cpu combo or gpu upgrade first?

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highc1157

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Oct 14, 2010
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With 500 bucks, basically what the title says. For max settings no SSAO at 1080p , which should I do first. Upgrade my cpu/mobo/ram/hdd first or just upgrade my gfx card first. I'm curious which would get me the best benefits sooner.

My current system

Phenom 965 stock 3.4ghz
4gb ddr2 corsair
Gigabyte mobo
150gb hdd
Gtx 560ti
650watt antec earthwatts psu
Corsair h60 cooler


Thinking about getting

i5-3750k + WD 1Tb HDD + 8GB corsair vengeance + ASRock z77 extreme 4 mobo.

OR

GTX 770

I have money for the combo or JUST the graphics card. Which upgrade route first would be the better call for trying to max out metro last light at 1080p with no SSAO
 
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unksol

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Sep 12, 2011
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The 965 is fine and can take a decent overclock. The GPU is well matched for it. So which upgrade depends on the problems your having and the games you play. Being on an old mother board/DDR2/4GB you MIGHT get more out of the CPU, but its not really holding you back at all.

Honestly I don't think you'll see a real improvement without upgrading both unless you have some bottlenecked games. So I would save till you're ready for a whole new build. Otherwise you're spending more to have the CPU now for minor benefit. And your current PC should be good for a while still.
 
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highc1157

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would a gtx 770 run Metro last light 1080p with no SSAO over 30 ya think, with my older parts? i really wanna upgrade now and get all the gaming eye candy fun times in before my last year as a physics major

boom headshot to the time i get to play games during the year :/
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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i would look into getting yourself a ga970a-ud3 mb for about $90, new 8gb ddr3 ram for $70, and a new HD 7950 for $260

I think that build combo would nicely round out your pc. I'm assuming you're gaming at 1080p on one 60hz monitor, if that's the case, then that list of parts is all you'll need. I suspect you'll be disappointed in the results from jumping up to the intel, as the improvement isn't really worth the cash, and if you're on just the one monitor you won't need more gpu then that 7950.
 
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unksol

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Sep 12, 2011
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This is a pretty solid suggestion. I've also seen sapphire 7970 GHz down to $320 (which matches the 770 and has all those free games) I think so watch for sales. You'd want to overclock the 965, and you'll be able to upgrade to steamroller later.

For something like metro last light, and other high end games (crysis 3, Farcry 3 etc) you need GPU muscle over CPU
 
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highc1157

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what combo would you suggest for 500 to gimme the best experience maxed out 1080p single monitor in metro last light? with PhysX on , everything else maxed, tesselation normal, no SSAO

 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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well my suggestion is fine for metro last light. if you're concerned about physx you can save your nvidia gpu and use it as a dedicated physx card.
 
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