Upgrade. Sandybridge/GTX 570 incoming?!

[JRF88]

Upgrading my desktop as a little birthday gift for myself.

Current (old) set up:
Gigabyte EP45-UD3R
Intel CoreDuo 8400
ATI 4870
Thermaltake Black Widow 850w PSU (keeping)

Budget: $800. Am willing to go near $1000 if the gains are significant.
Resolution: 1680x1050

Prospective Upgrades:
AsRock H67M Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157233

I5 2500k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

GTX 570
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125354

8 Gigs, GSkill
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422

Total: $729.96

Yay/Nay? Improvements?

 

[JRF88]

FYI I'm hoping to play BF3/Witcher 2 comfortably with this build.

 

[saood06]

if your going to get a dedicated graphics card and an unlocked proccesor i suggest u get a p67 motherboard or if your not going to overclock then get the 2500 and keep the H67 motherboard

 

[JRF88]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157229&cm_re=p67-_-13-157-229-_-Product

For the P67 board?

Anything else you'd recommend. Ram okay?

 

[saood06]

right now there is a deal on this ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
it is cheaper and has a higher speed

 

[mdd1963]

The GTX570 is a very solid-performing card, but, price drops on some 6950's have them at ...$209 after rebates?? (Cost difference might very well more than fund the P67/H67 cost difference...)

 

[JRF88]

Are 6950s still able to be flashed to 6970s? I might considering going that route if it is the case.

IIRC at my resolution the 570 is the best card without going over $400.

 

[saood06]

yes you can still flash them i reccomend getting a reference card i heard there are much more likely to be flashed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127555
this is the cheapest reference card i found on newegg i hear this is a great guide to unlock the shaders
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=269626
do you really need a card this powerful for this low of a resolution

 

[JRF88]

yes you can still flash them i reccomend getting a reference card i heard there are much more likely to be flashed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127555
this is the cheapest reference card i found on newegg i hear this is a great guide to unlock the shaders
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=269626
do you really need a card this powerful for this low of a resolution

Thanks for the links.

As for being overkill for my resolution, a lot of newer games are sitting comfortably at 70ish FPS at 1650x1080 with the 570. I would say that is a far cry from overkill. Maybe if were talking hundreds of frames per second, then yeah, that'd be overkill. Besides I could always treat myself to a new monitor around christmas.

 

[saood06]

Thanks for the links.

As for being overkill for my resolution, a lot of newer games are sitting comfortably at 70ish FPS at 1650x1080 with the 570. I would say that is a far cry from overkill. Maybe if were talking hundreds of frames per second, then yeah, that'd be overkill. Besides I could always treat myself to a new monitor around christmas.

are you going to go with the 6950 or the 570 because id say that the 570 is better its up to you whether it justifies the higher price or not
some comparisons of the 6950 and the 570 are at
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/293?vs=306
and if you flash it to a 6970 its this
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/292?vs=306

 

[JRF88]

It's only a $50 difference going with the 570, and at my current resolution the 570 outperforms (albeit usually by only a few frames) the 6950 unlocked or not. Most benches even at 1900x1200 are in the 570s favor if i do in fact get another monitor.

It's a toss up really. :/

 

[saood06]

It's only a $50 difference going with the 570, and at my current resolution the 570 outperforms (albeit usually by only a few frames) the 6950 unlocked or not. Most benches even at 1900x1200 are in the 570s favor if i do in fact get another monitor.

It's a toss up really. :/

if yout think the price difference is that small then get the 570 it might last you longer and if your going to buy something buy the best in your pricerange otherewise later youll regret it