Is the question of better CPU vs. GPU obsolete?

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jman1968

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Mar 9, 2013
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Hello,

There was an article in Popular Science years ago (too lazy to link) that stated it was better to go with a more powerful GPU in the situation of buying a CPU over a GPU. However, with the advent of Ivy-Bridge K-versions, is this still a valid claim? Especially when considering hardware-hogs like Crysis 3?

Ultimately, the reason I'm asking is that I'm considering splurging on a Gigabyte GTX-670 while retaining a crap Celeron Dual-Core. And I'm trying to figure out if it's even feasible to use the GPU with the Celeron. Or to go with budget gpu/cpu, or at least mid-range, like AMD FX-8320 and HD 7870, or even 7850. Bearing in mind that getting a new cpu will add up in the form of new motherboard and cpu cooler, not to mention the cpu itself.

Fairly broad questions, but looking for opinions/advice.

Thanks!
 
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short rule of thumb is that the gpu should be at least around 1.5x the cost of the cpu for relative balance levels.

i.e: a dual core sandy celeron can use cards like the 7770, 650ti, and the 7850 on upper end. i3's/Phenom II's usually have something like 7850's/7870s/660/660ti esque gpus. cpus ~160+ tend to have any single choice in gpu.
short rule of thumb is that the gpu should be at least around 1.5x the cost of the cpu for relative balance levels.

i.e: a dual core sandy celeron can use cards like the 7770, 650ti, and the 7850 on upper end. i3's/Phenom II's usually have something like 7850's/7870s/660/660ti esque gpus. cpus ~160+ tend to have any single choice in gpu.
 
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llongo0823

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Mar 8, 2013
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don't know the mobo your on but get but get the the core i3 sandy bridge and save on video card and get the 660 ti and oc the memory on it and you basically got the same performance, if your on the old socket 775 mobo the cpu won't matter but the front side bus will. and on crysis 3 to make it playable with no lag even everything on medium you would need a 3570k oc'ed to 4.5,8 gigs of ddr3 1866 atleast and 2 670's. ive got the same accept ive got 1 radeon hd 7870 and have to turn everything to low, motion blur and lens flares off and high res textures to low, not including only playing at 1280x768. this rig will play at those settings any where between 65 to 120 frames per sec. if you don't have socket 1156/1155 mobo need to do a overhaul, basically saying what cooky biscuit said
 

jman1968

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Mar 9, 2013
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Hi Longo, could you explain about the LGA775? I'm obviously using an LGA775, I think you're saying that keeping the mobo and going to another cpu won't matter. Is that right?

 

jman1968

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Mar 9, 2013
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Thanks! No longer considering GTX 670. Totally out of my price range and no good on Celeron, as you said.

 

COLGeek

Cybernaut
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Wise decision. Better to save up for a new rig altogether. Good luck!
 

jman1968

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Mar 9, 2013
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I got better performance on BF3 multiplayer changing virtual memory settings and changing advanced system settings to adjust for better performance. I thought there must be some bottleneck occurring because I don't have a bad connection speed. Still looking forward to my next and first build! Thanks for the advice.

 
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