Modest upgrade

[StarPhoenix]

I am busy scraping together some cash [slowly] and should get a few coppers from what I hope to sell.

I want to replace my Geforce GT 630, and maybe also my Core i3 2120 with something that is not beyond my pay grade, yet more suitable for gaming [Witcher 2, Skyrim etc.] than what I already have.

My motherboard [Gigabyte B75 UD3H] is adequate, and I have 8Gb DDR3 RAM.

Given that second-hand Sandy parts should be cheaper than Ivy Bridge chips, is there much of a gap in performance between, say a Core i5 2400, and a 3470?

For gaming, how big is the difference between running the same GPU with a Core i3 or Core i5? [Say...my current 2120 against an i5 2400?]

Currently have R1500 plus whatever I can get for my GT630 and maybe Core i3 2120.

I am not averse to the idea of upgrading only one of the components, say....the graphics card if I am going to get more benefit out of doing that.


Thank you

[StarBound]

Well last night (or this morning after midnight) I posted the cpu scaling with a high end gpu article from toms. Your looking for a gpu replacement first but I don't know where and if you can find something for a decent price. If you can get a 560ti for R1.5k-R2k I think that would be worth it. Maybe look for a 660 or 660ti for around R2k+. Maybe you can even get a radeon 5870/6970/7870 for R1.5k-2k.

[Stuart]

Didn't you just sell an i5 and a reasonably hefty graphics card?

[StarPhoenix]

Didn't you just sell an i5 and a reasonably hefty graphics card?

Would someone please change my title to "mentally unstable"?

[StarBound]

Ok I recommend an i7 3970x with rampage 4 extreme and a geforce titan

[GDI_Lord]

Swap the titan for dual 7990s.

[KALSTER]

4 Physical cores of Sandy bridge would serve you well for some time to come.

Then as mentioned, anything from a 560Ti and up will have you gaming at high quality on all games.

[StarPhoenix]

Ok I recommend an i7 3970x with rampage 4 extreme and a geforce titan

I wish. That goes for any i7. Then throw in a SSD and some Corsair speakers.


@Stuart: I see that you didn't mention that I also let my Z68 motherboard go, and replaced it with a B75.




@Kalster: Radeon HD 7770 best in that price range, wouldn't you say?

Budget for the card is going to be <R2000.

[StarBound]

btw why did you replace your awesome going pc then? I once also tried doing that with my graphics card but ultimately I am a gamer. So everything to improve my experience.

5770 is still better than the 7770 I think.

[StarPhoenix]

btw why did you replace your awesome going pc then? I once also tried doing that with my graphics card but ultimately I am a gamer. So everything to improve my experience.

5770 is still better than the 7770 I think.

Temporarily heightened insanity.
Really? How so?

[StarBound]

Gaming benchmarks. It beats the 7770 out by a few frames in some games. The 7770 will need less power though.

[GDI_Lord]

And that's the thing from my point of view, the 7770 uses less power and generates less heat and so (assuming the manufacturer doesn't screw things up) will be quieter - if that's important to you.

[StarPhoenix]

Ended up ordering a 7790 from Wootware. It includes a copy of Bioshocck: Infinite.
Next big purchase will be a motherboard.
Must be full ATX size and must be socket 1155, as i have a Core i3 2120. No more pokey mATX boards for me! Money hasn't come through yet, but upper limit of budget will be r1500

[StarBound]

Did you atleast check benchmarks?

If I was you I'd just buy this:
http://www.alienware.co.za/pX51-I73770- ... spx#tabs-2

[StarPhoenix]

The benchmark I check favoured the 7770.

If you were me, that spec. would be above your pay grade.

/Reminds self to research what Windows 8 licensing issues may evolve from replacing a motherboard.

Also to look at: P67 versus H77 [if available in full ATX], Z75, and Z77. Are the differences likely to matter to me...
I don't overclock or run multi-GPU configurations, so that would seem to make the fancier chipsets overkill.

[GDI_Lord]

If memory serves me correctly one can do five installs on different hardware configs before one has to contact Microsoft about it. But even then it's just a relatively painless phonecall (those phonecalls were painless for me at the company where I worked previously.)

[StarPhoenix]

If memory serves me correctly one can do five installs on different hardware configs before one has to contact Microsoft about it. But even then it's just a relatively painless phonecall (those phonecalls were painless for me at the company where I worked previously.)

I think I had best stash my money away before I do something stupid again. I have been obsessing over parts these last few days, and it has interfered with my ability to function at work.

[StarBound]

Then wait for 6 months and buy a PS4 as your gaming system. Just hope you have the HDTV to properly use it.

[StarPhoenix]

Then wait for 6 months and buy a PS4 as your gaming system. Just hope you have the HDTV to properly use it.

Well...its an HD-ready 32 inch Samsung Series 3....but my pc monitor has hdmi, audio and supports 1080p. Could sell my ps3, and put the money towards ps4

[StarBound]

That can work. I'll give a few links to the system review once its out and ofcoarse my own impressions of the system and first few games that I get with it.

[StarPhoenix]

What are your impressions of Ps Vita? That is aldo something i have been obsessing about.

[StarBound]

I don't like it. The vita has a nice big oled screen compared to the 3DS or even your iphone. There aren't enough games for it and since it uses the psvita specific memory cards it makes the storage expensive and digital downloads a very limited thing.

You can ofcoarse download the psp digital versions for your vita. A solid analog stick works better than a touch screen interface any day however I found the buttons are too small for my hands and the device too heavy for my grip that I am trying to have with it.

PSVita specific titles are few and far between. The best titles for PSV has already been free on PSN+. None of the games match up against any ps3 title. The resolutions are just under 720p but the games does not look anywhere near as good as they should and takes a while when loading.

The best game on the system atm is Persona 4 Golden which is just a PS2 port and graphicly it looks about the same.

[StarPhoenix]

Modest pc upgrade complete. I was left with some surplus parts. My brother gave me a surprise donation with which to assemble a non-gaming pc. I already have my old cpu and a hard drive for it, and bought ram, motherboard and psu on the weekend. All that remains to be done now is to look for a mini tower case. I have r500 remaining from the donation, so that is going to be my upper limit.

I am looking at the Coolermaster Elite range.