Worth upgrading just my video card?

[Gunslinger08]

I'd like to build a new system now, but I just spent a lot of money on stuff around the house, so I'm considering just upgrading my video card if you guys think it will benefit me until I'm ready to upgrade to Sandy Bridge.

Current System:
C2D E6600@3.0 Ghz
ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131377 - Looks like a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot
4GB DDR2 800
ATI 4870 512MB
Seagate Barracuda HDD

It's done well over the past 4.5 years, but I'm starting to get some slowdown in newer games and I have to run at lower settings. I run at 1680x1050. I'm playing Deus Ex: Human Revolution now and I'll be playing Brink, Dead Island, Battlefield 3, MW3, Diablo 3, Dota 2, Torchlight 2, etc. in the near future. I'm wondering if it'd be worth upgrading to something like a 6950 or if I'd be severely CPU limited? It could be up to 6 months before I stop being cheap and decide to build a whole new system.

 

[trollolo]

you could always buy the GPU, and then if you don't get the results you want, order a new CPU and MOBO after it. nothing to lose that way

 

[conlan]

I was in a similar situation, then upgraded an E5200/nV8800GT rig to Q9450/R6870 respectively for <$300
I ran the BF3 Alpha on the E5200/8800GT @ 1280 x 1024 and 1680 x 1080, so the upgrade should get me by till a platform upgrade next year.

 

[Spikesoldier]

that system is pretty well rounded.

to get it prepared for bf3 i would do a q9550 and a new gpu.

since the system is so well rounded, it would be my recommendation to upgrade to SB like you planned and get a new GPU then.

 

[happy medium]

The 189$AR gtx560ti @ 1600x1050 is the best choice.

 

[Termie]

EDIT OP - you're barely pushing minimum CPU specs with the e6600 at 3.0. But you can take advantage of a new video card, primarily because that 512MB of VRAM is a serious bottleneck. I definitely wouldn't jump into a ~$240 HD6950 with that system though.

How about this HD6870 for $155FS/AR/Code (check main page - right now it's TACKLE):

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-6870_1G

Happy Medium likes the GTX560Ti, but it's not quite the best value out there. You're getting about 10&#37; more performance for 20% more money than the 6870: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/290?vs=330

 

[happy medium]

Happy Medium likes the GTX560Ti, but it's not quite the best value out there. You're getting about 10&#37; more performance for 20% more money than the 6870:

Termie seems to forget that when both are overclocked the gtx560ti wil eat a 6870 for breakfast.

 

[Termie]

Termie seems to forget that when both are overclocked the gtx560ti wil eat a 6870 for breakfast.

Touché, mon ami!

Allow me to beat you at your own game:

560Ti for $179 FS/AR/Code: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=GX-560_1G

 

[Gunslinger08]

Can you still unlock the shaders on current 6950 models? Saw some posts from earlier this year that AMD might be changing the PCB design to get rid of it. If it's still an option, are there any manufacturers that are more successful in unlocking/overclocking?

 

[Gunslinger08]

Touché, mon ami!

Allow me to beat you at your own game:

560Ti for $179 FS/AR/Code: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=GX-560_1G

Does look tempting if the 6950's aren't unlockable anymore and I can't find a used one for a good price.

 

[Termie]

Does look tempting if the 6950's aren't unlockable anymore and I can't find a used one for a good price.

The unlockable cards are long gone, although I've read rumors that you can mess around with the bios of other cards to unlock them. I wouldn't bother with that.

The new Sapphire Toxic edition of the 6950 includes the 6970 bios: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/graphics/display/sapphire-radeon-hd-6950-toxic.html.

But you'll pay a pretty penny for it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102951

Frankly, I wouldn't worry about all this. For your system, the ~3% boost from the unlocked shaders wouldn't add enough to make it worth it since your CPU may limit you in many games anyway. Your CPU is roughly equivalent to an Athlon II X2 265, shown in the following Deus Ex benchmarks: http://www.techspot.com/review/436-deus-ex-human-revolution-performance-test/page7.html

 

[happy medium]

Touché, mon ami!

Allow me to beat you at your own game:

560Ti for $179 FS/AR/Code: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=GX-560_1G

Im sorry ,I thought that sale ended yesterday.

 

[Spikesoldier]

OP - you're ok with the q6600 at 3.0, at least for starters. You can take advantage of a new video card, primarily because that 512MB of VRAM is a serious bottleneck. But I wouldn't necessarily jump into a ~$240 HD6950 with that system.

you misread. OP has a E6600, the conroe duallie.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

You'll most likely be severely CPU limited in BF3 and probably MW3 too. I don't have a guess on the other games.

You should really save up to upgrade everything at once. The E6600 is getting long in the tooth.

 

[Termie]

Thanks gents - I don't know how I missed that.

Yeah, with an e6600, you're pretty badly bottlenecked. A HD6870 is the absolute maximum I'd put into that machine. A GTX460 for $120 might be a better match, but honestly, you're due for a complete system upgrade.

 

[happy medium]

Thanks gents - I don't know how I missed that.

I cant believe we both missed that? I swear it said Q,

Yea your right they have a overclocked gtx460 1gb @ 765 core (10&#37 overclock for 130$AR. at newegg.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Thanks for the help guys, but I was just informed by my better half that I'm not allowed to buy any computer parts right now. Guess I'll be waiting a few months to upgrade my whole system (hopefully).

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Your better half knows you'll be bottlenecked.

 

[happy medium]

Thanks for the help guys, but I was just informed by my better half that I'm not allowed to buy any computer parts right now. Guess I'll be waiting a few months to upgrade my whole system (hopefully).

Tell her she can't have her nails or hair done till you get a new card.
Its only fair.:thumbsup: