What can I get for an older CPU?

[sushicide]

Looking for a replacement for a dead GPU, but I'm still using a i5-760(Lynnfield) @ 3.8ghz, pretty dated but I think it still has a year or two of life left before I build an entirely new system altogether.

I've been checking out used cards - 280x/gtx 770 for $150 & 290/gtx 780 for $200, would those be good choices or it'd end up being bottlenecked? I just wanna play Fallout 4 @ 1920x1200.

 

[iiiankiii]

Looking for a replacement for a dead GPU, but I'm still using a i5-760(Lynnfield) @ 3.8ghz, pretty dated but I think it still has a year or two of life left before I build an entirely new system altogether.

I've been checking out used cards - 280x/gtx 770 for $150 & 290/gtx 780 for $200, would those be good choices or it'd end up being bottlenecked? I just wanna play Fallout 4 @ 1920x1200.

You're fine. At 3.8GHZ, you won't be bottlenecked in most games. In games, clock for clock, sandy bridge is about ~5% faster than lynnfield. If you can grab a 290 for $200, that should last you atleast 2 years at 1080p.

 

[Spjut]

Techspot tried different CPU generations from Intel just a few months ago

http://www.techspot.com/article/1039-ten-years-intel-cpu-compared/page5.html

Even at stock speed, where the i5 760 does bottleneck the GTX 980, it's still providing good performance

 

[tweakboy]

Lowest model you need for your i5 is ,, 560 GTX or 760. But there will be bottleneck is the CPU,, gl

 

[Mondozei]

The 290 is vastly better than the 780 at this stage. It's beating even the 970 by 10% or more in DX12 benchmarks, both in AotS and Fable Legends.

Also, with DX12, your CPU performance should matter slightly less.

So, basically, get that one. Amazing value. Just make sure you don't get a reference model. I had the Sapphire Tri-X one and it was quiet and cool.

 

[riversend]

Generally agree on the 290 for $200.

But... what is your PSU?

 

[sushicide]

750w but single rail.

 

[RussianSensation]

Looking for a replacement for a dead GPU, but I'm still using a i5-760(Lynnfield) @ 3.8ghz, pretty dated but I think it still has a year or two of life left before I build an entirely new system altogether.

I've been checking out used cards - 280x/gtx 770 for $150 & 290/gtx 780 for $200, would those be good choices or it'd end up being bottlenecked? I just wanna play Fallout 4 @ 1920x1200.

If you can find an after-market (not blower) R9 290 for ~$200, go for it. That should give your rig 2-3 more years of life, just enough to make you coast until Skylake-E in 2017 or Icelake in 2018. At that point you'd do a full system overall and possibly carry-over the case and PSU.

While I am not recommending that you buy a $264 R9 390, it's just a point of reference for you to see that we might see a $225-230 R9 390 brand new this Q4 2015 as sales approach come Black Friday and X-mas season.

There is a nice video of a guy pairing an i5 760 @ 3.7Ghz with a GTX760 (a card way slower than a 290). It should give you a good starting point as all the cards you are looking at are faster than the 760.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Per the RussianSensations advice, I added a 280x it has been great.

I have a Q9650

 

[tweakboy]

A gamer will never use i5 ,,,, hardcore gamer. YOu have yourself a bottleneck with that CPU. Thnk about full upgrade, gl

 

[sushicide]

Thank you everyone, been very helpful.