CPU or GPU upgrade?

Mouldread · Apr 17, 2013

Hello guys,

For the last couple of months I've been trying to take a decision whether to upgrade my CPU or my GPU.

My current CPU is AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE (@3.6 GHz) and my GPU is MSI Radeon HD 6950 Twin FrozR II (2GB).

I wish I could upgrade both the CPU and the GPU but my max budget is £250.

I was thinking to either buy a cheap-ish Z77 MoBo + Core I5 3570K CPU = £250
or find a second hand GTX 670 or GTX 660Ti for roughly the same price.

I'm only interested in getting some extra frames in the games I play or plan to play - BF3, Skyrim, Arma III Alpha, FarCry 3, the upcoming "Metro: Last Light" and similar.

Please tell me what do you think is better to upgrade - my CPU or GPU?

Kjwinden · Apr 17, 2013

Rahbot · Apr 17, 2013

I would upgrade your GPU not the CPU.... you got a Quad Core @ 3.6Ghz.... now how about your motherboard and ram specs please.

Mouldread · Apr 17, 2013

Rahbot :

Hey, thanks for your reply.

My MoBo is Asus M4A79XTD Evo (Socket AM3) and I've got 4GB G.Skill Ripjaw (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit.

I didn't think I needed to mention it at all as I know I have no possibilities to upgrade my CPU with this MoBo. I would need a new MoBo+CPU combo.

barto · Apr 17, 2013

At this moment, GPU. But honestly, just wait till you have the money to do a complete overhaul. You're already thinking it just hang in there a little longer and make it happen.

footlong96 · Apr 17, 2013

You got a pretty good GPU and CPU. Honestly wouldnt upgrade anything.
If I had to, I would grab an FX series CPU as more games are becoming compatible with extra cores and are finally using extra threads.
Same socket as your CPU

barto · Apr 18, 2013

footlong96 :

He can't. Most AM3 sockets don't support FX processors. Also, when you look up his motherboard, FX isn't supported.
http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/list.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&m=m4a79t%20deluxe

Kari · Apr 18, 2013

cpu+mobo gets my vote.
BF3 multiplayer and skyrim are rather heavy on the cpu and your current phenom is holding you back most definitely.

RobCrezz · Apr 18, 2013

Get the i5 and z77 mobo, your GPU is still decent and should be able to play Skyrim in 1080p with no problem with a decent CPU.

Mouldread · Apr 18, 2013

Thanks for the feedback guys,

I think I'll go for the MoBo+CPU upgrade (I just checked my receipts and it seems I've bought my current ones in 2009 so I guess it's about time to change them).

footlong96 · Apr 18, 2013

8350 > i5 3570k.

Most games coming out in the future are gonna be happy to take as many threads as you throw at them. To be honest, if I knew games were finally gonna get multi thread support, I wouldn't have spent my money on my 2500k.

And the AMD platform does cost a lot less, not just the cpu but the motherboards as well.

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