Should I upgrade my CPU, or my GPU?

Pantera31619 · May 9, 2013

I currently have a 2.6 GHZ61610 Celeron CPU. I use it for my gaming desktop at the moment. I have always wanted an i5 2500k sandybridge so I could play games at higher settings. But, I also have a Nvidia 550ti, and have been wanting a 660ti for a while now. Which one should I upgrade? (I only have enough cash for one upgrade.)

elemein · May 9, 2013

Without a doubt upgrade that CPU. The Celeron is a massive bottleneck to the competent 550Ti.

Pantera31619 · May 9, 2013

elemein :

Do you think a i5 2500k sandybridge and the 550ti could do games at Max settings?

killerhurtalot · May 9, 2013

Definitely the CPU.

Either way, one of your components will bottleneck the other one.

With a 550 ti, you won't be able to play games on max settings unless you're playing on like 800x600 resolution.even then, it might struggle on max. probably high settings would be a good bet.

I would not get the 2500k as your motherboard most likely cannot support overclocking. I would rather get something like a i5-2400 or even maybe a i5-2300 processor... then save the money and use it on a newer graphics card.

elemein · May 9, 2013

Pantera31619 :

The other poster has a good point. Please tell us your motherboard model or atleast your chipset.

Furthermore, a 550Ti is repsectable, but it isn't a max-all card. If you're looking for CoD or LoL maximums, then you're in luck and that'll be no problem, but if you're looking to max BF3, then it won't happen. High settings will however.

Xavier Tan Sync · May 10, 2013

Go upgrade your CPU. Celeron is really slow fo rnow.

pell380 · May 10, 2013

dude i was in the same postion in which you are
i was having the dual core with quadro 3500

my budget was like that i can buy a complete i5 2500k system or i can buy a gtx 550ti (SAME OPTIONS

)
i buyed a i5 2500k system now after 8 months i am buying the gtx 660

in your case you have a good mid level gpu in which you can play games on 1080p with medium or high settings depending upon game

buy a core i5 2500k it is a very good processor i have never seen my processor usage more then 60 % even on playing games

khaledegy200 · May 10, 2013

I would recommend u to wait a little bit until the haswell i5 comes out it will be alot better and the sandy bridge prices will drop to the earth

elemein · May 10, 2013

khaledegy200 :

Haswell wont be that much better. The prospects are only about 5-10% increase, and thats largely only due to the more registers and wider data bussses. Games dont use any AVX usually, so that's a null point.

Also, first gen i core processors are still very expensive. SB wont drop much.

ihog · May 10, 2013

khaledegy200 :

Historically, Intel does not drop their prices by much. They just stop making old models.

khaledegy200 · May 10, 2013

@ihog and elemein thank u for explaining but i got my core i5 760 for only 120$
past year [i think] cause of the new IB CPUs

It was new unused with its box

even the beautiful Intel inside sticker was their ^^

elemein · May 10, 2013

khaledegy200 :

Where did you get it from? That price is unusual, even today.

khaledegy200 · May 10, 2013

elemein :

got it from near store from me in egypt ,got it for 735 L.E /6 [that time] which is about 120$ i found that its a GREAT deal.

it was one from the last 3 in the whole store ^^

elemein · May 10, 2013

khaledegy200 :

elemein :

got it from near store from me in egypt ,go it for 735 L.E /6 [that time] which is about 120$

it was one from the last 3 in the whole store ^^

Odd, we definitely don't get those kinds of prices here in North America.

khaledegy200 · May 10, 2013

elemein :

khaledegy200 :

Odd, we definitely don't get those kinds of prices here in North America.

i think that the store wanted to sell it by any price
and that make me think that intel is dropping prices when new GENs comes out
[sorry for my bad english]

P.S: wow u r really active lol

ihog · May 10, 2013

That wasn't Intel dropping the price; the store did that. They were probably just trying to get rid of them.

khaledegy200 · May 10, 2013

Yes,i think so.

Pantera31619 · May 10, 2013

elemein :

Pantera31619 :

The other poster has a good point. Please tell us your motherboard model or atleast your chipset.

Furthermore, a 550Ti is repsectable, but it isn't a max-all card. If you're looking for CoD or LoL maximums, then you're in luck and that'll be no problem, but if you're looking to max BF3, then it won't happen. High settings will however.

Sorry for the late reply. My motherboard is a MSI B75MA-E33 LGA 1155 Intel B75 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS.

elemein · May 11, 2013

Pantera31619 :

elemein :

Sorry for the late reply. My motherboard is a MSI B75MA-E33 LGA 1155 Intel B75 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS.

You cannot overclock with that motherboard.

Oddly enough however, you can get an Ivy Bridge CPU though, if that interests you.

Pantera31619 · May 11, 2013

elemein :

Pantera31619 :

You cannot overclock with that motherboard.

Oddly enough however, you can get an Ivy Bridge CPU though, if that interests you.

I was never interested in overclocking, so that isn't a problem. I plan to get a Intel I5 2500k sandy bridge CPU since it seems like the best processor for gaming at the moment.

ihog · May 11, 2013

Get the 3570 instead. If you aren't overclocking, there is no point in getting an unlocked (K) processor.

elemein · May 11, 2013

Pantera31619 :

elemein :

I was never interested in overclocking, so that isn't a problem. I plan to get a Intel I5 2500k sandy bridge CPU since it seems like the best processor for gaming at the moment.

ihog is correct, the best for the price is definitely the i5-3570.

Should I upgrade my CPU, or my GPU?

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