Upgrade or Time for New Build

[sharksfin02]

Here is my current computer:

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

SeaSonic M12 SS-500HM 500W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC

MSI P35 Neo2-FR LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

SAMSUNG 2253BW Black 22" 2ms(GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor

ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card crossfired with XFX HD-485X-ZNFC Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Mushkin Enhanced 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996558

Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80580Q9400

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

I purchased most of the pieces 5 years ago. Mostly play games, although I surf the internet quite a bit. Not a video editor. I'm wondering if a video card upgrade (would like to spend around $200) would be possible (i.e. GTX 480 - not sure if my PSU can swing it). Or is it time for me to start a new build? Are the new intel processors (i3,i5,i7) worth a new build at this time? Any suggestions are most welcome.

thank you.

 

[cranked]

What games do you play and what settings are you looking to play at? I guess you wouldn't be thinking about an upgrade if you weren't having problems....

That PSU would be OK depending on the GPU you selected. I believe a 480 is a power hog. Someone else would have to answer that though.

 

[sharksfin02]

Skyrim, Star Wars Old Republic online. Recently downloaded GTA IV and the new enhanced graphics mod...very choppy play on certain screens (which made me wonder if a new GPU was in order). I don't need ULTRA everything settings, but I like to have smooth gameplay.

I was browsing Newegg, and referring to Tom's GPU hierarchy list. I figured my crossfired 4850s were getting a bit dated.

I was also thinking about an AMD setup (have always used Intel) for a new build.

Just kicking around ideas...appreciate the feedback.

 

[goodguy713]

6870 gtx 570 also i think new egg has a 6950 for 200..

 

[redeemer]

grab yourself a z68 and a i5 2500k, drop the gtx480 in favor of the gtx570

 

[goodguy713]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102987

get this and also comes with a code for battle field 3 and dirt 3 .. both 50 dollars games ..

and a mail in rebate for 10 bucks..

 

[ndositwe]

Skyrim, Star Wars Old Republic online. Recently downloaded GTA IV and the new enhanced graphics mod...very choppy play on certain screens (which made me wonder if a new GPU was in order). I don't need ULTRA everything settings, but I like to have smooth gameplay.

I was browsing Newegg, and referring to Tom's GPU hierarchy list. I figured my crossfired 4850s were getting a bit dated.

I was also thinking about an AMD setup (have always used Intel) for a new build.

Just kicking around ideas...appreciate the feedback.

If you do not need 'ULTRA everything settings', then stick with your current hardware and just upgrade the GPU. I have a Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz system, which for three years had the following specs: 4GB (4x1GB) 800MHz DDR3 RAM; Radeon HD 2600 XT GPU; and 350W PSU. Two months ago, I upgraded the components as follows: 8GB (2x4GB) 1333MHz DDR3 RAM; Radeon HD 6850 GPU; 500W PSU (of course, with those upgrades I also upgraded the motherboard for DDR3 support). The Intel Core 2 Quad system is actually my back-up computer... my main everyday and gaming PC that replaced the Core 2 system is a Sandy Bridge build (Core i5 2500 CPU; 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 RAM; 2x Radeon HD 6870 (Crossfire); 750W PSU). The Sandy Bridge system was built in the fall of 2011.

 

[sharksfin02]

Best answer selected by sharksfin02.