Need some help with my upgrade path?

[strick9noob]

I have am looking to upgrade my gaming pc here soon. Not sure where I should go with it. It currently has a AMD 970 BE on a asus saber tooth mobo with a sapphire 6950 toxic edition gpu.

Currently play BF4 on all "low" graphic setting and getting 45 fps on average I would say in multiplayer. I am getting GTA 5 here soon and really want to enjoy more of its upgrades and bump bf4 up some as well.

Not sure if I would be better served dumping AMD and going Intel on the cpu. I was thinking I could get a fx-8350 to keep the cost low and a nvidia 970 but not sure. I would love to go intel but not really into discarding the AMD mobo as it was not a cheap one. Should I just keep the cup I have and upgrade my gpu? The plan was to upgrade my cup in the next couple months and later in they year around summer or fall to replace the gpu?

 

[DSF]

It would really help you know what sort of budget you're working with. You mentioned keeping the cost low, but can you put a concrete number on it?

 

[strick9noob]

Yeah guess that helps lol. I don't really have a budget per se. I know the fx-8350 are around $180 usd. And if I was to go Intel it would be about $150usd more I figured. Not sure if there is any advantage To go Intel with the extra cash. I have no interest in the fastest gpu's out there or going with multiple ones. Hope this helps.

 

[strick9noob]

Not sure if I could put a concrete number to it. Would it be worth it to change to an Intel i5 CPU? Stay with an AMD CPU? Or just upgrade my GPU?

 

[Ken g6]

If you're going to overclock, you might as well get an FX-8320 and OC it. Saves about $35.

If you're not going to OC, minimum for an i5 + cheap mobo is $220 or so.

Unless you're near a Micro Center in which case they usually have similar CPUs cheaper than these.

Not sure if I could put a concrete number to it. Would it be worth it to change to an Intel i5 CPU? Stay with an AMD CPU? Or just upgrade my GPU?

Can you wait for us to get back to you after GTA V benchmarks become available when it comes out later this month?

 

[strick9noob]

I do not have a micro center near me. All I have is Amazon, newegg, Fry's Electronics, and any other e-retailers. I figured getting the 8350 will let me o/c it even higher then the 8320 can or am I missing something? Some kind of limit with these fx cpu's? For me to go the Intel route would add $100-$150 more depending on what mobo I got that would still work with the other hardware I currently still have.

I will not buying anything until February anyways. Figured I should ask before I buy so I know where u am going.

 

[mfenn]

Does your BF4 performance change when you increase the graphics options? If it doesn't, then you are CPU limited and should focus there. It it does, you could be CPU or GPU limited.

Check check to see what happens to performance if you lower the resolution? If your performance increases after that, then you are GPU limited. If it doesn't, you are CPU limited.

 

[strick9noob]

Does your BF4 performance change when you increase the graphics options? If it doesn't, then you are CPU limited and should focus there. It it does, you could be CPU or GPU limited.

Check check to see what happens to performance if you lower the resolution? If your performance increases after that, then you are GPU limited. If it doesn't, you are CPU limited.

Great. I did try some so this already without thinking. I went to the lowest resolution and saw a 30fps or so jump from the highest. I will try out the options next.

I am sure I am both cpu and gpu limited with bf4.

 

[Ken g6]

I figured getting the 8350 will let me o/c it even higher then the 8320 can or am I missing something?

It might. It might not.

Some kind of limit with these fx cpu's?

Nah. Just binning. AMD does test for "golden" CPUs to get products such as the FX-9590. So there is something to your logic. Depends how much you want to pay vs. how much you want to risk I guess.

 

[James999]

Why not try a new GPU first, something that hits your budget and will have some longevity even if it turns out you need more CPU as well? Then if GTA is still laggy, you can take the next step and replace CPU and/or MOBO??

 

[mfenn]

Why not try a new GPU first, something that hits your budget and will have some longevity even if it turns out you need more CPU as well? Then if GTA is still laggy, you can take the next step and replace CPU and/or MOBO??

That's a good plan if you have the budget to do both. If you have to pick and choose your upgrade, then you have to figure out which component is limiting you the most.

 

[mfenn]

Great. I did try some so this already without thinking. I went to the lowest resolution and saw a 30fps or so jump from the highest. I will try out the options next.

I am sure I am both cpu and gpu limited with bf4.

Sorry, I should have phrased my response a little more precisely: we want to figure out if you're more limited by CPU or GPU. Definitely both are limiting you in an absolute sense.

Since lowering the resolution helps your framerates, I feel like you're probably GPU limited (pending confirmation from the other test). Running at a low resolution doesn't change the CPU-heavy parts of the game like physics simulations. So if you were able to get an increase of 30 FPS by running at the lowest resolution (least GPU load), then you are probably limited by the GPU at your standard config.

