CPU vs. GPU Upgrade

[HalflifeDivided]

Currently running an AMD Athlon X2 - 4200 w/ 2 gigs of ram and a vanilla ATI X1900.

Looking to upgrade either my CPU + Ram or GPU, I don't want to spend too much but am willing to buy whatever is the most bang for the buck in each category right now. Which in the CPU's case would be an E8500, but not sure what the best GPU bang for the buck is.

Anyone have any advice which would give me the best performance boost for gaming? If GPU is the way to go, what are some of the most popular choices for the price/performance price point?

Thanks!

 

[disports]

E8400, ATI HD 4850

 

[exar333]

I would grab another 2GB of RAM ($30-$40) and a 4850; that would total a little over $200. If you are on a budget, go for a 9600GT/8800GT for around $100 plus the RAM.

Save some cash and get a new MB/CPU at the end of the year to pair with your GPU. If you stick with the 4850, you will be in a great shape to get a good deal on a new 8400/8500/cheap quad + P45 board later this year for around $250.

 

[Tempered81]

e8400, e7200, e5200, e2160

hd4850, 9800gt, 9600gt, 9600gs0, 9800gtx+

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Well, if you buy an intel CPU, you have to buy a mobo to go along with it which might run you the cost of 1 4870. I'd go with the 4870 GPU upgrade. Moving from my 3870 to a 4870 was a big wow.

 

[disports]

ram + 4850 sounds better since you do have an amd cpu and mobo

 

[Denithor]

You've already got a decent cpu, upgrade to a modern GPU for best cost/improvement ratio. EDIT: And if you're running XP don't worry about more memory, most games run just fine with 2GB on XP (which will only recognize 3.x GB anyway).

What games do you play and at what resolution?

If older games (<2007) and/or low resolution (1280x1024 or below) go for a 9600GSO for $50AR.

If older games and/or higher resolution (up to 1600x1200) go for 8800GT (~$100AR) or the ASUS 9800GT Ultimate (rebadged 8800GTS @ 9800GTX speeds for $125AR)

If newer games and/or even higher resolution (1920x1200 or above) go for 4850 ($150AR).

The cards above this point will probably be fairly cpu-bound so you would spend more money for not much additional performance.

 

[Falloutboy]

is it a AM2 or 939 X2.

if its AM2 just toss in 2gb more of ram and a 4850

 

[faxon]

what resolution do you play at? building on what denithor said i would consider that into your GPU purchase. if you are playing at the lower range he listed though i would consider the HD4670 for $80 retail. its got much better AA units than the nvidia chips, and at lower resolutions the addition of AA will make a world of difference vs just better texture and shader performance. i have one in a budget system right now with a 3.3Ghz e5200 an it is simply an amazing card for the price-performance-power consumption point.

 

[nerp]

Another voice in favor of just going to 2gb ram and popping in a 4850.

Worry about the mobo/cpu later.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I'm running a socket 939 x2 3800 with 2GB of ram as my main rig.
I used to have an X1800XT. I replaced it with a 4850.
Supreme Commander is still slow once I get about 750 or so units in play.

Otherwise, pretty much all of my games perform well at 1920x1200.

I had a budget of $350 when I did my upgrade, I still want a new mobo and CPU, as well as more ram, but I need to pay down some debt first.
(At the time, I bought a new power supply and hard drive as well ... since my 6 year old Enermax would likely not have enough juice for a new quad core, so I picked up a nice little PC Power and Cooling 650 watt as well as a WD640 SATA drive.) Also, 1080P h264 playback is pretty much perfect.

 

[Ratman6161]

Originally posted by: nerp
Another voice in favor of just going to 2gb ram and popping in a 4850.

Worry about the mobo/cpu later.

Depends on the answer to the 939 Vs AM2 question. If its a socket 939 then its DDR (not DDR2) and more RAM will be expensive if you can find any (other than used).

 

[vj8usa]

Denithor pretty much hit the nail on the head, though personally I wouldn't spend double the money to get an 8800/9800GT vs. a 9600GSO/8800GS when you can spend a bit more to get a 4850.

Originally posted by: Ratman6161

Originally posted by: nerp
Another voice in favor of just going to 2gb ram and popping in a 4850.

Worry about the mobo/cpu later.

Depends on the answer to the 939 Vs AM2 question. If its a socket 939 then its DDR (not DDR2) and more RAM will be expensive if you can find any (other than used).

It still isn't too expensive, in my opinion. I'd say this is worth it:
http://shop4.frys.com/product/4700789
$25 after rebate.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: vj8usa
Denithor pretty much hit the nail on the head, though personally I wouldn't spend double the money to get an 8800/9800GT vs. a 9600GSO/8800GS when you can spend a bit more to get a 4850.

