Which to upgrade? CPU or GPU?

[Baenwort]

I'm trying to choose which one will be upgraded this cycle. The CPU/Etc or the video card. The next upgrade will be next year of which ever one I don't upgrade this time. I used to just replace the entire rig but I'm on a budget now that I'm married so one or the other.

My current rig is a E8400(4GB Ram) OCed daily use to 4Ghz(1.35V) and able to go upto 4.5Ghz(1.4V) and a 4870x2 running at the stock CCC OC limit. Both of them under watercooling. The budget doesn't need to include cooling.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming, specifically Civ5, FOTM FPS, EVE Online(3 clients at the same time at 1920x1200 on two separate monitors.)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Depends on which is better to upgrade. I have a budget of $600 for the CPU/RAM/MB or $350 for the GPU

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA. Chicago, IL specificly so I can drive over to Micro-center or Fry's.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

None but I've purchased 6 of my last 8 GPUs from ATI so I'm most comfortable with ATIand the associated enthusiast tools.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

I will be reusing the remaining parts. 80GB Gen2 Intel SSD, 2x 150GB Raptors, 2x 2TB WD Green, 2x 1TB WD Black(RAID 1 on Green and blacks, RAID 0 on Raptors), Combo BR/HD DVD burner drive, 8 120mm Delta HS fans(20W each startup), 1 120x72mm(two contra rotating fans in one housing pulls 40w startup), Current power supply is BFG ES-800.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yes, both here and at Xtremesystems.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

OCing

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

1920x1200

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Now

 

[DominionSeraph]

Well are you CPU limited or GPU limited?

Jeez, answer your own question.

 

[mnewsham]

An E8400 @ 4ghz wont bottle neck much O_O

 

[Big Lar]

I'm trying to choose which one will be upgraded this cycle. The CPU/Etc or the video card. The next upgrade will be next year of which ever one I don't upgrade this time. I used to just replace the entire rig but I'm on a budget now that I'm married so one or the other.

My current rig is a E8400(4GB Ram) OCed daily use to 4Ghz(1.35V) and able to go upto 4.5Ghz(1.4V) and a 4870x2 running at the stock CCC OC limit. Both of them under watercooling. The budget doesn't need to include cooling.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming, specifically Civ5, FOTM FPS, EVE Online(3 clients at the same time at 1920x1200 on two separate monitors.)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Depends on which is better to upgrade. I have a budget of $600 for the CPU/RAM/MB or $350 for the GPU

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA. Chicago, IL specificly so I can drive over to Micro-center or Fry's.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

None but I've purchased 6 of my last 8 GPUs from ATI so I'm most comfortable with ATIand the associated enthusiast tools.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

I will be reusing the remaining parts. 80GB Gen2 Intel SSD, 2x 150GB Raptors, 2x 2TB WD Green, 2x 1TB WD Black(RAID 1 on Green and blacks, RAID 0 on Raptors), Combo BR/HD DVD burner drive, 8 120mm Delta HS fans(20W each startup), 1 120x72mm(two contra rotating fans in one housing pulls 40w startup), Current power supply is BFG ES-800.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yes, both here and at Xtremesystems.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

OCing

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

1920x1200

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Now

IMHO, if your not severely bottle necked with the games you play now, I'd stick with what you have for now. If you think you Really need to upgrade I would save up a bit more and switch from 775 platform to SB, but again IMHO, I would wait until the new platform is a bit more mature and let the dust settle a bit first.
Another option would be picking up a Quad 775 chip and a new vid card for the $600 you mention and sell your chip and vid card. You can always sell the 775 chip later and use the new vid card in the next build next year.

Larry

 

[Baenwort]

IMHO, if your not severely bottle necked with the games you play now, I'd stick with what you have for now. If you think you Really need to upgrade I would save up a bit more and switch from 775 platform to SB, but again IMHO, I would wait until the new platform is a bit more mature and let the dust settle a bit first.
Another option would be picking up a Quad 775 chip and a new vid card for the $600 you mention and sell your chip and vid card. You can always sell the 775 chip later and use the new vid card in the next build next year.

