it didn't POST at FSB 266 (x10) with 1:1 divider.

At 2.4 (240 x 10) it's been stable for an hour on Orthos.

Maybe it's the cheap Abit IP35 motherboard I have?