SLI or upgrade? 2x260 or 1x760?

[bull2118]

So I wanna play RTW2 with no problems. I currently have a GTX 260 and had kinda settled on a 760 (or 7970 since I have some credit card points and don't wanna upgrade GPUs for a long time)

Then I thought what if I just picked up another 260 on eBay and SLI (or crossfire, whichever) for like 40 bucks?

Any thoughts? Keep in mind that aside from having the good sense to post at anandtech I'm noob.

Thx!

 

[Termie]

260SLI is pretty slow, maybe as fast as a 7790. Plus you won't have dx11, which is important in new games. If you have the money, go with a true upgrade.

But first, tell us what your cpu is.

 

[bull2118]

Thanks for the reply

AMD X3 720 2.8GHZ BLACK

 

[Enigmoid]

Thanks for the reply

AMD X3 720 2.8GHZ BLACK

760 is going to be held back by that CPU

Rome total war 2 is heavy on the CPU.

 

[pcslookout]

760 is going to be held back by that CPU

Rome total war 2 is heavy on the CPU.

Wow definately! 4.8 to 4.9 GHz makes a huge difference in minimum fps ! :O

 

[Durvelle27]

I vote upgrade your CPU and get a HD 7950 since some can be had for $179 AR

 

[bull2118]

Best idea for overall upgrades? CPU ? Mobo? GPUs? Money is a bit of an issue. Although, what the wife doesn't catch in the mail...

 

[Durvelle27]

Best idea for overall upgrades? CPU ? Mobo? GPUs? Money is a bit of an issue. Although, what the wife doesn't catch in the mail...

Do you have a budget and whats your current mobo to see if you could do just a drop in and upgrade with no need for a new mobo. As i don't recommend getting a new GPU until you upgrade that CPU or it will bottleneck pretty badly

 

[Termie]

An X4 965 along with something like a 7850/650Ti Boost would be a very good choice, if the OP's motherboard will accept it.

 

[bull2118]

The lower the better on $$$, maybe 300-500, but I'm into value but also making rash decisions.

Foxconn A79A-S AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD

 

[skipsneeky2]

The lower the better on $$$, maybe 300-500, but I'm into value but also making rash decisions.

Foxconn A79A-S AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD

On a budget,a core i3 3240,the motherboard in my sig,8gb of kingston ddr3 1333 and a 1 gb 7850 could sit nice and pretty under or about $400.

The i3 3240 is the cheapest i3 currently @$120 and would easily outrun anything compatible with your board.

 

[Durvelle27]

On a budget,a core i3 3240,the motherboard in my sig,8gb of kingston ddr3 1333 and a 1 gb 7850 could sit nice and pretty under or about $400.

The i3 3240 is the cheapest i3 currently @$120 and would easily outrun anything compatible with your board.

I would recommend a FX 6300+mono before a i3. OP I would recommend an i5 but if its out of the budget you could get a FX 6300 or 8320 and a 7950

 

[bystander36]

Wow definately! 4.8 to 4.9 GHz makes a huge difference in minimum fps ! :O

I think you overlooked something else that may be the reason for the big jump. The top CPU is hexa-core, the 2nd one is a quad-core.

Clearly one of the few games that takes advantage of more than 4 cores.

 

[skipsneeky2]

I would recommend a FX 6300+mono before a i3. OP I would recommend an i5 but if its out of the budget you could get a FX 6300 or 8320 and a 7950

My build was for the $400 max budget,i figured if he spent the same $400 going am3,he would be stuck with the fx6300 sitting in a $50 ancient 760/780 or 880g motherboard as that is about all you get in the $50 price range for Amd motherboards....

Op could spend more on a better overall motherboard and choose the fx6300 sure,then spend more on a better gpu at this point as well.

 

[bull2118]

Totally appreciate the help. The lingo is getting a bit above my head. If you've got the time and inclination would you mind posting links to Newegg or wherever?

Thx

 

[Enigmoid]

I think you overlooked something else that may be the reason for the big jump. The top CPU is hexa-core, the 2nd one is a quad-core.

Clearly one of the few games that takes advantage of more than 4 cores.

Another reason for 6300 over i3.

 

[bull2118]

Am a little confused. Skip says "stuck with am3" then says go with fx6300, which is am3 no?

Also, with upgraded CPL how much GPU will be enough to run RTW2 all nice (and future TW games. I'm boring, I know.

Also, don't know if it matters but I just have one 22in or something display. It's an IPS display from Dell circa 2010 (1050 I think?)

 

[bull2118]

Bah-
CPL = CPU
Although I'm not supper upset my phone defaults to am acronym for concealed pistol licence.

 

[raghu78]

Totally appreciate the help. The lingo is getting a bit above my head. If you've got the time and inclination would you mind posting links to Newegg or wherever?

Thx

core i5 4430 - USD 180
www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-4430-Quad-Co...dp/B00CO8T9VC/

Gigabyte B85- USD 80
www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Intel-6Gbps-...dp/B00D1A5OR0/

PCS+ HD 7950 - USD 210 (180 after mail in rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131458

Crucial DDR3 8 GB - USD 55 after promo code EMCXLVS46, ends 9/30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148540

Total USD 525 (495 after USD 30 MIR on HD 7950)

sell your current CPU, MB and RAM. that should fetch you USD 100 - 125. out of your pocket you would spend USD 400 - 425. :thumbsup:

 

[bull2118]

Cool man, thanks to all for the help!

Sell all the stuff on eBay together?

 

[JBT]

I'd sell it on the forums here. FSFT is great. You might even be able to get a bunch of stuff from the forums instead of buying all new stuff anyways.

 

[raghu78]

I'd sell it on the forums here. FSFT is great. You might even be able to get a bunch of stuff from the forums instead of buying all new stuff anyways.

yeah forums are a good place. here or overclock.net or similar places.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

On your budget for Rome 2, I'd suggest used. i5-2500k or 3570k and overclocking it.

I still have fps problems with R2, game just isn't optimized and this is with an i5-4670k @ 4.7 GHz on Ultra.

Game doesn't use 6 cores, the benefit of the hex core Intel is the cache.

So my suggestion is to go used Intel, Sandy Bridge i5k or higher (avoid i7) overclocked and grab a decent gpu to go with it. My 7950 is faster than my cpu for R2, and it's underclocked :|

 

[pcslookout]

On your budget for Rome 2, I'd suggest used. i5-2500k or 3570k and overclocking it.

I still have fps problems with R2, game just isn't optimized and this is with an i5-4670k @ 4.7 GHz on Ultra.

Game doesn't use 6 cores, the benefit of the hex core Intel is the cache.

So my suggestion is to go used Intel, Sandy Bridge i5k or higher (avoid i7) overclocked and grab a decent gpu to go with it. My 7950 is faster than my cpu for R2, and it's underclocked :|

Wow.

 

[skipsneeky2]

core i5 4430 - USD 180
www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-4430-Quad-Co...dp/B00CO8T9VC/

Gigabyte B85- USD 80
www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Intel-6Gbps-...dp/B00D1A5OR0/

PCS+ HD 7950 - USD 210 (180 after mail in rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131458

Crucial DDR3 8 GB - USD 55 after promo code EMCXLVS46, ends 9/30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148540

Total USD 525 (495 after USD 30 MIR on HD 7950)

sell your current CPU, MB and RAM. that should fetch you USD 100 - 125. out of your pocket you would spend USD 400 - 425. :thumbsup:

The best plan here.