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Upgrade - $200 - video card, or something else? Parts list included

Tags:
  • Graphics Cards
  • Intel
Last response: in Components
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July 23, 2014 9:45:56 AM

CPU
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge Quad-Core 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K

Video Card
SAPPHIRE 100311-3SR Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

MoBo
ASUS P8Z68-V/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Memory
2x CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

Power Supply
XFX PRO850W XXX Edition Semi-Modular 80 Plus Silver Certified 850 Watt Active PFC Power Supply

OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit

I'm looking to do an upgrade because I've started to have to drop my resolution to play games. I'm mostly playing WildStar and Titanfall right now, though there are some games coming up that I'm excited for. I'm not a huge FPS guy, so I don't need something that's cutting-edge; mostly RPGs and RTSs.

My thoughts were that a graphics card upgrade would be the best bang for the buck. I want to stay in the $200 range, though that's a bit flexible. I also wouldn't mind splitting that up between components.

Any suggestions, both for what components will give me the best boost, as well as what to get?

Thanks!

More about : upgrade 200 video card parts list included

a b U Graphics card
July 23, 2014 10:30:22 AM

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/MmPyFT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/MmPyFT/by_merchant/

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($216.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $216.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-23 13:28 EDT-0400
Slightly more than $200 but it's one of the best bang for buck rated cards yet
a b U Graphics card
July 23, 2014 10:35:43 AM

for 200$ u will get r9 270x but it will not be that much of an upgrade though ...for a good upgrade u should get a r9 290 or gtx 780 but those will be double your budget....
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a b U Graphics card
July 23, 2014 10:39:13 AM

actually 6970 is not a bad card at all and not much behind the 280 so spending 200 $ for a card for just for few fps increase i dont see a point .....
a b U Graphics card
July 23, 2014 10:41:11 AM

prit87 said:
for 200$ u will get r9 270x but it will not be that much of an upgrade though ...for a good upgrade u should get a r9 290 or gtx 780 but those will be double your budget....


prit87 said:
actually 6970 is not a bad card at all and not much behind the 280 so spending 200 $ for a card for just for few fps increase i dont see a point .....

But the card maybe getting old since it's two generations behind and if the card is failing and it's the second highest class in that generation, it maybe suggesting that it's ready for an upgrade
July 24, 2014 7:18:17 AM

Thanks everyone! A lot to think about. It seems like waiting a few months might give me some better options (I hear NVidia is releasing a new line with some cool processors).
!