Anything wrong with this CPU/MB/RAM?

[AMDPwred]

Looking for a core upgrade for gaming (SWTOR, Diablo 3, BF3). My current set up:

* Core 2 Duo 3ghz
* Gigabyte (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358)
* (2) 4 GB DDR2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145215)
* ATI HD 4890 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102830)

Thinking that my limitation in SWTOR right now is CPU-based, so I'm looking to upgrade to:

* i5 2500 (have gift cards to BB: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Intel%26...2500&cp=1&lp=1)
* Gigabyte Z68-based (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128512)
* 8 GB DDR3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428)

Does it make sense to upgrade the memory for $44? Is there a cheaper alternative for the motherboard? I'm planning to use the HD 4890 until I can get a 560 Ti or similar. Would I see a nice improvement going from the 4890 to a 560 Ti?

 

[paperwastage]

what do you use your machine for? answer the stickie questions

btw, you have to upgrade the ram.. .DDR2 and DDR3 arent compatible (there are cheaper 2x4GB DDR3 sticks < $35)

 

[lehtv]

Do you play on 1080p? What kind of settings do you use in SWTOR and what framerates are you getting?

Can't say for sure if it's your CPU... These benchmarks would agree that it is, but then again they're using a graphics card twice as fast. However, this chart shows that even a 5770 should achieve over 30fps on 1080p maxed out 0xAA when coupled with i5-2500K @ 4.0. Your 4890 is faster than 5770. So if you're getting significantly lower FPS on those settings, it is your CPU holding you back. If you are getting similar FPS, then it's your GPU in which case you should upgrade the CPU as well to avoid bottlenecking.

 

[AMDPwred]

Do you play on 1080p? What kind of settings do you use in SWTOR and what framerates are you getting?

Can't say for sure if it's your CPU... These benchmarks would agree that it is, but then again they're using a graphics card twice as fast. However, this chart shows that even a 5770 should achieve over 30fps on 1080p maxed out 0xAA when coupled with i5-2500K @ 4.0. Your 4890 is faster than 5770. So if you're getting significantly lower FPS on those settings, it is your CPU holding you back. If you are getting similar FPS, then it's your GPU in which case you should upgrade the CPU as well to avoid bottlenecking.

I play at 1920x1200 with everything on low. I get ~10-20 indoors, ~30-40 outdoors.

 

[lehtv]

That's pretty alarming. In the low settings test on TH, you can see 83fps average on low settings 1080p with a 5770. More than twice what you're getting outdoors, and with a lesser graphics card. I can't assume anything else but doubling of framerates with a new quad core. Maybe there's more to it but this seems like the obvious answer.

That i5-2500 on BB costs the same as the overclockable i5-2500K on newegg. On BB that one is $10 more, but with your gift card that $10 is probably not a big deal.

From newegg, grab
Asrock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 $122
G.Skill 1333 2x4GB $35 or G.Skill Ripjaws 1600 2x4GB $45 (1333 is better bang for buck)