Larry

The only game I'm currently feeling held back in is EVE Online when I run 2 or 3 clients at ones on the two separate windows. Because I have to run in boarderless window mode to do this I can't take advantage of CF. In larger fleet battles(~700 players on screen) I have performance issues with only 2 clients running(1 in each window). I'd like to turn all the options to max in Civ5 but that isn't as important. I'm not playing any FPS currently to feel held back by but it just takes one rave review from a friend to get me to impulse buy the next "big thing".

Its mostly because I find it hard to believe that after nearly 2.5 years that CPUs/GPUs haven't improved enough to warrant a upgrade. I've tried not to follow the new releases since my last build as it just results in needless expenses based on examination of my shopping habits from '99 to 2008 so I've come to you guys to help me so I don't do that research and talk myself into a upgrade whether or not I need it just because I get excited by some new technology.

 

[zi0n.]

I would get a ud3+i5-2500k with some g.skill ram and try to sell those 4870's(possibly your old cpu,mb,ram too?) to get a single card. That would be pretty close to $600 I think.

 

[Baenwort]

I would get a ud3+i5-2500k with some g.skill ram and try to sell those 4870's(possibly your old cpu,mb,ram too?) to get a single card. That would be pretty close to $600 I think.

All old parts are used to upgrade relatives systems so I won't be selling them on.

I'm only upgrading one or the other due to recently changed marital status and our negotiated limits on spending(I can upgrade one half of the system per year. Budget for that half set by negotiations around time of purchase). Its either a CPU/etc or GPU upgrade for me this year so I'm asking for help on choosing which one to upgrade or if you guys who follow the rumor mill think that I'm good for now and should wait till X comes out around Y time to see a statistically significant improvement.

 

[dpodblood]

Honestly I would just stick with what you have for now, and save until you have enough to do a full upgrade.

 

[VirtualLarry]

All old parts are used to upgrade relatives systems so I won't be selling them on.

I'm only upgrading one or the other due to recently changed marital status and our negotiated limits on spending(I can upgrade one half of the system per year. Budget for that half set by negotiations around time of purchase). Its either a CPU/etc or GPU upgrade for me this year so I'm asking for help on choosing which one to upgrade or if you guys who follow the rumor mill think that I'm good for now and should wait till X comes out around Y time to see a statistically significant improvement.

It's really not smart to upgrade only the CPU or only the GPU at one time, because half of the time, you are wasting the true performance potential of that half, while you are waiting to upgrade the other half. It doesn't make sense, other than if you have a hard budget limit.

 

[zi0n.]

All old parts are used to upgrade relatives systems so I won't be selling them on.

I'm only upgrading one or the other due to recently changed marital status and our negotiated limits on spending(I can upgrade one half of the system per year. Budget for that half set by negotiations around time of purchase). Its either a CPU/etc or GPU upgrade for me this year so I'm asking for help on choosing which one to upgrade or if you guys who follow the rumor mill think that I'm good for now and should wait till X comes out around Y time to see a statistically significant improvement.

Do

Honestly I would just stick with what you have for now, and save until you have enough to do a full upgrade.

This then.:thumbsup:

 

[Davidh373]

I would get a good single card. You are likely CPU limited (to be honest) but by the time next year roles around comes the new intel 2011 for the enthusiasts. Given all them RAIDs and the SSD, I'm assuming you love to have the best of the best. While Ivy Bridge is due to hit the 1155, it isn't likely to touch socket 2011 performance.

 

[mfenn]

The only game I'm currently feeling held back in is EVE Online when I run 2 or 3 clients at ones on the two separate windows. Because I have to run in boarderless window mode to do this I can't take advantage of CF. In larger fleet battles(~700 players on screen) I have performance issues with only 2 clients running(1 in each window). I'd like to turn all the options to max in Civ5 but that isn't as important. I'm not playing any FPS currently to feel held back by but it just takes one rave review from a friend to get me to impulse buy the next "big thing".

I think you've answered your own question here. You likely need both a CPU and GPU upgrade, but you are being put into a situation where you can't do CFX, and are thus GPU-limited.

I'd probably get 6970 if your budget includes MIRs, GTX 570 otherwise.