What is my Best Upgrade Path Option?

vincent price · May 9, 2014

So I have a computer that I sort of hastily put together 2 or so years a go with items they had at a local computer store, I hadn't done a lot of research and in the end, didn't build a computer to the best of my ability. But now I am looking to upgrade a little bit at a time, and want to see what my best upgrade path is.

Currently I am looking in to replacing either my CPU or my video card, I have started to play a lot more computer games than I used to, which is sort of what prompted me to start looking in to upgrades. Currently I have a Sandy Bridge i3 and a GTX 560 ti (I think, it may be a 550, I would have to check on my actual computer which I am not near at the moment.)

I was looking in to replacing the CPU with either an i5, or getting a newer video card, something along the lines of a GTX 760/770. I can't do both at once, and am not entirely certain which would be the better upgrade to start off with. I don't use any CPU intensive applications, mostly just playing local video files or streaming video, and computer games. I figured the CPU may be the way to go first, since if I get a 760/770 the i3 may bottleneck it, but I am not sure.

Can anyone help guide me in what direction I should look at?

badboyrog2 · May 9, 2014

first which budget you have?
second which pc case you have , which model of pc you have actually?
third do you want to overclock?
fourth which games do you want to play? the latest and the most demanding or basic and simple games?
fifth which cpu you have ? I3....

cin19 · May 9, 2014

Get the gtx760/gtx770 first, even the Sandy Bridge i3 will bottleneck the new GPU, but you will see the better performance increasing. And if you get the gtx760 either K or non-k version i5 will be fine, but you are better to get the i5-4670K for the gtx770. For upgrade the GPU you need get one, which will be two tier higher your old GPU. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html
Actually now it is almost the good time for upgrading, because intel will launch new cpu soon. http://www.legitreviews.com/intel-2014-desktop-processor-roadmap-leaked-broadwell-k-socketed_126888 Hopefully the Z87 and the haswell cpu will be on sale soon. Also NVIDIA launching more GPUs this year too. http://www.tweaktown.com/news/32580/rumortt-nvidia-launching-more-gpus-this-year-gtx-800-series-in-2014/index.html

vincent price · May 9, 2014

badboyrog2 :

1.) $400 for one or the other, but not both
2.) No idea, its some generic case with no name on it, all I know is its a mid tower.
3.) No
5.) DayZ, Watchdogs, Dark Souls 2
5.) Sandy Bridge i3

cin19 :

I take it you mean even a Haswell will bottleneck a 770?

coozie7 · May 10, 2014

The speed improvements between Sandy Bridge and Haswell are small, if possible locate a Sandy Bridge CPU upgrade rather than switching platforms.
Check the motherboard makers website and see what upgrades the current MB will support, it's possible you'll need to update the BIOS to support an i5 upgrade, it may not need an update but it'll be better to find out before the upgrade so you can make the change before dropping the new i5 in.

Check the current power supply has the required output and leads to run an upgraded graphics card, if it's a cheap, no brand 'high out put' item, I'd strongly advise you change it for something more suitable.

The current i3 isn't a fire breathing monster I'll grant you but you'll get a large and instant speed bump by dropping a faster GPU into the system so I'd do that first.

And no, pretty well any Ivy Bridge onwards i5 CPU will not restrict a GTX770 class of card at 1080 res.

As always, check the new parts will fit the case!

vincent price · May 10, 2014

coozie7 :

My board will support an i5 no problem, I was figuring if I went the CPU route I would go to an Ivy Bridge i5, not a Haswell.

My CPU should support the 770, I was going to crack the case and make sure I had the correct 6/8 pin connectors.

AgentTran · May 10, 2014

Your Sandy-Bridge i3 should not bottleneck a 760/770 very badly, and the performance increase over the 560/550 will be be so huge that you shouldn't notice the bottleneck.

But in the future, if you do have enough money you can upgrade to an i5, and have no bottleneck.

For your budget, $400 can get you a pretty good GPU.
Here's the best thing for you right now:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($380.00 @ Newegg)
Total: $380.00
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-10 11:02 EDT-0400)

Also, you might need a quality Power Supply to go with it, if your budget is still $400, then you will have to switch out the R9 290 for a less strong GPU. Here's a good upgrade at $400. You will need atleast 550W in my opinion, to support a beefy GPU and possibly an i5 later on.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($57.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $357.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-10 11:04 EDT-0400)

If you can go over budget, then stick with my R9 290 and get the PSU I've given in the $360 build.
You could also go with a PNY GTX 770 too, as it is the same price. It's all on preference.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $299.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-10 11:05 EDT-0400)

cin19 · May 10, 2014

Yes, get the Ivy Bridge i5 is other good upgrading path. I forgot if you upgrade to haswell you need to upgrade the PSU to the one is haswell compatibility, more info http://techreport.com/review/24897/the-big-haswell-psu-compatibility-list
So you are better to get the Ivy Bridge i5 and gtx760/770, and open the case to double check the PSU to see it can can power up the gtx760/770, if it can't then get the one from AgentTran recommended.
PSU requirement for GPU http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm
The reviews
GTX760 http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_760_review,5.html
GTX770 http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_770_review,5.html

coozie7 · May 10, 2014

@ Vincent Price:
Wasn't sure if you were considering a move to Haswell, as was suggested by another poster, dropping a better i5 in is the cheapest way forwards and they're still fairly available but again, check with the motherboard makers website to be certain the planned upgrade will fit and work without a BIOS update.

If the PSU came with the case it's probably not good quality, drop us a line and give us the details if you're unsure.

For a single 1080 screen a R9 290 is probably a little overkill, but if funds permit it's a great option, as is the R9 280X. Just bear in mind AMD cards draw more power than their Nvidia rivals so although a R9 280X will run well enough off a good 550 Watt unit I'd go for a 600W unit for the bigger R9 290.

If you're stuck on Nvidia a GTX770 is about as high as you can go for <>$400, the next step up would be a GTX780 (about equal to the R9 290) but it's at least $75 over budget.

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