Upgrade PC or build new one?

[Kroze]

I built this gaming PC at the beginning of the year for cheap (~$500) and now thinking I may have to build a new pc to be able to play some new games coming out. I don't want to spend a lot of money building a new PC so what do you suggest I upgrade the CPU/Video card to in order to play Modern Warfare 2/Left 4 Dead 2 @ 1680x1050 at decent frame rate?

My current setup play modern warfare & l4d just fine at that resolution but have to turn some graphics settings down.

CPU:
Intel Pentium E2180 2.0GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 (Running @ 3.0ghz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116052

Mobo:
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128359

Video:
XFX PVT98GYDLU GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150316

Ram:
OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2x2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227334

Hard Drive:
Western Digital 320GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136098

 

[Firsttime]

I just did some quick googling for the system reqs for those games. I would say you should be ok with what you have. Maybe. Your CPU should be more then enough, I would suggest maybe upgrading your GPU. But I wouldn't do it until you've tried the card you have now, also there will probably be a lot of price changes on cards over the next few months as the new ATI 5 series cards are out and nVidia possibly releases their 300 series cards.

 

[Cheesetogo]

If you ask me, you should never upgrade in anticipation of a game that hasn't come out yet.

 

[fatpat268]

I have a fairly similar setup to you, and I run L4D and COD4 at max at 1920x1200.

 

[Kroze]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
I have a fairly similar setup to you, and I run L4D and COD4 at max at 1920x1200.

I don't know about you but I can't play/hate having my frame rate jumping up & down at various stages where a lot of enemies are loaded.

Sure I can run it at 1680x1050 at over 60fps at max but it'll drop to 30fps at various part of a stage.

 

[TridenT]

Depends on your new budget...

You could just go Core i7 with the new Radeon 5870 and 12GBs of ram... But, hey... we don't know your budget...

I suggest you don't upgrade. Your system looks fine.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Your system looks fine. You can switch that E2180 out for a Quad when you want to upgrade, and the 9800GT should still be good for another year or so.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

1: do you overclock
2: how much do you want to spend: first of all
3: do you have a microcenter near by

 

[brblx]

try the games, then upgrade the video card if needed. you should be able to ride that dual core for a little while longer.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
I have a fairly similar setup to you, and I run L4D and COD4 at max at 1920x1200.

an E2180 overclocked to 3.0 is still 30% slower than an E8400 at 3.0.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Kroze

Originally posted by: fatpat268
I have a fairly similar setup to you, and I run L4D and COD4 at max at 1920x1200.

I don't know about you but I can't play/hate having my frame rate jumping up & down at various stages where a lot of enemies are loaded.

Sure I can run it at 1680x1050 at over 60fps at max but it'll drop to 30fps at various part of a stage.

I never notice and drops in fps in either of those games with everything up at the rez you play at.

 

[fatpat268]

Originally posted by: Kroze

Originally posted by: fatpat268
I have a fairly similar setup to you, and I run L4D and COD4 at max at 1920x1200.

I don't know about you but I can't play/hate having my frame rate jumping up & down at various stages where a lot of enemies are loaded.

Sure I can run it at 1680x1050 at over 60fps at max but it'll drop to 30fps at various part of a stage.

I don't know the exact framerate that I get, butI don't notice any slowdowns at all.

But then again, as long as the framerate is above 30fps, I'm happy.

 

[Kroze]

I guess i'll hold off on upgrading until I get the games and see how it runs.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Originally posted by: Kroze
I guess i'll hold off on upgrading until I get the games and see how it runs.

Smart thinking! :thumbsup:

 

[OCNewbie]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
If you ask me, you should never upgrade in anticipation of a game that hasn't come out yet.

I concur

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: toyota

Originally posted by: fatpat268
I have a fairly similar setup to you, and I run L4D and COD4 at max at 1920x1200.

an E2180 overclocked to 3.0 is still 30% slower than an E8400 at 3.0.

Link?