Upgrade or New? PC for current gaming

Budza said:
Will be using 42" TV, so max res is 1920x1080. Might even go less than that, as where I sit, I can't read text on screen...

Might consider getting a 32" FullHD TV, as have heard they're a great compromise.

Anyway, to drive all this for the likes of BF3 and whatever else is out now and in the last few months at average detail, is it upgrade time, or new PC time?

Current specs:

AM2+ athlon64 x2 Dual-core 7850 @2.8Ghz
4GB DDR2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145229)
ATI Radeon 3870XT, 512MB

I'll be browsing Carbonite for a couple of weeks to see what's what.

Considering going quad core, DDR3 and 1GB Direct x11 GPU, but that'll be pricey. If I could chuck in a better GPU into existing setup, that's be fine for a few more months, while I save for a more complete setup.

What's the best GPU for the 7850? I reckon I could OC the 7850 to about 3.2Ghz, if that becomes the bottleneck...

:)
Click to expand...

Get 32". 42" is too big for text reading. http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/346013-Anybody-bought-the-LA32D550

Not sure if BF3 even supports 6 cores. All well punting it... But a faster quad is probably better. From what I know it is a demanding game...

It's tricky when you weigh up upgrading (±R1,700 AM3 970 3.5GHz) vs buying new (i5-2500k 3.2GHz ±R2,300) when you look at the performance difference:

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

AMD Phenom II X4 970 4,466
Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.30GHz 7,420

The Intel is almost twice as fast for ±30% increase in price. Combine this with the fact that the AMD will run slower because your mobo is AM2+ I think. I think Hyperthreading/Hyperlink or whatever is reduced quite significantly with non-AM3 mobo?

You will then need a beefy graphcis card if you want to run near decent settings. AMD HD6870 minimum IMO.

So it really depends on your budget, and also how you perceive value. Intel/new option will IMO offer more value in the long run since it will not require upgrading again as soon as your fairly tired AM2+ will need upgrading.
 
Wait until next year for Intel's new Ivybridge processors. They will blow everything else out the water (and you most likely wont need a graphics card unless you want to play games on full graphics) :)
 
PostmanPot said:
It's tricky when you weigh up upgrading (±R1,700 AM3 970 3.5GHz) vs buying new (i5-2500k 3.2GHz ±R2,300) when you look at the performance difference:
Click to expand...
Wrong - the intel would cost him R2300 (CPU) + R800 (motherboard) + R300 (ram) = R3400 - double the cost of the AMD CPU which will work in his current setup. Rather spend that extra cash on a graphics card and you'll have an upgrade with much more punch.
 
If he bought a 2400 it would cost him 1.8k plus a new mobo of 500 and some ram for 300.

2.6k for a whole new super fast rig, not much difference and worth it.
 
/breathes some sense into the thread

The easy upgrade for the OP is a Phenom quad (can get one for R1200)
The 'real' upgrade would be a i5 2400 minimum which would end up costing around R3200. I would not suggest a mobo worth R500, thats silliness, R1000 is the min I'd be comfortable with. After the PSU, this is the component that handles everything else, so it is a big deal.

So OP must decide, R1200 for a still very decent upgrade, or R3200 for a more decent upgrade. GPU will need looking at, but I would try hold out for HD7xxx series. Otherwise a HD6870, or GTX560 is still a very good choice
 
Archer said:
/breathes some sense into the thread

The easy upgrade for the OP is a Phenom quad (can get one for R1200)
The 'real' upgrade would be a i5 2400 minimum which would end up costing around R3200. I would not suggest a mobo worth R500, thats silliness, R1000 is the min I'd be comfortable with. After the PSU, this is the component that handles everything else, so it is a big deal.

So OP must decide, R1200 for a still very decent upgrade, or R3200 for a more decent upgrade
Click to expand...

Aren't you selling your stuff? ;)
 
Rouxenator said:
Wrong - the intel would cost him R2300 (CPU) + R800 (motherboard) + R300 (ram) = R3400 - double the cost of the AMD CPU which will work in his current setup. Rather spend that extra cash on a graphics card and you'll have an upgrade with much more punch.
Click to expand...

