Advice on upgrading my gaming PC.

[ljc88]

Hi Guys,

Need some advice on upgrading my gaming PC.

Here is my current spec:

CPU: Phenom II x3 710 unlocked core
Graphic Card: Radeon HD 4890
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P (AM3 only)
PSU: 400W

I'm willing to spend around 200 dollars to upgrade my current system so I can play BF3(or similar system requirement game) more fluently at 1680x1050 resolution without having to reduce video setting.

Should I focus on upgrading the graphic card only? Or shall I spend that 200 dollars evenly on different components?

Thanks guys.

 

[cumi2k4]

you can get hd7850 for around $200, that should bump your graphical experience.

 

[ljc88]

you can get hd7850 for around $200, that should bump your graphical experience.

It seems that card has a minimum of a 500W power supply requirement. Does that mean I have to upgrade my PSU as well?

 

[esrever]

the 7850 will run if your 4890 runs, both have about the same power consumption.

 

[Maarsch]

■500W (or greater) power supply with one 75W 6-pin PCI Express power connector recommended
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/7000/7850/Pages/radeon-7850.aspx#/2

■500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors recommended
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-4000/hd-4890/Pages/ati-radeon-hd-4890-system-requirements.aspx

So yeah, what esrever says.

 

[mohit9206]

am not sure 7850 is a big enough improvement over a 4890 . secondly that cpu seems a little weak for BF3 at max settings

 

[squirrelonfire]

You're right about the 7850, it is not any better than the 4890. But the 7970 is definitely 2x faster than the 4890.

http://www.hwcompare.com/11357/radeon-hd-4890-1gb-vs-radeon-hd-7970/

Unless you enjoy the free 3 games offer from the 7970, then get it. Otherwise get the 680. The 680 outputs 2x fps than the 7970 on Physic game like Borderlands 2.

The 7870 is faster than the 4890 but only if you are going to play high end graphic game like Witcher 2 (which is a movie anyway, you have to watch like 15 minutes video every 5-10 mins game play).

 

[burntpizza]

You're right about the 7850, it is not any better than the 4890. But the 7970 is definitely 2x faster than the 4890.

http://www.hwcompare.com/11357/rad [...] n-hd-7970/

Radeon HD 7850 is definitely faster than 4890(about 2X). It literally stomps 4890 into the ground while consuming less. And, that site is not a very good comaprison

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/513?vs=549

This is HD 7850 vs 4870 because anand dont have the 4890 benchmark. 4890 should be a little faster but 12.11 catalyst would have also made 7850 faster.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/513?vs=549

Heres the GPU hierarchy

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

Radeon hd 7850 is ranked wayy higher.

 

[swifty_morgan]

you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. you didn't say which 4890 you had ( 512 version ? )............. if it is another similar performing card with more vram may help alleviate some of your slow ups but the whole system really can't support much more of a card.

I would save my money and look forwards to a new build. Or I would buy an outrageous card that would overwhelm the other hardware i have with aspirations of bringing it over to my next build........ however, your power supply couldn't handle it. And since you don't have money for it.................... SAVE, SAVE, SAVE. suck it up ( the performance now ) and save.