Upgrading my system for gaming - suggestions?

[afroken23]

Hi folks,

I'm looking to upgrade my current system for gaming. I mainly play titles from a few years back like Left 4 Dead 1/2, Dead Space, Call of Duty 4 and 5 but would now like to try more recent titles like Evolve, Dying Light, Call of Duty Advanced Warfare.

For the older games I'd like to play at 1080p @ High details, however for the current titles I'm happy to settle for 720p @ Medium details.

Current system is

Intel i3 2120 @ 3.30 Ghz with stock cooler
Gigabyte GA-H61M-USB3-B3 Motherboard
Corsair XMS3 8 GB (2 x 4GB) 1333 MHz PC3-10666 RAM
samsung 830 SSD 256gb
Corsair CXM 600W Modular 80 PLUS Bronze PSU
Antec 300 case
Win 7

Was also using a ATi Radeon 4890 Graphics card however this has now died, hence my thinking about upgrading.

What upgrade do you think would be best? Graphics card only (budget ~£150 max), new motherboard/CPU + graphics (budget ~£450), or a whole new system (~£800)? Whichever option I take would need to last me at least 3 years.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[stulid]

Get a GFX card first.

A R9 280/280X will be sound, check the lengths of which ever card you are looking at and make sure it fits in the case.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-251-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-347-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

 

[afroken23]

Thanks stulid. Good to know my i3 is still capable. Will investigate graphics card options.

 

[Cat_J]

If you wanted to keep it going longer maybe a second hand i5 2500, under £90 now on a certain auction site. New Gfx card like stulid said will make the most difference, but an i5 would help to prevent bottleneck.