Although this largely depends on me sorting out my BC2 stuttering problem and giving me the confidence to spend the money, I am still just looking into what parts I would need and therefore overall cost.
My current system is:
Phenom 7750
4Gb Ram
Radeon 6790
The top 2 are the only parts of the system I really want to upgrade (so CPU, MB and Ram). What I would be looking for is something that will play BF3 at 1920x1080 at good FPS and good detail. Also, something that would last me about 3 years.
What would you recommend?
whats your budget like
I only really want to spend 250-300. The lower the better though. The minimum needed to be able to play at 1920x1080.
If it handles whatever your throwing at it right now I'd say leave it alone, upgrade in a year or whenever it begins to struggle & even new & better kit will be out by then.
It doesn't though. I can't play BC2 in 1920x1080. I tried and thought I could but only when there isn't much going on. When the action gets going my machine can't cope with the resolution.
Whats you full list of specs:
Motherboard model
PSU
Case
all of it :)
Case - Fractal Design R3 Define
PSU - Nexus NX-5000
Motherboard - Asus M3N78-VM
Memory - Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 1066MHz/PC2-8500 XMS2 Memory CL5 2.1V
Hard Drive - Western Digital WD3200AAKS 320GB SATAII 16MB Cache 7200 RPM
Video card - Sapphire Radeon 6790 1Gb
DVD - LG GH22NS40 22X SATA DVD±RW/DL/RAM Black Bare Drive
Cooler - Scythe Ninja II with 120mm fan Heatpipe Socket 478, 775, 939, 940, AM2
I've noticed that with a BIOS update I can install a hex core 1055t into my motherboard. Perhaps I should just upgrade this for now. However my mb only takes ddr2 1066 memory so will this bottleneck the system making the CPU upgrade pointless?
Just had a look at a review of your graphics card........ and with this set up:
Intel Core i7-965 processor (3.2GHz: 133MHz x 24)
3x 2GB Corsair TR3X6G1333C9 memory modules (operating in dual-channel mode at 1,600MHz
Corsair X128 120GB SSD running v1 firmware
It could only manage 22 fps at 1920 x 1080, so I would say to get a decent frame rate you will need a serious upgrade including graphics card
Review here. (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/04/05/amd-radeon-hd-6790-1gb-review/1)
Thanks. It looks like I might have to make do with the PS3 for now then. The only advantage over PS3 would have been being able to play at 1080p (the native res of my tv). But the cost of doing so is getting too steep now.
This set up will do what you want for £288
[h=1]AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 640 3.00GHz (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-268-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=)[/h][h=1]MSI 880GMS-E35 AMD 880G (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-189-MS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=)[/h][h=1]OCZ Gold 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Low-Voltage Dual Channel Kit (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-183-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1516)[/h][h=1]MSI GeForce GTX 560 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-132-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=)[/h]All sourced from Overclockers, you will probably be able to save money by shopping around at ebuyer etc.
Plus you may well be able to flog your existing components for £100 or so on ebay .
I'm not sure if I'm being daft here, but would the easiest upgrade to get games running better not be a better gfx card? Just chuck in the best he can afford?
I should also mention that the reason I went for the Sapphire 6790 is because it was rated as a very quiet gfx card. This is important with it sitting permanently in the living room otherwise the missus will order it upstairs. (and that isn't an option for me). So as much as a more power gfx card would be needed, it must be silent.
I'm just getting into the realms of too much spend now. That's a good rig lionheart for £288 (edit: although it seems to come to more like £310) but it doesn't seem very future proof. I'd regret getting that if BF3 comes out and won't run at 1080p.
You're right Rizzy, but the rest of the system will bottleneck and restrict any decent card.
I still make it £288 Gunzie.
Unfortunately speed and silence comes at a price, a big one. As for future proofing, well I always think its a myth banded about by sales staff trying to sell the next level up.
I still make it £303.96 before shipping but that's splitting hairs anyway.
Thanks for everyone's input.
I now have an idea of what is needed but its a little out of my budget at present. I'll be making do with the PS3 for now but definitely will upgrade when funds allow. Hopefully not too long after BF3 release.
I've decided on a different tactic. I just can't afford a full upgrade. I've just ordered a quad core CPU and will keep my existing mb and ram. Some time in the future I'll upgrade the gfx card.
My mb says it supports am3 quad core with a BIOS update and updated it in preparation last night.
Gaming PC Self build from DABS for £239.98 (http://www.dabs.com/products/asus-amd-gamer-bundle--includes-m4a87td-evo-motherboard--amd-phenom-ii-x6-1090t-black-edition---4gb-ddr3--77X5.html?utm_source=retention+email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email110811)- it doesn't have to be expensive.
nope but still maybe save up a little extra and get something like
DABS Intel Core i5 349£ (http://www.dabs.com/products/asus-intel-ultimate-bundle--includes-p8p67-motherboard--intel-core-i5-2500k---8gb-ddr3-memory--7J0Y.html)
Thanks. I had already budgeted about £240 for cpu/mb/ram and even that was too much to spend. I'm getting old now you know. I don't have anywhere near the disposable income I had when I was younger ;) I couldn't even justify £240ish.
I've now got the new quad core cpu (albeit only a Phenom 955), installed and Win 7 reinstalled. It'll have to do for now.
My CPU upgrade did the trick. 1920x1080 (my tv resolution) and everything maxed out, I'm getting a constant 50fps according to fraps. I did turn off bloom (which I don't like anyway) and hbao.
Nice. Just goes to show how much Bfbc2 like a quad core.