Hard Upgrade choice between cpu and gpu

devilhanzou

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Apr 15, 2009
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So I had my heart set on finally upgrading my 4850x2 this Christmas, with a ATI 7870 or a 7850. To give a quick background I play mmorpg's most always. Then after looking at Toms graphics card chart which recommends not upgrading till there is something three tiers above I realized that maybe even know this card takes a ton of power, and run hot as hell (its a muscle car video card in my opinion loud, hot , and fast so very inefficient) Well I currently have a Asus M4a78T-E motherboard and a Amd Phenom II 945 X2 Deneb overclocked to 3.6ghz and 12 GB G. Skill Ram. I was originally going to get the card and the upgrade to another Ati platform like the new A8 or A10 but they seem just dreadful. It seems there is very little difference from what I have now. Well I decided to start looking at the I5's I love the chip just always had good luck with ATI cpu's. A quick not if you are not an mmo player Raiding takes a lot of processing power compared to just running around the virtual world, I made the mistake of going low end before and could max out all day and bottleneck in the raids, and have to run on low.So this is the current I5 3470. So what do you guys think should I do the Cpu now and wait till this summer or next fall for the graphics card, or should I go for the graphics card since its been a long time coming, and see what deal i can get on a cpu/mobo this summer or fall? Thanks in advance always great advice from these forums...

cpu= http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115234&name=Processors-Desktops

mobo= http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138355

GPU= http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125418&name=Desktop-Graphics-Cards
 

devilhanzou

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Apr 15, 2009
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That is a good point, I like to build a computer and then every couple years do an upgrade, Its allowed me to always be able to play games on the max settings, and who doesn't love new shinny parts :) , I bought a new case lase year the Cooler Master HAF-912. So I have a case ready for upgrades, and a thousand watt power supply. Being I have always used AMD platforms there isn't any ram issues with the Intel platforms that I am not thinking of is their?

Also do these newer amd platforms such as the amd-5800k seems as bad as some of the reviews, just compared to the intel or really the phenom II x4 like the one I have the Intel is far superior, and the difference from my cpu to the newer amd is minimal at best.
 

Jay-Z

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Sep 29, 2012
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Well, AMD does not have any high end CPU to compete with the i5. Your current CPU is decent but if it is limiting performance then an i5 and z77 will be a big improvement.