Upgrade time! (Help please)

[nlr]

Is my pc still a capable machine or should I make a new build?

Finally I decided its time to upgrade how can I improve and upgrade this build for better gaming performance?

I don't have a budget but money isn't an issue.

Antec 900
Gigabyte GA-X38-DS4 Intel X38
Q6600 @ 3.4 GHZ
OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB 1066MHz Dual Channel
Samsung SpinPoint 500GB SATAII Hard Drive 16MB Cache 7200 RPM
PowerColor HD 3870 XT X2 1GB GDDR3 256bit
Antec TruePower Quattro 850W Modular PSU

 

[mfenn]

LOL at the "SLI-ready" RAM. Marketing at it's finest!

Anyway, that CPU is still pretty powerful, the most you need is a GPU upgrade. Get a GTX 460 1GB for $230 or a GTX 470 for $270.

 

[superccs]

agreed with above...

I was forced to upgrade from a E8400 and DDR2 1066 ram because my mobo died about a year ago. I was satisfied with the speed of my system at the time but didnt want to just spend $100 on a new mobo without getting any upgrade in performance. Found a crazy combo at Fry's for a x6 1055T and MSI 890GX mobo for $200. I sold my cpu, HSF, and ram on ebay and bought new stuff for only about $100 out of pocket.

Your gear should still be good, so just grab a new gpu and enjoy some power savings compared to the 3870 x2 beast.

Also getting a SSD could be a fun upgrade as well. Spending ~$150-200 on an Agility 2 or Intel 60-80gb drive will really make windows fly.

 

[nlr]

Okay I decided that I will definitely get a SSD but for the graphics card can someone help me decide what one I should go for and explain why?

(I know someone already said GTX 460 or GTX470 but I don't understand why not a GTX 480 or 5970?)

 

[mfenn]

Okay I decided that I will definitely get a SSD but for the graphics card can someone help me decide what one I should go for and explain why?

(I know someone already said GTX 460 or GTX470 but I don't understand why not a GTX 480 or 5970?)

Because the highest end cards are stupidly expensive for what you get. Always has been the case, always will be the case.

 

[Axon]

As Mfenn just indicated, the best price vs. performance cards are never located at the top of the graphics heap. The GTX 460, at least in my eyes, is the only card this generation that isn't overpirced to the point of exploitation. The 5850 and GTX 470 are also decent these days but still a little too costly.

 

[nlr]

The question is how well will they perform comparing to my 3870x2?

 

[darkewaffle]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/179?vs=180

They'll smoke it. Even if a 3870x2 scaled linearly (Compared to the above single 3870), which it doesn't, even just the 460 is a massive performance increase.

 

[nlr]

will the 460 play Crysis smoothly?

and is it a good time to buy the 460 or should I wait for the 6 series?

 

[darkewaffle]

It's going to really depend on your resolution and settings. What do you [like to] run at?

If Crysis is really a high priority, you're might be looking at higher end cards than were recommended or a SLI/Xfire setup.

 

[nlr]

It isn't really a priority but I would love to try the game as I haven't as its too demanding...

Is this a good deal? and what is the best brand as it seems theres many when I searched for the GTX 460...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...56&subcat=1830

 

[darkewaffle]

Well a GTX 460 shows about 30+ FPS average in Crysis at 1920x1080 with med-high settings. It won't be super smooth and probably will have some slowdowns, but you'd certainly be able to play.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/180 can give you an idea of expected performance from a 460, and can also compare it to other cards.

 

[nlr]

Okay thanks would the GTX 480 Amp be a good choice and would my cpu be a bottleneck?

 

[mfenn]

Okay thanks would the GTX 480 Amp be a good choice and would my cpu be a bottleneck?

ACK! What is your obsession with overpriced GPUs???

No, the GTX 480 AMP would not be a good choice at $560, no matter the CPU. A GTX 480 is simply not that much faster (certainly not twice as fast) as a GTX 470.

As your expensive (but now very slow) 3870 CFX setup should have show you, it's a much better idea to buy a $270 card now (GTX 470) and a $270 card 18 months from now than it is to buy $500-$600 worth of cards every three years.

 

[darkewaffle]

For Crysis and other modern games, your CPU probably would not be a bottleneck unless you're playing at a very low resolution. Older, less graphically intense games might run into a CPU bottleneck in theory, but you wouldn't be able to tell.

The 480 is an alright choice, but for less money you can actually get more performance out of SLi 460s in most cases.

 

[nlr]

lol sorry, people always tell me i'm stupid with my money :/

I just want to play most games maxed out at 1920x1200 and I just assume Crysis is the most intensive. (WoW, L4D2, GTA 4, Mafia 2 etc..)

 

[mfenn]

lol sorry, people always tell me i'm stupid with my money :/

I just want to play most games maxed out at 1920x1200 and I just assume Crysis is the most intensive. (WoW, L4D2, GTA 4, Mafia 2 etc..)

A GTX 470 will be fine for all of those. It gets 40 FPS even with 4X AA.

 

[MisterDonut]

To be fair, I don't know anybody still playing Crysis.... Most people I know use it to run benchmarks for comparison. I'd probably look to get a card that would fit the games you play MOST. Not the ones you want to play campaign once and never open it again . The GTX460 should be the card to start with, but if you're looking to max out games @ 1920x1200, the 5850/70/GTX470/480 would probably give you a more solid future for the rig, with the 5850 edging out with the W.

As for your processor, it's still plenty powerful for gaming. As for that RAM, I guess OCZ marketing gimmicks are as bad as their DDR3 kits...

 

[Davidh373]

As for your processor, it's still plenty powerful for gaming. As for that RAM, I guess OCZ marketing gimmicks are as bad as their DDR3 kits...

ROFL! I... unfortunately... have OCZ DDR3... but i'm lucky... and it works...

Don't Get the 480/5850/5870/5970, they are all meant to financially scoop your bowels out with a giant gravy ladle, get a 460 (maybe a 470 if you want to stretch it a bit), or 5770 on the lower end. SLI or Crossfire is NEVER necessary for games, and with things advancing along as they are, they hopefully never will be.

 

[MisterDonut]

Haha, you must have won the OCZ lottery then! OCZ should change its name to DOA. DOA Gold 4GB DDR3-1600 would be a more accurate description than OCZ....... Of course, DOA Platinum comes with 3x the chance of an actual DOA!



GTX460 would be your best bet until the next time games require a new generation of GPU's.

 

[Davidh373]

GTX460 would be your best bet until the next time games require a new generation of GPU's.

I don't know about when games REQUIRE a new generation of GPUs, but it will certainly last until DX12 or 13 are introduced, thus saving him money because he could just buy the new gpu with the money he saves not buying a 480 or 5970, and on and on.

 

[MisterDonut]

Yeah, most people don't require power beyond that of a GTX 460. Thought I was in the clear for buying my 5850 when 470/480 released, but now I'm starting to wish a little that I waited...Too bad...I still love my 5850 .

 

[mfenn]

To be fair, I don't know anybody still playing Crysis.... Most people I know use it to run benchmarks for comparison. I'd probably look to get a card that would fit the games you play MOST. Not the ones you want to play campaign once and never open it again .

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: