Best upgrade to increase my performance?

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GamerLynix

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Jun 24, 2015
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I everyone, I wanted to upgrade my system this week with black Friday and cyber Monday coming up. I am not that great with computers but I do know enough to install and uninstall hardware and components.
Here are my system specs:
CPU- AMD Fx 8320 8-Core 3.5GHz
GPU- XFX R9 280
RAM- 8GB
MotherBoard- Not Really Sure, Brand is ASROCK
Storage- 120gb SSD for OS 2tb sshd for everything else

I was thinking of getting a second r9 280 or upgrading to a 290x. I asked my friend and he said I should get an I5 intel processor because mine is bottlenecking my whole computer. What is your guys advice? My budget is around 400-500.
 
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geofelt
FWIW:
Here is my canned rant on planning for dual cards:
-----------------------------Start of rant----------------------------------------------------
Dual graphics cards vs. a good single card.

a) How good do you really need to be?
A single GTX750t1 or R7-265 can give you decent performance at 1920 x 1200 in many games.
Yes, you may need to be satisfied with less than high settings.

A single GTX970 or R9-390X will give you excellent performance at 1920 x 1200 in most games.
Even 2560 x 1600 will be OK with lowered detail.
A single GTX980ti is about as good as it gets for a single card.

If you are looking at triple monitor gaming, or a 4k monitor, sli/cf will be needed for excellent frame rates.
A single GTX980ti or Furyx...
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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A perennial and very good question.
Here is my stock first approach to the issue:

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To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You should also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option. set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.
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QuadRings

QuadRings

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Jan 14, 2015
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Thing is, if over clocked to about 4.5 GHz Or higher, that CPU is capable of running an R9 390 at 100%. Usually no bottleneck. Grab an extra four or eight gig stick of RAM, a 390 or 290x, and plug it in. What are your uses? Just gaming, or recording qnd stuff as well?


Id just find a nice GPU and try it. Honestly, Ive heard of these things being hooked up to a Titan X and getting little bottleneck (Of course, it was at 5 GHz on a custom super cooler, but you get the gist)
 
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GamerLynix

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Jun 24, 2015
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Which of these is the better option? I read that the r290x and 390 are almost the same? Also is it possible to crossfire with the motherboard for future upgrades?




 
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Rhezner

Rhezner

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Jun 24, 2015
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the 4460 and 390 will be more powerful for gaming but will also consume more power, no you would not be able to crossfire with this motherboard.

depending on what PSU you currently have a 970 and a 4460 would be the best option as they would consume very little power.
 
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G

GamerLynix

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Jun 24, 2015
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I have a 1000w psu so I'm not really worried about power. What motherboard would you recommend that supports crossfire?



 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,249
4,124
174,240
FWIW:
Here is my canned rant on planning for dual cards:
-----------------------------Start of rant----------------------------------------------------
Dual graphics cards vs. a good single card.

a) How good do you really need to be?
A single GTX750t1 or R7-265 can give you decent performance at 1920 x 1200 in many games.
Yes, you may need to be satisfied with less than high settings.

A single GTX970 or R9-390X will give you excellent performance at 1920 x 1200 in most games.
Even 2560 x 1600 will be OK with lowered detail.
A single GTX980ti is about as good as it gets for a single card.

If you are looking at triple monitor gaming, or a 4k monitor, sli/cf will be needed for excellent frame rates.
A single GTX980ti or Furyx will give good frame rates in many games.
Next year, it looks like single card performance will go up by 50%

b) The support costs for a single card are lower.
You require a less expensive motherboard; no need for sli/cf or multiple pci-e slots.
Even a ITX motherboard will do.

Your psu costs are less.
A card as good as a R9-FURY or a GTX980ti will need only a 620w psu.
When you add another card to the mix, plan on adding 200w to your psu requirements.
75w for the slot, 75w for an extra 6 pin connector or possibly more.
Here is a chart:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

Case cooling becomes more of an issue with dual cards.
That means a larger and possibly expensive case with more and stronger fans.
You will also look at more noise.

c) Dual gpu's do not always render their half of the display in sync, causing microstuttering or screen tearing. It is an annoying effect.
The benefit of higher benchmark fps can be offset, particularly with lower tier cards.
Read this: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995.html

d) dual gpu support is dependent on the driver. Not all games can benefit from dual cards.

e) dual cards up front reduces your option to get another card for an upgrade. Not that I suggest you plan for that.
It will often be the case that replacing your current card with a newer gen card will offer a better upgrade path.
-------------------------------End of rant-----------------------------------------------------------
 
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