Upgrade for my gaming computer

[Veriitas]

Greetings!
I wanted to get my computer as good as possible for battlefield 3 next month.

I am a true gamer, so I would like to upgrade my PC to fully enjoy BF3.
I just don't know how, there are so many product on the market and I read a lot of reviews.

[FONT=&quot]So I wondered of you guys could help me out.

My computer has the following hardware:
Asus P5Q
Intel core 2, QUAD Q8300, 2,50GHZ
AMD HD 4890 GPU (1gig)

I was planning to upgrade to:
Asrock P67 Extreme4 Gen3 CPU
Intel Core i5 2500K
GTX 580 OR AMD 6870 CF
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What do you guys think? Any other suggestions?
My budget is around 700euro/1000dollar
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[Puppies04]

I wouldn't bother with a GTX580 unless you are planning on gaming on multiple monitors, they are still overpriced for the performance gain over a 570. Spend the money you save on a 120gb SSD to put your games on

 

[lehtv]

Wait until AMD's 28nm graphics. 2500k + p67 + 7870/7950/7970 2GB.

I've read about BF3 being very memory hungry, so much so that 1.5GB ram isn't enough, especially if you want to play it with all the bells and whistles. This is just based on rumors though... so your best bet is to at least wait until BF3 arrives so you're better informed about what hardware it runs best on.

 

[mnewsham]

go with z68, 2500k, and a next gen AMD card, BF3 isn't out yet so just hold off on the GPU.

 

[lsv]

I wouldn't bother with a GTX580 unless you are planning on gaming on multiple monitors, they are still overpriced for the performance gain over a 570. Spend the money you save on a 120gb SSD to put your games on

Couldn't you get a 580 and pretty much go ultra on everything for say.. 1080p?

(Sorry to thread-jack, I'm curious about upgrading my vid card soon)

 

[mnewsham]

Couldn't you get a 580 and pretty much go ultra on everything for say.. 1080p?

(Sorry to thread-jack, I'm curious about upgrading my vid card soon)

Cheapest 580 is 420 bucks (most are 450 or so) the cheapest 570 is around $285, this is a 150 dollar difference, for about 10% difference in performance.

 

[Veriitas]

Cheapest 580 is 420 bucks (most are 450 or so) the cheapest 570 is around $285, this is a 150 dollar difference, for about 10% difference in performance.

Thank you all for helping me out!

So no GTX580! What about CrossFire 6870?

Aren't the new AMD cards coming out in Q1 2012?
I don't think i can wait that long:'(

@Mnewsham; why would you go with the z68 over the P67.

 

[lehtv]

Already mentioned that BF3 may be very VRAM hungry. 6870 has 1GB VRAM. Don't buy 6870 if you want to play BF3, at least not before BF3 comes out so you can look at benchies.

If you absolutely want to upgrade SOON, then go for a 6950 2GB (Sapphire Toxic or MSI Twin Frozr III Power Edition).

 

[mnewsham]

Thank you all for helping me out!

So no GTX580! What about CrossFire 6870?

Aren't the new AMD cards coming out in Q1 2012?
I don't think i can wait that long:'(

@Mnewsham; why would you go with the z68 over the P67.

Z68 is just what P67 should have been, it is P67 + H67 combined, (and a few extra features besides) for little to no price increase. And AMD cards are looking like november last i had heard D:

 

[Veriitas]

So it's safe to go for the i5 2500k and the motherboard z68.
And wait for the benchmarks for the videocards?

Or should I wait untill Bulldozer comes out this month, so the price drops?

 

[lsv]

Cheapest 580 is 420 bucks (most are 450 or so) the cheapest 570 is around $285, this is a 150 dollar difference, for about 10% difference in performance.

Thanks

 

[Veriitas]

Already mentioned that BF3 may be very VRAM hungry. 6870 has 1GB VRAM. Don't buy 6870 if you want to play BF3, at least not before BF3 comes out so you can look at benchies.

If you absolutely want to upgrade SOON, then go for a 6950 2GB (Sapphire Toxic or MSI Twin Frozr III Power Edition).

Isn't 6870 CrossFire
1 GB VRAM + 1GB VRAM = 2GB?

 

[Lean L]

Isn't 6870 CrossFire
1 GB VRAM + 1GB VRAM = 2GB?

No the memory is mirrored since they have to draw essentially the same frames.

 

[Veriitas]

No the memory is mirrored since they have to draw essentially the same frames.

Oh damn, So I'd be better off with an 6970?

 

[mnewsham]

So it's safe to go for the i5 2500k and the motherboard z68.
And wait for the benchmarks for the videocards?

Or should I wait untill Bulldozer comes out this month, so the price drops?

BD isnt looking like it is going to do much of anything i doubt it will drop price, you can wait and see, but i doubt it.

 

[Veriitas]

BD isnt looking like it is going to do much of anything i doubt it will drop price, you can wait and see, but i doubt it.

Oke, I'll just upgrade my mobo and CPU then.

2500k and Z68!
Right? Sorry, I don't wanna regret what I buy in the near future haha

 

[mnewsham]

Oke, I'll just upgrade my mobo and CPU then.

2500k and Z68!
Right? Sorry, I don't wanna regret what I buy in the near future haha

post which Z68 board you want to get but yeah should be fine.

 

[Veriitas]

post which Z68 board you want to get but yeah should be fine.

I'm not really sure haha;
Something like this?
ASrock z68 Extreme3 Gen3?

 

[mnewsham]

as long as you dont over pay

 

[Lean L]

Oh damn, So I'd be better off with an 6970?

depends. crossfire/sli is crap to deal with so I'd suggest a single card.

As for vram and BF3... I think it's speculation that it needs so much memory. You'd have to wait and see if 1GB is enough.

 

[Veriitas]

as long as you dont over pay

No, the prices are reasonable. around 100 euro, I think thats about 140 dollar.

And is the difference between DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 in speed big?
How much ram do you suggest? Is 4 gig enough or should I buy 6 or even 8?

Thanks again for your help!!!

 

[mnewsham]

no there is maybe 1-2% difference. Dont spend extra on it, and make sure the RAM is 1.5V

 

[Veriitas]

Oke, so i'm just better off by buying the cheapest Z68 there is?

 

[mnewsham]

Oke, so i'm just better off by buying the cheapest Z68 there is?

no, cheapest that has everything you need SLI/X-fire, Expansion slots, SATA ports, Audio, etc)

 

[Veriitas]

no, cheapest that has everything you need SLI/X-fire, Expansion slots, SATA ports, Audio, etc)

So the asrock z68 extreme3 gen3 should do just fine right?
Are the fans/coolers good enough for this mobo and CPU (that come in the package)?
Or do I need to buy an extra, also for in the future when I buy a new GPU.

Also I have 750watt to keep it all alive, is this also enough?

Final question, for now, is it worth updating from what I have (Q8300, P5Q) to an 2500k and Z68? Or is it not worth it since i'm only intrested in gaming