CPU or GPU upgrade

[Vorgier]

So I am looking to get an upgrade or two and can't decide on what to get.

My current system parts I'm looking to upgrade are:

nVidia 9800GTX+ 512mb / PSU to GTX 460 768mb/ PSU

or

Intel E7200 OCed to 3.2Ghz/ mobo / 4GB DDR2 to Phenom II x4 955 / mobo / 4GB DDR3

I am heavy with gaming mostly RPG/MMO. I'm looking get some good performance out of Dragon Age 2, Guild Wars 2 and other new games coming out.

My resolution is 1440x900, so I'm also worried that the GTX 460 would be bottle necked until I could get the processor, if I were to get it first. I am NOT looking to upgrade my monitor.

 

[calinkula]

I would buy the GTX 460.

I would recommend you test to see if the CPU or GPU is holding you back. An easy way to to find an indicator is to load up a game, change the graphics settings to a few different levels and see how your FPS change.

What your looking for is a place where the FPS plateaus between graphics settings. If your FPS are the same between medium settings and max detail with AA, you can bet that your CPU doesn't have enough power to fully feed that GPU.

 

[silversurfernhs]

well, it would be helpful if we knew what your upgrading from, but i'd go 460 for DA i had trouble running the first on an 8800 (playable but choppy)
You should check out the new 560 ti.

like i said, it depends on what ya got now/ os your using...

 

[Vorgier]

well, it would be helpful if we knew what your upgrading from, but i'd go 460 for DA i had trouble running the first on an 8800 (playable but choppy)
You should check out the new 560 ti.

like i said, it depends on what ya got now/ os your using...

Well I mentioned what I got/replacing. I'm also on Windows 7x64

 

[silversurfernhs]

oh, my bad took another look "old/new" - got it
yeah, either way your gonna be bottlenecked until you can get both, but you'll probably get more satisfaction in the short term with the gfx card.

 

[Vorgier]

Best answer selected by Vorgier.

 

[Vorgier]

oh, my bad took another look "old/new" - got it
yeah, either way your gonna be bottlenecked until you can get both, but you'll probably get more satisfaction in the short term with the gfx card.

Alright then, I'll give it a shot! Hoping for the best. Thanks