Need Help with Upgrading my Gaming PC

[babayface22]

My current build is as follows:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 @ 2.13GHz (No OC)

CPU Cooler: Stock Intel

Motherboard: Abit AB9 (Not Pro)

RAM: 6gb Crucial DDR2-800 (2x1GB, 2x2GB)

Storage: 1x320gb SATA HDD , 2x500gb SATA HDD (RAID 0)

GPU: XFX Radeon HD4650 1GB

Case: Generic Full ATX case with 3x80mm fans and 2x120mm fans

Power Supply: 450 watt FSP Group PSU with 120mm fan

Optical Drive: External USB 2.0 (I prefer this)

Monitor: 2x19" LCD (1366x768)

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and Windows 8 Professional x64

Keyboard: Generic USB

Mouse: Generic USB

These are all hand me down parts or extra parts from my daily job. I am just now getting back into PC gaming after a long hiatus due to many changes in my life. I am currently playing Borderlands 2, Diablo 3, and Blacklight Retribution on this rig and loving every minute of it. I would love to play Battlefield 3 and eventually get rid of my Xbox 360. I can tell that I need more power, but not sure where to upgrade and if it is even worth upgrading. I've looked into doing an i3-3220/hd 6870 build, but it is really hard to come up with $5xx right now with a new house and a new baby.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[babayface22]

If I go with the 7850 is anything else going to bottleneck me? Should I get a 3ghz Core 2 Quad, or should I overclock the one I have? Does it matter that my motherboard doesn't do PCI Express 3.0 and the 7850 is PCIe 3.0?

 

[babayface22]

My motherboard does not support pcie 2.0, it only supports pcie 1.1. Is that going to be a huge deal breaker? Should I just go with the hd 7770 then?

 

[babayface22]

Was just looking through old inventory at work and found a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard with a Core 2 Quad Q6600 in it. Post-it note on the case says bad processor, I don't think I've ever personally heard of a processor going bad.

I will look at the 6850, but it seems to me that that card is quite a bit more expensive than the 7770. I will try to do a little research to check on compatibility.

Also, my case was damaged last week in a car accident. The plexiglass window smashed to pieces and a few spots on the case bent. I am thinking about getting an NZXT Source 210, would this be a good choice? I tend to keep cases much longer than the internal components.

 

[babayface22]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?SID=w8uMVBPeEeKeXrbn-seCtg0_0_MrJ_0_0&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16814150617

HD 7850 on sale for $142 after promo code and mail in rebate. That is about $20 more than an HD 7770. Would it be worth getting to have the card when I move over to an i3 setup?

 

[babayface22]

In the process of selling all of my extra computers, monitors, Xbox 360 (and games and accessories) and then seeing what I have money wise. I will then buy a monitor and the best video card I can afford. Thanks for the help I will be back when I have money to blow!

 

[babayface22]

Best answer selected by babayface22.