Really? He can't run the Intel in the AMD mobo? :rolleyes:

As I said, the Intel/"new" option will offer better value in the long run.

And it depends on budget.
 
Archer said:
/breathes some sense into the thread

The easy upgrade for the OP is a Phenom quad (can get one for R1200)
The 'real' upgrade would be a i5 2400 minimum which would end up costing around R3200. I would not suggest a mobo worth R500, thats silliness, R1000 is the min I'd be comfortable with. After the PSU, this is the component that handles everything else, so it is a big deal.

So OP must decide, R1200 for a still very decent upgrade, or R3200 for a more decent upgrade. GPU will need looking at, but I would try hold out for HD7xxx series. Otherwise a HD6870, or GTX560 is still a very good choice
Click to expand...

That is why i asked if his motherboard could take the 940 and so on. So you missed the sense :p
 
killadoob said:
Anyway, to drive all this for the likes of BF3 and whatever else is out now and in the last few months at average detail, is it upgrade time, or new PC time?


Yes get intel quadcore with a new qpu, all good and well going with phenom but your vga needs upgrading for sure. Then you run the risk of your amd gpu bottlenecking your gpu.

Cheap a cheapie intel mobo plus the cheapest sandy bridge quad which will set you back

Intel Core i5 2400 Processor - 3.10GHz, Socket 1155, 8MB L3, 2.0Gb/s DMI Interface R 1 529 excl. R 1,743 incl.
P8H61-MLX ASUS P8H61-M LX - INTEL H61 CHIPSET (NEW B3 STEPPING) - LGA 1155 FOR INTEL 2ND GENERATION CORE I7 / CORE I5 AND CORE I3 PROCESSORS (SUPPORTS INTEL 32NM CPU)- MICRO ATX FORM FACTOR, 2X DDR3 (MAX 16GB 1333MHZ), 1X PCI EXPRESS 2.0 X16, 3X PCI EXPRESS 2.0 X1, 4X SATA 3.0GB/S, 10X USB 2.0, 10/100/1000 GB LAN, REALTEK ALC887 8 CHANNEL HIGH DEF AUDIO, BACK PANEL: 1X PS2 KEYBOARD, 1X PS2 MOUSE, 1X VGA, 1X COM PORT, 1X PARALLEL PORT, 4X USB 2.0, 1X LAN (RJ45) 3X AUDIO JACKS R 488 excl. R 556 incl.

2.3k, if you can push it to 3k get a better motherboard but i would not touch amd if i was you, that setup is only 300 bucks more than the phenom recommended with a new mobo.

Then you need a vga card and some memory as well but 4gb ddr or even 8gb ddr is dirt cheap.

You could wait for amd's new stuff but that is only if you are a fanboy and you will buy amd regardless if it gets pomped. Dual core setups are not ideal anymore for gaming. Certainly not your dual core, that thing will bottleneck a 6850 and perhaps lower. Also a budget would help us.
Click to expand...
How can a Amd cpu bottleneck your gpu playing at 1980? Cpu comes into play at low resolutions.
I agree the AM2+ athlon64 x2 Dual-core 7850 is not a very good cpu but the Phenom 965 or the AMD Phenom II X4 960T Quad-Core 3.0GHz Black Edition wont where the latter CPU can unlocked into a six-core CPU!
This CPU’s potential lies in the fact that it can be more often than not unlocked to a six-core processor and in its unlocked multiplier, which allows you to overclock it to your hearts content and its CHEAP!
Now add that 100usd you saved with the cpu and add it to your gpu. Which will give you the higher fps at 1080p?
The 2500k with the slower gpu or the slower cpu with the faster gpu?
intelhigh.jpg

amdhigh.jpg


Same gpu check the difference between a 2600k and the 960 with gaming
 
I still say you should wait until next year Q1 when the new Ivybridge processors come out... They gonna be roughly the same price with 60% greater performance!
 
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