Currently have a gaming pc, need advice on what to upgrade!

[DAVIDLOGAN96]

Current Specs
____________
OS - Windows 7 64bit

6gb ddr3 ram

GPU - Gtx 460 1gb 256bit

mobo - msi 870a-G54

CPU - Amd phenom II x4 3.2 ghz

550 Watt PSU, Rosewell i think

500 gb 7200rpm hdd
__________________

Currently I can run most games on high settings or near max..
Now, i want to spend preferably < $300 and I am hoping to look for an a significant boost in performance.
I am willing to use ebay and buy used parts if need be. What are upgrades to my build that I can do that will help me play games even better!

PS, im doing this before start of college because soon i will not have very much money

 

[panwala95]

get the hd 7870 or you can even try getting another gtx 460..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127662
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130649

 

[DAVIDLOGAN96]

panwala95, with the sli option, My mobo doesn't support sli but supports crossfire, and the other pci 2.0 slot is running at x8 not x16.. would it be wise to go with the better gpu or run NOT in sli and at x8?

thanks

 

[panwala95]

then absolutely go for the hd 7870
or
you can buy two hd 7770 or hd 6850 and crossfire
x8 doesnt affect performance drastically so youll be fine anyhow

 

[DAVIDLOGAN96]

Best answer selected by davidlogan96.

 

[ddp]

i would recommend to upgrade your mobo then later on if you want to sli you can the 460 can still handle any game for now so just get a mobo and a ssd , ssd to download your games in to and your windows atm i have a 128gb m4 ssd and some times in bf3 i'm the 1st one to go in the game i'm like where the fug is every one at . i see gtx 460 is 150$- idk about amd mobo but i'm sure there should be one to sli for less then 130$

 

[DAVIDLOGAN96]

ddp, the problem with your solution is the cost and hassle. I will have to buy a new mobo that supports sli running both pci 2.0 slots at x16 which probably will be around 120$ and if i want to get another gtx 460 I would end up also having to get a new PSU that has [4] 6+2pci power pins(essentially sli ready) which would run another 80$. Also an SSD is not what i am looking for, i don't consider loading into a game faster than everyone else a "performance boost"

 

[DAVIDLOGAN96]

just found another problem with my mobo, the second slot is running at x4 not x8 that i was assuming...This makes crossfire a bad option seeing as i would run at x4/x4 penalty severly reducing potential :/ I think the 1 gpu option is probably going to have to do.