Battlefield 3 - Current Spec & What to upgrade to? Advice needed!

[Daveyp16]

Hi,

I have to start by saying my knowledge on all of this is basic.

With the anticipation of BF3 I would like some advice on how my current system will perform and what I should be looking at when I upgrade early in the new year. (Cant afford it till then!)

My Current System:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
System Model System Product Name
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU X9770 @ 3.20GHz, 3200 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS P5N72-T PREMIUM ACPI BIOS Revision 0401, 13/05/2008
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.00 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 5.92 GB

I Have two NVIDIA Geforce GTS250's at the moment.
1x 160GB hard drive, 2x 500GB Hard drive. think they are 7200?

I run two crappy 19" monitors at resolution 1280*1024.

When I ordered the PC I was told this was SLI capable (not know what that means really) and would be good for gaming.

This was a while ago now and I will be looking to upgrade in the new year. But with BF3 being released in October, I was wondering if I will Still be able to run the game until i upgrade?



Now I did have plans to go and get the i7 27" imac with the 2gb 6970 but have since read that this would struggle to run the game at an half decent setting?

So I may stick with a windows PC but really like the idea of getting a 2560*1440 monitor (not for the gaming but other interest I will use for.) So looking at a budget of £2500 - 3000 (expecting £6-700 on monitor?) what would people suggest I go for?

Will the prices of the 3gb gtx590 of came down by then? and will it take that to run the game with all ultra high settings etc?

Any advice on what I should look to go for in my system would be much appreciated. Should I be getting a total new system or upgrading what I have?


I will probably use pcspecialist.co.uk/dinopc or some similar site to order, so if anyone is familiar with these sites/prices your advice is welcome!

Many Thanks in advance

Dave

 

[jjb8675309]

you will be just fine running the game at 12X10 imo

 

[jjb8675309]

macs are not for gaming and are a ripoff imo you can build a much more powerful rig for the money

 

[Daveyp16]

Ok thanks, I do seem to be hearing that the more I research about Macs. Any other advice on what I should definitely include as a minimum when I go for a new system?

Thanks again.

 

[jjb8675309]

what is your budget? and where can you order from? im in the us....? Id go for a i52500k- gtx 570 build for a single 1080p but if you supply more info I can give you a full system build

 

[Daveyp16]

I'm in the UK looking to spend £2500-3000 at the very max that will have to incluse the monitor too(approx £700). So will be around £1800-2300 for the rest. Will be looking at a 260*1440 monitor resolution.

Will purchase from somewhere like www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Thanks

 

[Daveyp16]

sorry that was 2560*1440 monitor, number 5 key not great on laptop.

 

[HMRkingpin]

definitely get a new graphics card. GTX 200 series doesn't support DX11. I have two GTX 260's and I feel I need to upgrade for BF3 as well for proper frames in intense battle scenes at high settings. They have been showing BF3 on GTX580 machines at all the gaming conventions.

So I would suggest you get a GTX 580, add 4gb ram to have 8gb total. Grab a nice high resolution monitor. Get a bigger PSU if it isn't capable of supporting a 580. Considering you have SLI it should be able to support it.

Your CPU is fine. The only thing is BF3 will be able to use all cores of your CPU, so I hear. If that is the case, I do not know how that will affect your powerful duel core.

 

[Daveyp16]

Thanks for the reply, Its just so confusing, dont know where to start! Even researching monitors has got me all over the place and undecided!

You had any experience with this Hazro HZ27WD?

 

[Daveyp16]

Any further advice on this build?

Thanks

 

[jjb8675309]

personally I would not go with some no name monitor that is 27" Id rather have a smaller size higher quality display, but really it just comes down to personal preference.

 

[journal]

Hazro Technologies isn't a no-name company. They are very big in Europe and they are the only monitors that have a glossy finish type screen other than the Apple cinema displays. (NEC had Opticlear DVM on their Multisyncs for gaming~about 5 years ago)

They use the same S-IPS panel as Dell U2711* and Apple Cinema Displays.

If you live in Europe then there are actually many high quality monitors available to you. Me, unfortunately doesn't have access to Hazro since I live in the US.

The Hazro HZ27WD replaces the HZ27WA monitor as it upgrades the WA with more connect-ability as well as retaining all the previous features of the HZ27WA.

Here is a review on the HZ27WA

If you want a glossy finish on the screen you'll have to risk the shipping journey or spend alot more on the Apple cinema display.

If you can work with the matte finish (which is standard on every screen) then HP and Dell has some good models for you in the 27'' range. HP's verison is the HP ZR2740w.

If you are looking for a pure gaming monitor then its best to go with an non-IPS panel monitor, as they do not offer the best latency. However displays with 120hz don't offer the higher resolutions you have requested. Samsung's S27A950HD and Samsung S27A750D for 120 HZ and 3D (gaming).

 

[jjb8675309]

Didnt know about Hazro thanks for informing me, if it is the same s-ips panel as the dell u2711 then... draw conclusion


120hz is an absolute waste imo unless you hav a rig that can produce 120fps which in many games would be a hell of a task