Upgrading questions

[brian03079]

Hi, my current setup is:

- evga 780i motherboard
- 9800gtx graphics card
- 4 gb of corsair ram
- 500gb seagate barracuda
- lite-on re-writable dvd/combo drive
- silverstone op750 psu
- e8400 processor @ 3.93 ghz
- hp w2207h 22 inch 1680x1050 monitor

I do a lot of gaming (ex. crysis, company of heroes, bioshock etc.) and i feel it is time for an upgrade. I want to play the next gen games at great settings and fps. My max budget is about $800 dollars. I really want to have the new ati 5870 that was just released not long ago. I also want to upgrade my processor, but don't know which one to get, besides being a core i7 or i5. If i upgrade my gpu or cpu, i need to also upgrade my ram, and motherboard, which i don't know which one to get. Or, should I keep all of my components and just switch out the processor for a intel quad q9650 and get a gtx 480 which will be coming out soon. However, i am worried the q9650 would bottleneck the new gtx 480, and the fact that the core 2 quad and duo line is starting to get a bit obsolete. I will be purchasing parts around next month or so. Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks

 

[bejabbers]

Hi, my current setup is:

- evga 780i motherboard
- 9800gtx graphics card
- 4 gb of corsair ram
- 500gb seagate barracuda
- lite-on re-writable dvd/combo drive
- silverstone op750 psu
- e8400 processor @ 3.93 ghz
- hp w2207h 22 inch 1680x1050 monitor

I do a lot of gaming (ex. crysis, company of heroes, bioshock etc.) and i feel it is time for an upgrade. I want to play the next gen games at great settings and fps. My max budget is about $800 dollars. I really want to have the new ati 5870 that was just released not long ago. I also want to upgrade my processor, but don't know which one to get, besides being a core i7 or i5. If i upgrade my gpu or cpu, i need to also upgrade my ram, and motherboard, which i don't know which one to get. Or, should I keep all of my components and just switch out the processor for a intel quad q9650 and get a gtx 480 which will be coming out soon. However, i am worried the q9650 would bottleneck the new gtx 480, and the fact that the core 2 quad and duo line is starting to get a bit obsolete. I will be purchasing parts around next month or so. Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks

gaming relies more on your GPU than your CPU, plus a 5870 will run you around $400, which is half your budget. if you get an i5 and a decent mobo, you should have enough left in your budget to pick up a decent 4gb ddr3 kit.

suggestions:
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161301
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157181
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

comes out to 814.00 before tax and shipping. you can save on a cheaper card, a 5850 or 5770 instead, or chose a different motherboard.

 

[brian03079]

do you think my psu can handle the new hardware good?

Thanks for the reply

 

[Silvune]

According to this review it is solid, so it will easily handle a system with only one 5870.
If you do decide to go for the 5850, then the money saved should be put towards a motherboard that can crossfire.

 

[brian03079]

one last question, how much more energy will i expect the new hardware will drain compared to my current hardware? I don't want to be paying a big bill at the end of the month.

Thanks again.

 

[bejabbers]

it should use more energy, but I don't think it'll be a large, noticeable difference.

 

[Silvune]

Well the TDP on the E8400 is 65W, on the i5-750 it is 95W.
And the 9800GTX is ~140W, while the 5870 is ~190W. But both of your new components will draw less power when idle compared to your current components. So I think it will balance out to be pretty similiar overall.