Most Cost Effective Way to Ugrade My Rig

[nano134]

I have about ~$280 to spend, probably not going to have more money for spending any time soon, so I was just wondering what the best way to upgrade this system for gaming would be.

Specs:
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-990xa-UD3 AM3+
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 @ 1600MHz
CPU: AMD Ahtlon II x4 640 @ 3.00GHz
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 5770, OCed to 940/1400
HDDs: SATA 500GB @ 7200rpm; SATA 250GB @ 7200rpm
PSU: hec HP585D 585 watts (only 1 12V rail, +12V@15A)
2 19" Dell Monitors @ 1440x900

I'm thinking about getting a Zotac 560 Ti, as it's only $205 on newegg right now, as well as a better psu that can handle it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500190 - Zotac GTX 560 Ti - $204.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152035 - Raidmax 630 Watt (+12V1@22A, +12V2@22A) - $49.99

Would this be the best way to upgrade for gaming and spend my money?

 

[Outlander_04]

Not that power supply.
Bronze rated or better . Anything less is wasted money
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M600 $60 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171036


I also think a 560 ti is probably a step too far . Your processor wont get the best out of it so only consider that option if you will add a more power cpu in the future .
A Radeon 6870 or GTX 560 makes sense though

 

[nano134]

Best answer selected by nano134.

 

[Gamer Dude]

Not that power supply.
Bronze rated or better . Anything less is wasted money
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M600 $60 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171036


I also think a 560 ti is probably a step too far . Your processor wont get the best out of it so only consider that option if you will add a more power cpu in the future .
A Radeon 6870 or GTX 560 makes sense though

You would be wrong mate Athlon II 640 would be just fine for a single 560 ti ........ http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-7970-cpu-scaling-performance-review/6

 

[nano134]

Very helpful. I planned on sticking with the 560 Ti, and now I can do so without wondering if it'll be pushed to it's fullest.

 

[Gamer Dude]

Very helpful. I planned on sticking with the 560 Ti, and now I can do so without wondering if it'll be pushed to it's fullest.

In most all games except a few culprits like Skyrim which has issues on even the most powerful Intel chips as well your Chip will be just fine but remember online gaming with lots of units onscreen at once is the time you will wish you had more CPU grunt but I am sure that will be few and far between for you anyway so you are golden.

 

[Outlander_04]

You would be wrong mate Athlon II 640 would be just fine for a single 560 ti ........ http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-7970-cpu-scaling-performance-review/6

Really interesting link .

Turn the detail and texture up enough and the graphics card is the weakest link , even with a budget processor .

 

[nano134]

So I guess another question would be, since I already have a 5770; would it be smarter to CF with a 6770 or just ditch that and stay with the 560 Ti? I do have a CF compatible board and am getting a CF compatible PSU.

 

[Gamer Dude]

Really interesting link .

Turn the detail and texture up enough and the graphics card is the weakest link , even with a budget processor .

Ya that's the point OPs Athlon CPU is not the bottleneck the 560ti is which is a good bottleneck to have cause 560ti is a really good GPU and is what the OP is UPGRADING to.

 

[Gamer Dude]

So I guess another question would be, since I already have a 5770; would it be smarter to CF with a 6770 or just ditch that and stay with the 560 Ti? I do have a CF compatible board and am getting a CF compatible PSU.

5770/6770 CF would be about the same power of GTX 570/HD 6970 but on the other hand if you go for the single GTX 560 ti which is what I would probably do cause then you can OC the 560 ti to near GTX 570 speeds and still get another 560ti for SLI in the future which would make a supreme gaming rig even 6months or a year from now.

 

[Outlander_04]

Ya that's the point OPs Athlon CPU is not the bottleneck the 560ti is which is a good bottleneck to have cause 560ti is a really good GPU and is what the OP is UPGRADING to.

It will in some situations in some games

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-8.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-6.html

but its probably worth using the 560 ti to get the best you can in the situations where it will pay off

 

[Gamer Dude]

It will in some situations in some games

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-8.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-6.html

but its probably worth using the 560 ti to get the best you can in the situations where it will pay off

Once again in Metro 2033 the 560ti will show it's max potential and limit far before the Athlon x4 does and StarCraft is a real easy game to run it was just crippled by Intel/Nvidia to favor there architecture kinda like how Nvidia Physx does it. Really one game that sucks anyway that is well known to run better on Nvidia and Intel is no reason to cry about how an Athlon II x4 and Nvidia GTX 560 ti is a great combo for a mid range gamer rig. OP dont listen to this trife your Athalon x4 and 560 ti combo will put you into gaming Nirvana for years to come.

 

[Outlander_04]

Once again in Metro 2033 the 560ti will show it's max potential and limit far before the Athlon x4 does and StarCraft is a real easy game to run it was just crippled by Intel/Nvidia to favor there architecture kinda like how Nvidia Physx does it. Really one game that sucks anyway that is well known to run better on Nvidia and Intel is no reason to cry about how an Athlon II x4 and Nvidia GTX 560 ti is a great combo for a mid range gamer rig. OP dont listen to this trife your Athalon x4 and 560 ti combo will put you into gaming Nirvana for years to come.

They are Athlons , not "athalons"

There was no need to become personal . Im pointing out information thats available , not making an attack on you or your opinions . I believe your "opinion" is both right and wrong depending on the circumstances .

 

[Gamer Dude]

They are Athlons , not "athalons"

There was no need to become personal . Im pointing out information thats available , not making an attack on you or your opinions . I believe your "opinion" is both right and wrong depending on the circumstances .

Your wrong move along and thanx* for the spell check are you finished.

 

[Outlander_04]

Your wrong move along and thanx* for the spell check are you finished.

I have already provided evidence why Im not wrong .

And so far your argument seems to add up to a belief that an X4 Athlon will game as well as a more powerful cpu like , say , a 2500k .
It wont .

You are welcome to the spelling lesson .

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey