Upgrade the processor or graphic card?

[Kroze]

Here's my situation, My current system is a Core i3 2100 with a Radeon HD4870 and 8gb of Ram.

I'm debating whether to upgrade it via:

1. Spend $200 and buy the Core i5 2500k CPU
2. Take an extra HD4870 (and install it on my current system to run it crossfire) from my spare computer (HTPC) and buy a cheaper graphic card for my HTPC.

I don't want to spend a lot of money so I'm leaning toward taking the HD4870 from my HTPC and run it in crossfire on my current desktop PC. What do you guys think?

 

[Blain]

Here's my situation, My current system is a Core i3 2100 with a Radeon HD4870 and 8gb of Ram.

I'm debating whether to upgrade it via:

1. Spend $200 and buy the Core i5 2500k CPU
2. Take an extra HD4870 (and install it on my current system to run it crossfire) from my spare computer (HTPC) and buy a cheaper graphic card for my HTPC.

I don't want to spend a lot of money so I'm leaning toward taking the HD4870 from my HTPC and run it in crossfire on my current desktop PC. What do you guys think?

For a good debate, we need more information.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

For a good debate, we need more information.

This ^^

But on the sound of it you're better of getting a newer GFX card. Even a HD7850/GTX660 is going to blow crossfired 4870's out of the water. Besides which you'll avoid all the CF troubles and use a good deal less power too...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/513?vs=549

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/513?vs=660

 

[mvbighead]

This ^^

But on the sound of it you're better of getting a newer GFX card. Even a HD7850/GTX660 is going to blow crossfired 4870's out of the water. Besides which you'll avoid all the CF troubles and use a good deal less power too...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/513?vs=549

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/513?vs=660

But he already has the other 4870, and the card he'd buy for the other system is likely much cheaper.

Granted, I don't disagree with what you've posted, but a GPU upgrade consisting of existing parts vs. spending $200 on a new card, the value favors the existing parts.

Sadly, I also have a 4870, but it does enough for me for now that I don't care.

 

[mnewsham]

well you can find 4870x2 for under $80 if you are looking around, so I guess finding a regular 4870 will be even cheaper, so i guess it might be better to spend the 50 bucks or so for one of those.

 

[Ken g6]

Are you sure your mobo supports crossfire? Does it have 2x8 or 1x16 and 1x4 PCIe? What kind of power supply do you have? And what games are you playing?

If you're looking to spend $200 on an upgrade, a 7850 would be about twice as fast as a 4870. But how close 2x4870 would come to that I'm not sure.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

But he already has the other 4870, and the card he'd buy for the other system is likely much cheaper.

Granted, I don't disagree with what you've posted, but a GPU upgrade consisting of existing parts vs. spending $200 on a new card, the value favors the existing parts.

We seem to agree, but my point was that if the OP is going to spend $200, he's much better of spending it on a 7850/660 then a 2500K for gaming...

 

[Automaticman]

If you already have both 4870's you can always just try a temporary test with both cards and see if it's enough of a performance increase for you before spending any money. Which version of the card do you have? If it's the 512MB VRAM version I don't think I'd even bother.

I tend to agree with the others that spending $200 on a 7850 would get you more mileage that a 2500K for most games (although a few games like BF3 multipayer seem to really like the extra cores, the E8600 @4Ghz was massively bottlenecking the pair of 4870's I had in that game, esp on maps with lots of players).

Which games do you want to play?

*edit*

Sapphire even has a 7870 GHZ edition for $189 w/ rebate on newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202025

 

[Insert_Nickname]

*edit*

Sapphire even has a 7870 GHZ edition for $189 w/ rebate on newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202025

That's an excellent deal, its even factory overclocked to 1050MHz...

 

[Kroze]

Thanks guys, I went with the cheaper route since I already have the 2 radeon 4870. Went to best buy today and got a cheap graphic card for my htpc ($58). As long as the new card (GeForce 610 2gb) can do 1080p videos, I'm happy with that.

My main of is running the 2 4870 in crossfire right now and hopefully it'll hold me over for a while. I only play black ops 2 at 1920x1080 so this should be ok.

But for future references, for $200 should I upgrade to a better CPU or GPU? Of is it worth it at all? Should I just build a new system and not be bother?

 

[Automaticman]

So have you tested it out yet? What kind of performance increase are you seeing? You have the 1GB version of the 4870 right?

 

[Kroze]

Yep 2 Asus 4870 1gb. Haven't test it out yet as my hard drive just died and I am now in the process of reinstalling windows.

 

[Sporinator]

Yep 2 Asus 4870 1gb. Haven't test it out yet as my hard drive just died and I am now in the process of reinstalling windows.

It NOW sounds like getting a SSD would/should be the upgrade of choice.

Then it can easily be carried over to a new build when the time/money is right.

You should notice a difference of load times in games if you're only running HDD's in your system now. And you're overall system will be faster as well.

Just be certain to read up on AHCI, Winodws, and SSD's to be sure you get setup properly.

 

[Automaticman]

Yeah, I gotta say that adding an SSD is one of the best bang for the buck upgrades out there, esp now that you can get a 120GB drive for pretty cheap. Take a look at the Samsung 840 or 840 Pro.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks guys, I went with the cheaper route since I already have the 2 radeon 4870. Went to best buy today and got a cheap graphic card for my htpc ($58). As long as the new card (GeForce 610 2gb) can do 1080p videos, I'm happy with that.

My main of is running the 2 4870 in crossfire right now and hopefully it'll hold me over for a while. I only play black ops 2 at 1920x1080 so this should be ok.

But for future references, for $200 should I upgrade to a better CPU or GPU? Of is it worth it at all? Should I just build a new system and not be bother?

If you only play CODBLOPS2, then you definitely don't need a new CPU. A $200 GPU upgrade to the 7870 would make that game fly.