Upgrading PC

[the_tramp]

Hi,

It's been a while - I actually think it's been 4 years since I've posted here but I've always lurked. Anyway.

I would be very appreciative of some advice as my PC seems to be on the edge of frame rate playability of XYZ game. I currently have the following specs, my gut feeling is that my processor is primarily the problem, followed closely by the graphics card - but I'm a little bit illiterate when it comes to this stuff so I would appreciate your comments and thereafter what I should upgrade to.

I originally bought a Packard Bell ixtreme m5801 if that means anything to anyone...

PC, not Laptop
Intel i3 processor 550 @ 3.2ghz 2 cores 4 logical
6gb RAM
64-bit OS
Geforce GT 420

I have about £3,000 in the bank, but really, due to commitments, I have £500, tops £1,000 available.

What do you guys recommend?

Thanks,

p.s. I had a feeling this was my 1,000th post. So yeah, let's celebrate that too.

 

[Flunk]

Upgrade the GPU, Radeon R9 270x or 280x would be good. Or Geforce 760 or 770 depending on which is cheaper. (270x and 760 are about the same, as are the 280x and 770). Your CPU is not the problem with your current GPU and could probably push one of those previously-mentioned GPUs, I'd favour the slower tier unless there is little price difference. That leaves you more in the pot for when it becomes time to upgrade the CPU.

If you get a new GPU you quite likely will have to buy a new power supply, as the ones that most brands of desktop PC include are not powerful enough to power a gaming-class video card.

If you get into replacing the CPU you basically have to start replacing everything, I'd avoid that for the moment and just pick up a new GPU, that should hold you for a few years.

FYI the Geforce 420 GT is an OEM card that is approximately 1/10th as powerful as a Geforce 460 GTX and is based on the same architecture. It's about the same performance level as Intel's slowest current integrated graphics.

 

[Elvis Starburst]

i5 3570k and a GTX 760 should do ya just fine. That's my recommendation~ (Or an AMD 8350 alternatively, like I have. Works like a champ~)

 

[the_tramp]

Hey,

Thanks for the advice. I've spoken to a couple of people and looked around and ended up settling on an AMD r9 270X. I was looking at the Geforces 750s and 660s (which were coming out at about £130), but as Flank said the R9 270X (also £130) was similar to a 760 I went with that.

Thanks again.