 

[strick9noob]

I did do the test in multiplayer. I do know that running BF4 puts my cpu at or near 100%. My fps does drop when turn up all the graphic options. I am sure I am in need of a new GPU and CPU at this point.
I just run the Metro 2033 in game benchmark, here are my results
Settings
1920/1080
DX11
Quality, Very High
Antialiasing 4X
Texture filtering 16X
Advanced physX enabled
Tessellation enabled
23fps average over three runs

Turning all graphic option turned down or off, lowering resolution to 1024/768 with physix off I am getting 80fps

 

[strick9noob]

Why not try a new GPU first, something that hits your budget and will have some longevity even if it turns out you need more CPU as well? Then if GTA is still laggy, you can take the next step and replace CPU and/or MOBO??

I am looking at getting either a 970 or a R9 290x.

But I guess is Intel(for me right now) worth going to? I was thinking getting a Fx-8350 and once I outgrow that just going over to Intel as I am not sure AMD can really do more with the am3+ socket I have.

 

[Ken g6]

I am looking at getting either a 970 or a R9 290x.

What's your PSU? That could make the decision fairly easy.

But I guess is Intel(for me right now) worth going to? I was thinking getting a Fx-8350 and once I outgrow that just going over to Intel as I am not sure AMD can really do more with the am3+ socket I have.

Yeah, the AM3 socket is a dead platform walking. AMD really isn't focusing on medium-to-high-end gaming. But, really, which platform you go for now depends on your budget. If you have the budget for a 970 and an FX-8350 (and the PSU for a 290x and FX-8350), you might be better off with an R9 290 and an i5.

 

[strick9noob]

I am running a Antec high current gamer series 900w psu. I had the original intention of going dual 6950 toxic.

I am having a hard time justifying buying a new mobo and ram if I changed to Intel. I figured going with a fx-8350 would keep my rig fast enough. The saber tooth mobo I have was kinda spendy when I bought it and am having a tough time throwing it out.

 

[James999]

I am looking at getting either a 970 or a R9 290x.

I am waiting for my EVGA 970 "superclocked" to arrive. It was a bit expensive at $339, but seems like a good compromise between high performance and cost. My hope is it will last for a number of years before the games outrun me again. :hmm:

 

[James999]

That's a good plan if you have the budget to do both. If you have to pick and choose your upgrade, then you have to figure out which component is limiting you the most.

This is true.

 

[strick9noob]

I am waiting for my EVGA 970 "superclocked" to arrive. It was a bit expensive at $339, but seems like a good compromise between high performance and cost. My hope is it will last for a number of years before the games outrun me again. :hmm:

Yeah. I always buy the second fastest single GPU of the current offerings myself.

 

[escrow4]

I am running a Antec high current gamer series 900w psu. I had the original intention of going dual 6950 toxic.

I am having a hard time justifying buying a new mobo and ram if I changed to Intel. I figured going with a fx-8350 would keep my rig fast enough. The saber tooth mobo I have was kinda spendy when I bought it and am having a tough time throwing it out.

It wouldn't be fast enough. Intel is on point for gaming CPUs now and for a long time now. AMD cannot sustain decent minimums like so:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/far-cry-4-benchmark-performance-review,4019-4.html

Even a locked i5 and H81 would be a better choice.

 

[strick9noob]

Oh I guess it helps to let everyone who has given input. I am running a 27" 60htz 1920/1080 AOC monitor with no plans to replace it as I bought it just this last summer. Thanks for the find on the cpu info with far cry 4. However I don't really plan on playing that game anytime soon. So how much better is the newest Intel CPUs per the i5-2500k at stock speeds. I would be looking at a i5 if u did happen to go Intel.

 

[mfenn]

I did do the test in multiplayer. I do know that running BF4 puts my cpu at or near 100%. My fps does drop when turn up all the graphic options. I am sure I am in need of a new GPU and CPU at this point.
I just run the Metro 2033 in game benchmark, here are my results
Settings
1920/1080
DX11
Quality, Very High
Antialiasing 4X
Texture filtering 16X
Advanced physX enabled
Tessellation enabled
23fps average over three runs

Turning all graphic option turned down or off, lowering resolution to 1024/768 with physix off I am getting 80fps

Based on your data, the GPU is what's limiting you the most. Given current R9 290X pricing, I think the best buy for you would be a GTX 970 like this Zotac for $330.

 

[strick9noob]

Thanks everyone. I am thinking I will go ahead and replace my GPU first I will see how much that improves my gaming then decide of I should replace my cpu at this time.