Upgrade from a ATI 4850 with a Q6600 CPU?

[cheddar]

Can anyone advise me what would be a viable upgrade over my old ATI 4850. I am running a standard Q6600 not overclocked and I want to run BF3 without it looking awful.

Is there anyway to make this happen without needing to build a new system. I was looking at the ATI 6950 1GB, but I am unsure. Would I be better of waiting to build a new complete system or is there anyway I can slap a bandaid on my old system and get something decent? I really don't have the money for a new build so I was hoping whatever I get can move on with me in 3/4 months into a new build.

 

[cheddar]

if you go for a 6950 get the 2gb version.

wha psu do you have? you want a decent quality(cosair, antech, seasonic etc) 500w+ for a 6950 2gb.

if you haven't done so, overclock the the q6600 to 3-3.4ghz(3.6 if you have a good cooler and the mb/cpu is capable) and it should last you till the your planned new build.

I have a antec 520 bronze high current gamer psu. As for overclocking the quad, I have thought about it but I am not sure how to. I have been told my CPU version is a G0 which apparently overclocks pretty well on air.

If anyone has any advice on what to change in the bios and what memory settings to use to get this overclocked i'd be grateful.

So the 6950 2gb would allow me to play BF3 with my setup, my 4850 is really struggling with it at low levels.

 

[cheddar]

Yes, upgrading the graphics card to something like a HD 6950 2GB is a very good idea. You will get a massive performance increase in games, including BF3. Another good option on the GPU front is this MSI GTX 560 Ti 2GB which is currently on weekly deal (offer ends later today).

For either of these cards, a Antec 520W HCG will be fine.

As for overclocking, may I ask what motherboard make and model number you are using?
If it is a good one then it is very possibley to overclocks you G0 Q6600 to 3.5GHz - so long as you invest in a new CPU cooler like this. If you are interested in going down this route, may I also ask what case you are using - so we can recommend CPU cooler that will definitely fit.

My motherboard is a Abit IP35V, I honestly can't remember if I bought a seperate heatsink/cooler when I built it a few years ago, I think I may just have the stock one on.

I am not looking to overclock it to something silly, 3ghz would be great. I know you have to change the bus speed, but I am very unsure of what else you need to change in order to get it to work.

At the moment, my temps on the CPU are around 31/32C when idle.

 

[cheddar]

EDIT: What RAM are you using and how many sticks? Make sure the RAM has the correct voltage going through it too, Will more than likely be around 2.0-2.1v if it's half decent stuff but you may have to manually set this.

How do I figure out the correct voltage?

CPU-Z has my ram listed as two 2GB DDR2 PC2-6400 (400MHZ) CORSAIR. It lists the voltage at 1.8v.

The ram settings confuse me with overclocking, anyone care to explain. I get you need to increase the bus speed and possible give it some more juice bu I have no idea when it comes to the ram.

 

[cheddar]

Thanks for all the help and replies it's been appreciated. I think I may sit tight and wait until the new range of cards come out and see whats what.

However I am not against paying $100 (I'm in the USA atm) on a 2nd hand card that will boost my performance to respectable standards on BF3. I normally run at 1920x1024 but I have no issue knocking that down to 1600 or something if I can get some playable performance.

At the moment when I run BF3 with my current setup it stutters when say a explosion happens or if I die and respawn elsewhere, almost as if it has to stop to load textures of something.

So out of the cards mentioned (460gtx, 5850, 6850/70) what would offer the best value for me do you think?

 

[cheddar]

I thought it was odd when I read "bandaid" in the OP from someone from Wales. Makes sense now

Yeah too long in the USA grrrrrr