Which upgrade path to choose?

[rajravat]

Hi all,

My current PC is used primarily for browsing the internet and light gaming, It was built in 2007 and is beginning to show it its age. I'd like to upgrade it but can't afford to buy a complete new PC. I'd like play games like Crysis 2/Assasins Creed Brotherhood/Fear 3 at 1080p with all settings on highest ideally, at the minute I'm having to make do with 1680x1050 with medium-high settings to get acceptable frame rates. My current PC spec is below:

Case: Antec P182
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6750 @ 3.4ghz
GPU: Nvidia 8800GTX
PSU: Corsair 520HX
HDD: WD 500GB
Monitor: Benq 241W 1920x1080 24"

I have thought about two possible upgrade paths:

Option 1 - Buy a Radeon 6950 2GB, would my PSU be ok for this? would i be cpu limited?

Option 2 - Buy Z68 Mobo/Core i5 2500k/8gb Ram and buy a new GPU next year.

My main question is, which out of the two options would give me the most FPS gain in the short term? Option 1 is preferred as it would be cheaper but then if its not really going to let me play the games i want at an acceptable FPS then i might as well invest in a new platform... what are your thoughts/ideas?

Thanks
Raj.

P.s. I'm from the UK

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Im sure your CPU might bottle neck the GPU

Do you plan on overclocking the CPU? because we mgiht be able to save some money on the CPU and the MoBo and ram.

Please post what parts you were planning on getting

 

[mvbighead]

My thoughts, buy the CPU/MB first and then, when your games are released, buy the GPU.

GPUs become outdated in a matter of months, whereas platforms are at least current for 2 years, and still serviceable for a good 3-5 years or better.

 

[mfenn]

My thoughts, buy the CPU/MB first and then, when your games are released, buy the GPU.

Huh? All three of the games he mentioned are out now.

OP, none of the games you mentioned are terribly CPU heavy, so I'd grab a 6950 2GB now. Your CPU will bottleneck the card a bit in those games (and a lot in other games), but you should still see a nice FPS boost. Then, when you have the money, upgrade the CPU/mobo/RAM.

 

[008Rohit]

I'd suggest staying with the Core 2 Duo for now.

 

[philosofool]

OP, none of the games you mentioned are terribly CPU heavy, so I'd grab a 6950 2GB now. Your CPU will bottleneck the card a bit in those games (and a lot in other games), but you should still see a nice FPS boost. Then, when you have the money, upgrade the CPU/mobo/RAM.

I was going to write this, and second mfenn's advice.

 

[mvbighead]

Huh? All three of the games he mentioned are out now.

OP, none of the games you mentioned are terribly CPU heavy, so I'd grab a 6950 2GB now. Your CPU will bottleneck the card a bit in those games (and a lot in other games), but you should still see a nice FPS boost. Then, when you have the money, upgrade the CPU/mobo/RAM.

Whoops... my mistake.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

why not get an i3 and mobo and a 6870?

 

[rajravat]

Thanks for everyones replies.

I would plan to overclock the cpu, i have a thermalright 120 ultra on my core2 duo but i've read i should be able to buy a socket 1155/1156 bolt through kit. If i go this route, i'd like to maximise my purchase as i probably wouldnt upgrade the mobo/cpu again for another 3-4yrs at least, for this reason i wouldnt mind spending more on parts that will last and is why i probably wouldnt consider the i3. The parts i was looking at were:

Option 1
======
PowerColor HD 6950 PCS+ Vortex II 2GB £234.75 (Is this unlockable to 6970?)

Option 2
======
Asus P8Z68-V PRO Z68 £148.21
Intel Core i5 2500K £163.31
G-Skill 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz £44.99
CL9 (9-9-9-24) 1.5V

Total £356.51

 

[dpodblood]

Huh? All three of the games he mentioned are out now.

OP, none of the games you mentioned are terribly CPU heavy, so I'd grab a 6950 2GB now. Your CPU will bottleneck the card a bit in those games (and a lot in other games), but you should still see a nice FPS boost. Then, when you have the money, upgrade the CPU/mobo/RAM.

This is your best route. Getting a new GPU now will give you a better FPS boost. Yes you will be CPU limited in certain games, but you can get a better CPU/Mobo/RAM later on.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

get a gtx 560 ti

 

[rajravat]

get a gtx 560 ti

Reading reviews it seems its very close between the 1gb 560ti and the 1gb 6950, price wise the 560ti is about £15-20 cheaper than the 6950... interesting! im not convinced its worth spending extra for the 2gb version of the 6950 now, ill do some more research, seems to be alot of pre-overlcocked 560ti's about from asus, gigabyte and others...

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for everyones replies.

I would plan to overclock the cpu, i have a thermalright 120 ultra on my core2 duo but i've read i should be able to buy a socket 1155/1156 bolt through kit. If i go this route, i'd like to maximise my purchase as i probably wouldnt upgrade the mobo/cpu again for another 3-4yrs at least, for this reason i wouldnt mind spending more on parts that will last and is why i probably wouldnt consider the i3. The parts i was looking at were:

Option 1
======
PowerColor HD 6950 PCS+ Vortex II 2GB £234.75 (Is this unlockable to 6970?)

Option 2
======
Asus P8Z68-V PRO Z68 £148.21
Intel Core i5 2500K £163.31
G-Skill 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz £44.99
CL9 (9-9-9-24) 1.5V

Total £356.51

No, that 6950 2GB is not unlockable.

I still suggest that you get the 6950 2GB, but I also want to point out that you can do Sandy Bridge for less than that:

i5 2500K £161
GA-Z68A-D3H £108
Corsair DDR3 1333 8GB £41
Total: £310