Advice about possible upgrade from 5770 to 5850

[luc2k]

The main problem with my current card is the lack of memory (512MB), I can't play starcraft 2 with the highest quality settings for example and one shop in my country is currently running a promo on MSI 5850 Twin Frozr II @158.3Euro. My 5770 brand new sells for 117Euro, and I think I could maybe get 100(+/-3) for it (13 months left on warranty). On the other hand there's the 6850 which is a little more efficient, but weaker for 4-9Euro more. The reason this is still in the cards is the alleged 11.4 driver improvements to the 6 series.

Anyway, my reasoning for changing from 5770 to 5850 is this: +512MB, +44%@1650 performance increase and two extra years of warranty for 58% extra cost. I'm using this for reference.

Now for my questions:

1. Considering my specs and the above details do you recommend upgrading to 5850 at all? The CPU might be a weak link and no upgrade plan for now.
1.a What about 6850?
1.b Or should I just wait it out for lower prices or until next gen is out?
2. If you think I should go for it, recommend a selling price for my used 5770.

All considering the promo will probably last a week or less depending on stocks as currently it's the second most popular card in that price range after 5830 (same version, 12Euro cheaper), so a quick advice is welcomed.


---SPECS & MISC---

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: this week (depends on selling 5770) BUDGET RANGE: N/A

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (the latest and greatest)

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Sapphire HD5770 512MB and Delux 650W PSU (2x18A - looking to change this ASAP)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
MOBO: ASRock M3A770DE
CPU: Athlon II X3 435 (stock, might consider oc, failed to unlock - haven't tried changing voltage)
RAM: Corsair CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 2x2GB DDR3 1600 CL9 1.65v

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: emag.ro, pcgarage.ro COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Romania

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

 

[flashfir]

I'd wait for other people to weigh in with more solid information but I think a 5850 would smoke anything that you throw at it at your resolution. Do it!

And it'll only cost what, 158-117? That's only 41 euros! Heck, yes.
5850 > 6850 for single GPU. UNLESS your power supply is weaksauce, you might consider 6850 cause its uses less power.

Your 650w psu, I don't know about the brand, but if it's good, it should handle any single GPU config you throw at it.

I'd suggest OC'ing your CPU also, I just did my Phenom II 955 from 3.2 to 3.8 and it smoothes out any stutters for me.

 

[swifty_morgan]

I have a 5850 running at 1920x1200 and is pretty good for the most part. The 1gig lets me down a little to some extent.... depending on the game and the "hard settings I like to use. I also had that card running at 1680x1050 and it did really well. I would go for it. Stay away from the 5830. Waste of money in-b-tween card. Sell the low end 5770 for what you can get and reinvest.

 

[luc2k]

The PSU is weaksauce, before this is promo popped up, it was on my to change list (along with the case) because together they make an infernal racket. Now it just takes a close second. The PSU fan makes a deep cyclical whirring sound and depending on how the case vibrates it can get worse. A tap on the case is a temporary solution, another is keeping my shin pressed against the top part (case is kept open for ventilation).

The reason I'm asking for advice is because I need other peoples experience with CPU's bottlenecks, there's only so much you can do with a low-mid level CPU and that might kill the performance/$ (from where I'm from anyway).

Anyway thanks to both of you for feedback.

LE: added PSU noise description in case anyone wants to know more about that.