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fluffy_ni

fluffy_ni

fluffy_ni

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Joined
28 Feb 2012
Posts
14
my setup

cpu - intel core 2 duo E8500 @ 3.16ghz
motherboard - gigabyte EP45c-DS3R
Ram - 4gb Corsair DDR2 PC2-6400 (400mhz ram)
Graphics Card - NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS 320mb
PSU - Corsair HX520w
OS - win7 ultimate 32bit

Looking for a graphics card upgrade dont want to change much/anything else unless i really have to. Any ideas on the best card that my setup can handle and best value card. I want to play bf3 etc at 1920x1080. Havent played pc games in nearly 2 years so any help with what i need to get back gaming would be great!

Any help welcome cheers!
 
Hi Fluffy.

A 560TI 1GB will cope quite nicely in your setup. BF3 is great for quad cores though, so maybe if you did have any FPS probs, then add a Q chip (a cheap upgrade) if your mobo can take that of course.

Maybe somebody here uses your chip and plays the latest games?
 
I was running a core 2 duo @ 3.4ghz and I was getting FPS in the low 20s with Quad SLI..

Joking aside you need a new CPU board and ram, as well as a GPU.

Your PSU should cut say an I3 2120 and MATX board with a 560ti.
 
Well, I would suggest is that you upgrade that CPU to a Core 2 Quad as your first priority. They aren't expensive nowadays and will slot straight into that board as it's the same socket.

A dual core CPU will struggle with some games these days, especially games like BF3. I'd suggest maybe a Q6600 as a cheap CPU upgrade.

Aside from that, a decent card that will give you reasonably good performance would be something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-269-AS

Still a decent card, and under £100, but if you had the budget, I would seriously consider replacing the entire system with an i3/i5 Z68 based setup.
 
And remain choked by that amazingly old and slow DDR2.

Sandy I3, nice cheap MATX board (£40 or so) and £23 worth of 1600mhz Corsair Vengeance blue. Then get a GPU.
 
my gigabyte EP45c-DS3R takes both ddr2 + ddr3 could replace ram with 1600mhz Corsair Vengeance blue and skip on mobo but would it be wise? what disadvantages does my board have?
 
stulid said:
Do a GFX card upgrade first, then see what you reckon?
Click to expand...

Spot on.

I have played BF3 on ultra (no AA) with a Q8400 @ 3.2ghz, DDR2 mem and a 560TI and the frame rate was smooth.

Like Stulid says, get the GPU and if you are not happy with that, go for a Q chip or maybe time to upgrade completely.
 
gregster said:
Spot on.

I have played BF3 on ultra (no AA) with a Q8400 @ 3.2ghz, DDR2 mem and a 560TI and the frame rate was smooth.

Like Stulid says, get the GPU and if you are not happy with that, go for a Q chip or maybe time to upgrade completely.
Click to expand...

oh happy days, if it runs smooth thats good enough for me
 
fluffy_ni said:
my gigabyte EP45c-DS3R takes both ddr2 + ddr3 could replace ram with 1600mhz Corsair Vengeance blue and skip on mobo but would it be wise? what disadvantages does my board have?
Click to expand...

If it takes DDR3 that's fine. Just make sure it can handle low voltage DDR3 as most of it is now. I know that my 790i based board didn't like it.

I still think you're better off upgrading most of your rig. Your PSU is fine though.
 
Yeah it's probably wise to get a more powerful GPU first, and then you can see if the performance is acceptable.

If not you can then try adding in some faster RAM, or a Q6600 for example.

If it was me I'd have upgraded the CPU first, but upgrading the GPU first actually makes more sense come to think of it.
 
+1 for that chip.

I've still got a Q6600 and while I know I would likely see a substantial benefit by upgrading to say a 2500k, there still seems to be little or nothing that I play that I can't max out at 1200p and give playable frame rates, mods with AA et all.
 
Man with experience here :D
I upgraded from a E6600 to a Q6600 with a 560Ti Gb
Used to play BF3 on low with stuttering, now i play high or ultra at 1080p at 40-60 fps

Second hand Q6600 from some auction site and a new 560Ti or similar and you will be more than happy!
 
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