CPU or graphics card to upgrade?

sausagerolls · 27 Dec 2008 at 12:33

Hi there, first post here, but ive been reading the forums for quite along time now, i built this PC near the begginging of the year, my current spec is:

E6400 @ 2.8ghz with AC7 (can easily hit 3ghz) (took this out my older pc)
4gb of Geil 6400 ram
9800GTX 512mb (not the + one)
Gigabyte P35 ds3p

Currently Game at 1680x1050, pretty much every game i play is completely fine near maxed out with 2xaa which is fine by me, But a few games i would like to play a bit smoother and also make it a bit beefier for future games like Empire total war and i also want to buy GTA:IV at some point but that wont run on my system at all.

Do you think its worth buying a 4870 or maybe even a 260 216, or will the different not really be worth it? If not maybe a faster dual core like a E8400/500 that might hit 3.8ghzish, or maybe a quad core might help since the e6400 is getting on a bit (or though its been great so far).

Cheers.

OneTime · 27 Dec 2008 at 13:07

Personally i would like at a high end quad like a Q9550. Should be able to tackle all the latest games and that now since they are starting to make use of quads. imo I see dual cores becoming obsolete soon.

Graphics is fine, wouldn't upgrade it just yet, wait for the new graphics cards coming out Q1 09.

J.B · 27 Dec 2008 at 13:10

Umm tough one, Personally Id go for a new GFX, but thats just me.

pastymuncher · 27 Dec 2008 at 14:05

Get that E6400 to 3Ghz+ and you will get the biggest gain from a new card.

EvilOne · 27 Dec 2008 at 17:08

A better heat sink, then you can push the chip a lot higher, then you can get a better GPU too

AlexTrickle · 27 Dec 2008 at 19:17

EvilOne said:
A better heat sink, then you can push the chip a lot higher, then you can get a better GPU too

+1

New heatsink (e.g. AC Xtreme/Thermalright 120/Tuniq Tower) overclock to >3.0Ghz. However gfx wise the only two cards with which you will have a noticeable improvement with are the GTX280 and the 4870x2 which are both very expensive.

sausagerolls · 27 Dec 2008 at 19:23

Well i can get it 3ghz pretty easily, doesnt run too hot either, had it running at 3.2ghz for a while too but then i started getting BSODS etc, i think it was because i wasnt increasing the voltages at all, but at stock volts it runs at 3ghz fine.