New build or new GPU

Gaw

Gaw

Gaw

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Joined
11 Jul 2010
Posts
21
Contemplating about whether to just get a GTX 570, or to try and build a budget PC.

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Already bought an XFX 650w core edition PSU a few weeks ago, so that is no issue.

I've put together a system that consists of:

MSI 790XT-G45 mobo, with BIOS update it will take AMD Phenom II x4+x6 cpus
CoolerMaster 920 II advanced dominator case
any of these ATI 5770's (feel free to tell me which one is best)

I would then put in my old RAM, my old CPU, and the new PSU I recently got.

Now, I could do that, or I could just get a gtx 570.

So:

Rig I made (or suggest new one)
OR
GTX 570
 
Overclocking your current CPU and getting a 570 would give the biggest boost in performance for the budget.

However if you did get a new system, get the GTX 460 instead of the 5770, you can get 460's for 111 now too.
 
N00bbuilder79 said:
Whats your budget and what will the system be used for?
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Budget is strictly €350 (£298). Would be using the build for gaming (on source, Civ 5, maybe Just Cause 2.) Nothing too heavy. Pretty much just gaming.

Si105 said:
Overclocking your current CPU and getting a 570 would give the biggest boost in performance for the budget.

However if you did get a new system, get the GTX 460 instead of the 5770, you can get 460's for 111 now too.
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You're right - I could just about fit in a gtx 460.

The thing is though, my current build is a prebuilt. BIOS is entirely locked, can't overclock or unlock core.

So the question is what would give me the biggest boost in performance - a gtx 570, or a gtx 460 + moderate unlock + possible core unlock.
 
thought it was a pre biuld looking at the specs. I would say go with new build as the 65nm phenoms are pretty rubbish clockers.

edit: just realised your new build doesnt have a new cpu.
 
thingemajib said:
thought it was a pre biuld looking at the specs. I would say go with new build as the 65nm phenoms are pretty rubbish clockers.

edit: just realised your new build doesnt have a new cpu.
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It doesn't have a new cpu no - but it would allow me to upgrade to a phenom II x4 970 or so in the future (I will probably be able to get some money ready around the release of bulldozer - since the price of phenom II would likely decrease).
 
XFX ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £94.99
(£80.84) £94.99
(£80.84)
AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 630 2.80GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £75.19
(£63.99) £75.19
(£63.99)
Coolermaster CM-690 II Advanced Dominator Case - Black £69.99
(£59.57) £69.99
(£59.57)
**A Grade** Gigabyte GA-MA770-DS3 AMD 770 (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £37.99
(£32.33) £37.99
(£32.33)
Sub Total : £236.73
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £43.48
Total : £291.96

if you want to buy now, thats what id do (your case is out of stock though). you could save some money to put towards a 460 by ditching the dominator and going for a CM elite 430. That will be a huge upgrade in just about every area. If you want to hang on to your current cpu and upgrade later then stick with your build (though if you can stretch to a gtx460 then they are the better performers)
 
i think theres only one AM3 motherboard in existance that supports SLI (ASUS M4N98TD EVO) and only a handful of AM2+ boards. when the time comes i would say sell the 460 and put the money towards a faster single card (ie the gtx570)
 
thingemajib said:
i think theres only one AM3 motherboard in existance that supports SLI (ASUS M4N98TD EVO) and only a handful of AM2+ boards. when the time comes i would say sell the 460 and put the money towards a faster single card (ie the gtx570)
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I was just saying that it is an option - the mobo I listed earlier does support 16/0 + 8/8 setups.

(OCUK do not have any AM2+ motherboards for sale at all)

What sort of improvement would I get from a gtx 460 + maybe slight overclock of my CPU? Could I max source? All I want is to max source, run Civ 5 DECENTLY, and run just cause 2 at all, can't run it at all right now.
 
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Gaw said:
I was just saying that it is an option - the mobo I listed earlier does support 16/0 + 8/8 setups.
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aye, but that is for crossfire only. You'd be limited to ATI cards if you want to go multi GPU (not that thats a bad thing...). from what a gather the 6xxx cards scale quite well. The midrange equivilent for your budget would probably be a 6850. If you decide to go for the 'just get a single powerful gpu' option after all, then the 6950 is a viable alternative to the gtx570. (theres a thread popped up about unlocking the 6950 into a 6970 as well. Extra performance for free )

Gaw said:
What sort of improvement would I get from a gtx 460 + maybe slight overclock of my CPU? Could I max source? All I want is to max source, run Civ 5 DECENTLY, and run just cause 2 at all, can't run it at all right now.
Click to expand...

by soucre i take it you mean valve source games? If so then just about anything midrange and new would play those easily. The others i dont really know much about so someone else should step in for advice there. Also, what screen resolution are we talking here?

didnt thank about mobo/cpu compatabilities. probably be best to stick with your suggestion and go phenom II a bit later on :)
 
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thingemajib said:
aye, but that is for crossfire only. You'd be limited to ATI cards if you want to go multi GPU (not that thats a bad thing...)
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I thought crossfire and sli were the same thing?

thingemajib said:
by soucre i take it you mean valve source games? If so then just about anything midrange and new would play those easily.
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Alright, great :D

thingemajib said:
Also, what screen resolution are we talking here?
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1680x1050, I didn't specify as the speccy said that.
 
Alright, there's £125 exactly left to get a GPU - what's the best one I can get for that price? (On OCUK).

Thanks.
 
Going for a different motherboard so have some extra cash for the GPU.

My price point is *strictly* £150 (a little less than that, taking into account Irish VAT) - trying to decide between this and this, finding it hard to decide.. My new mobo does not have support for SLI or CF so forget about that :)
 
Gaw said:
Going for a different motherboard so have some extra cash for the GPU.

My price point is *strictly* £150 (a little less than that, taking into account Irish VAT) - trying to decide between this and this, finding it hard to decide.. My new mobo does not have support for SLI or CF so forget about that :)
Click to expand...
 
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