Originally posted by: Ratman6161

Originally posted by: nerp
Another voice in favor of just going to 2gb ram and popping in a 4850.

Worry about the mobo/cpu later.

Depends on the answer to the 939 Vs AM2 question. If its a socket 939 then its DDR (not DDR2) and more RAM will be expensive if you can find any (other than used).

It still isn't too expensive, in my opinion. I'd say this is worth it:
http://shop4.frys.com/product/4700789
$25 after rebate.

Lots of 939 mobos only have 2 or 3 memory slots.
Going from 2GB to 4GB won't make a big difference with games running XP. Upgrading from an x1900 to something 4 times as fast will. Upgrading CPU will make a difference too.

Of course if the OP plays games at 1024x768, then 4850 is overkill, but if he's trying to game on a 22 or 24inch at native resolution, 4850 will give him tremendous gains.

 

[InFeXiOn]

Debating the same myself lately.

I'm currently running a S939 X2 4200+ and 2GB of RAM with an old 7900GT.
Looking to find a cheap upgrade that might keep my rig at least decent for the next 2 years, at the least, preferrably.

Just bought an ASUS G50v-A1 and it's pathetic that my laptop is better than my desktop rig.

>_>

 

[JaBro999]

The new Radeon HD 4830 is supposed to be on store shelves in late October:
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/15590

It might be a good alternative if the 4850 is too pricey / overkill.

As Denithor stated, the games and the screen resolution you play at should guide your choice.

 

[QuadDamage2k]

The 4850 can be had for about 160 if you know where to look, GREAT card plays Crysis War all day

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: vj8usa
Denithor pretty much hit the nail on the head, though personally I wouldn't spend double the money to get an 8800/9800GT vs. a 9600GSO/8800GS when you can spend a bit more to get a 4850.

So the 9600GSO @ ~$50 after MIR is a good deal, and the 4850 @ $150-160 after MIR is a good deal, but a 9600GT or 8800GT @ $100-110 with no rebates isn't a good deal, even though an 8800GT is much closer in performance to a 4850, than to a 9600GSO? I fail to see your logic.

 

[scruffypup]

I have to agree with myocardia on this,... the 9600 GSO 384mb is lacking in power in comparison and is why you can get it under $50 AR

The 8800GT has about as much raw power as the HD4850, the main difference is that the HD4850 will allow higher AA settings than the 8800GT, while maintaining that "power".

Price/performance wise at this time for someone who wants the bang for the buck - I suggest to go with the 8800GT since you get good power, decent AA, save ~$50 on the HD4850, and don't have to deal with rebates,...

 

[Kraeoss]

but for running strategy/rpg games like sc2 and Diablo 3 those would require both upgrades ? and that 4830 that is the 3850 rebadged, correct ?

 

[JaBro999]

Kraeoss,

I think that the 4830 is supposed to be a derivative of the RV770 - not a rebadged 3850. The 4830 is supposed to have 640 stream processors, 256-bit memory interface, and GDDR3 memory. We'll see in a month, I guess.

-jb

 

[Kraeoss]

I just go an evga ssc 8800 GT 512mb ddr3 card. hope to get a dual core to push it just over 90 bucks

Oh and thanks for the heads up JaBro

 

[cusideabelincoln]

To the OP: Don't bother with a RAM upgrade. 2GB is plenty for gaming. And if you upgrade your processor, then you would have to upgrade the motherboard and RAM as well. Your best bet would be to get at least, in my opinion, a 9600GT ($70 after MIR) or HD3870 ($70 AR). Other great bang-for-the-buck cards are the 9800GT ($100 AR) or HD4850 ($140 AR).

Originally posted by: InFeXiOn
Debating the same myself lately.

I'm currently running a S939 X2 4200+ and 2GB of RAM with an old 7900GT.
Looking to find a cheap upgrade that might keep my rig at least decent for the next 2 years, at the least, preferrably.

Just bought an ASUS G50v-A1 and it's pathetic that my laptop is better than my desktop rig.

>_>

Your laptop should only be marginally faster than your desktop. The video cards in both are pretty much equivalent, but your laptop does have a faster processor. If you drop a Radeon HD4850 or 9800GT or even 9600GT into your desktop, then it will smoke your laptop in games. Heck, for the price of an HD4870 you can do an overhaul to your desktop:
$85 - Intel E5200 (2.5GHz)
$70 - ASRock P43Twins1600 mobo
$70 - Geforce 9600GT (AR)
$30 - 2GB DDR2-800 RAM
-------
$255 AR

 

[Kraeoss]

wayy wish i lived in the states

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: Kraeoss
I just go an evga ssc 8800 GT 512mb ddr3 card. hope to get a dual core to push it just over 90 bucks

Where?!?!? Newegg? That is an irresistible price for me at least.