Debating on to upgrade my CPU or GPU

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ivideo1011

ivideo1011

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Jul 5, 2013
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I'm currently deciding on to upgrade my CPU or GPU. My budget is $300. I can only have AMD processors because my motherboard has an AMD chipset, so I don't know if it would be worth it to buy a new motherboard along with it to get an Intel processor. Should I upgrade my CPU or GPU and which would be the best for the money?

My current specs:

CPU: AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 965 @ 3.40 GHz (not overclocked)
GPU: GeForce GTX 560 ti MSI Twin Frozr II
Motherboard: Gigabyte 970A-DS3P (supports AM3+)
RAM: 8 GB Dual-Channel DDR3
OS: Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit
Sound Card: ASUS Xonar D1
SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 250 GB
HDD: 1 TB Western Digital WDC WD10EADS-65L5B1
It would be much appreciated if someone could help me. Thanks.
 
Solution
bigshootr8
I feel from a overall perspective that with a intel based cpu yes you'll be able to last longer gpu wise without the cpu holding your graphics card back. That isn't to say that AMD isn't capable with their 8350 you would be poised to be okay for some time. However, I feel with intel you are indeed getting the strong platform. However, with that said AMD is working with their cards to really push them to rely less on high single threaded CPU's to drive the cards performance which at the moment Intel just wrecks on single threaded performance.
With all that said though I feel like a GPU will get you further in the short term and a CPU/Motherboard will push you further in the future.

If you aren't in the hurry to upgrade and you are...
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bigshootr8

bigshootr8

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Mar 28, 2011
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Well I would ask myself the following question.

1.) Are games for me starting to not be turned up to the quality I want them to be. If yes then a graphics card would be a good upgrade.
2.) Is my system as responsive as I need it to be. If no then perhaps a CPU upgrade would be a good idea keep in mind though I would probably move away from the AMD brand if you are going to move up from the 965 just my personal opinion. Technically you could upgrade to a 8350 however that would be as far as you really could go.


keep in mind that 300 would land you in the ball park of a Nvidia 760 and if you went 30 dollars over your limit a 770. And to limit the bias you can get a 7970 for just over 300 as well which is essentially a r9 280.
7970
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150685
770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125463
 
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ivideo1011

ivideo1011

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Jul 5, 2013
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Thanks for the reply. So what you're saying is, in the long run upgrading to an Intel processor would be better, because I can move up higher with graphics cards?
 
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bigshootr8

bigshootr8

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Mar 28, 2011
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I feel from a overall perspective that with a intel based cpu yes you'll be able to last longer gpu wise without the cpu holding your graphics card back. That isn't to say that AMD isn't capable with their 8350 you would be poised to be okay for some time. However, I feel with intel you are indeed getting the strong platform. However, with that said AMD is working with their cards to really push them to rely less on high single threaded CPU's to drive the cards performance which at the moment Intel just wrecks on single threaded performance.
With all that said though I feel like a GPU will get you further in the short term and a CPU/Motherboard will push you further in the future.

If you aren't in the hurry to upgrade and you are okay with the performance of your current system I would wait and upgrade when you are at a point where you feel you need to rather then when you would like to just me personally.

I currently have a i5 2500k and a gtx670 however I know that my cpu is strong enough for a long long while and I know that my gpu is pretty good for the time being not really causing any issues with current gen games. However when my cpu gets a bit older I would upgrade it and heck if a games started coming out and needed more performance then I would be tempted to go out to purchase a new GPU but I won't upgrade till the 800 or 900 series of cards just because I don't really need the boost right now in gpu performance in games.
 
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ivideo1011

ivideo1011

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Jul 5, 2013
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Very smart buying strategy. I may just wait a while, and later on get a new motherboard and processor, probably an i5, maybe not an i7. You've really helped me, thanks. Would I need a really good motherboard to get good performance? Like if I were to get an i5 or i7 along with it.
 
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bigshootr8

bigshootr8

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Mar 28, 2011
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Thanks! Yea Its better to go at things with computer upgrades as you need them rather then what what looks good at the present moment. If I dabbed into more professional work I would be tempted by the i7 however for gaming yes the i5 will provide all that you will ever need. In terms of motherboards with intel currently as long as you have a board with the chipset it seems that is more then sufficient. However that being said you would still want to purchase from a good motherboard brand your ASUS, ASRock, Gigabyte, and MSI motherboards should be sufficent something in the 150-160 mark should be the extent or what you would want to pay beyond that and you aren't going to see anything dramatically different performance wise unless you are trying to squeeze that much more out of your CPU.
 
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