New build / Upgrade path

[lgevans]

I am seeking some advice on upgrading my current kit. My current spec is:-

Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156) @ OC to 3.8GHz
Corsair XMS3 8GB (4x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD5 DDR3 Motherboard
Corsair Hydro H50-1 Cooler
XFX ATI Radeon HD 5870 1024MB X2 Crossfire (ed)
Zalman ZM750-HP Heatpipe Cooled 750W Modular Power Supply
Crucial RealSSD M4 64GB SSD - Boot Drive
Crucial RealSSD M4 128GB SSD - Game Installs
Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB x3
Define XL Case

CPU/MOBO & Graphics cards are the prime candidates for upgrade and I hoped that I could get some advice on what GFX, CPU/MOBO to go for.

I would also appreciate a brief rationale for mobo choice re: Z,X or P chipset as I have no idea what the difference between each is...

The PC is intended as a games machine playing at a resolution of 1920x1080.

Thanks in advance for any replies

 

[mp260767]

what games are you looking to get an improvement with ?

i'd go with the Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 Intel Z68 mobo (will allow you to use the 5870's in sli) and i5 2500K processor.

z68 allow the use of overclocking on the K processors and use of the i5/i7 sandybridges onboard processor gfx.

p67 allows you to overclock the K processors

h61/67 allow you to use the i5/i7 sandybridges onboard processor gfx.


if the new processor doesnt offer enough of an improvement then look at the nvidia 560ti or the ati 6950 graphics cards.