What do I upgrade next?

[iPwntUrMum]

Hi all. My system is as follows: Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 @ 2.5 GHz RAM: 4 GB 800 MHz Graphics: XFX ATi Radeon HD 5770 OS: 64-bit Vista Home Premium

What can I upgrade to get a bit more out of this system? I got the CPU last christmas, so if possible I'd like to keep that.. but would a GPU upgrade do much for me?

Also, I am thinking about doing a full new mobo build in the next year-year and half, so keep that in mind. I'd like to go to the latest intel-capable socket, so hopefully that will be a big jump.

TL;DR: upgrade cpu, gpu, or wait for new full build?
..also, would I be able to run Skyrim at 1920x1080 with current specs?
Cheers
/iP

 

[runo]

Your processor should definitely be enough to handle Skyrim, in fact; the clock rate and number of cores are probably the best part of your rig, though your RAM is a little dated; still, it's four gigs -- if it's DDR3 over DDR2, I think it shouldn't be a massive deal.

If I were going to upgrade one of those parts first, it would probably be the video card so that you can reliably run the game at 1920x1080 on decent settings. Maybe throw in 8GB of some DDR3 1600 if you're stuck on DDR2 800...

Looking at Skyrim's recommended specs: The 5770 was a fancy card a few years back, but now there are some much nicer cards available that you could pick up and run the game much more smoothly than a 5770 will allow.

I don't know that I'd pick up a top-tier card just yet because a. you will probably bottleneck yourself if you pick up something too beefy and b. you can put away the extra cash towards your later overhaul.

If I may:
1. What kind of power supply are you toting right now?
2. What're you eyeing in terms of budget right now?
3. What'll your budget be like in Spring 2012? I'm hearing Ivy Bridge should be ready by then; you could throw together an IvyB+X79 setup, depending on what kind of moolah you're looking at.

 

[iPwntUrMum]

Thanks for quick response.

Yes, I have DDR2 800 mhz. I'll look into getting some faster ram, though I'm not sure what my mobo can support (it's a stock dell mobo, long story)

1) Current power supply is a constant 500, surge 550w.

2) Depends, I might be able to go as high as 200 USD, maybe 215. What suggestions do you have that aren't too expensive? (I also have a small case, I think micro atx, not full and not mini. My 5770 is a large card, I do believe, so anything smaller than that [I'll check your suggestions myself.])

3) Probably 800-900 USD. It'll be a big saver-upper. I have a 21.5" monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc. so it would only be internal hardware. I also have a non-OEM version of 7 Home Premium, so I believe I wouldn't need to buy a new license.

Again, thanks for the continued help.
/iP

 

[a pet rock]

You cannot put DDR3 into your rig without also changing CPU and mobo. Basically, you either upgrade all of the core, just the GPU, or everything at once.

For $200 get a 6870 and be happy, if you want to buy now of course. Put new CPU/mobo/RAM next on the list.

 

[runo]

@a pet rock: Good thinking. I was worried he was going to say it was a motherboard that only accepted DDR2. :<

@ipwnturmom: Like APR mentioned, it sounds like you won't be able to slot DDR3 anyway. If you're buying now rather than later, you could grab something like a 6870 like APR had noted.

Another good option might be a GTX 560 Ti (which would probably be good enough to last you up to or even past Ivy Bridge as an 'upper-middle class' card, IMO), but even that may be a little too much horsepower for the rig you have now; it's also a good fifty bucks over your budget...

I'd probably grab a 6870 as it is. I have a GTX 460 768MB on a dual core and 4GB memory, and that runs Skyrim just fine.

EDIT: However, if you think your case might be mATX, the 560 Ti is a slight bit (1.5" less width) smaller than the 6870 at approximately 10.5"... depending on the case itself, neither might fit at all. lol

 

[iPwntUrMum]

Thanks you two, I'll look at getting either a 560 Ti or a 6870. Is there a major power consumption difference? (will my PSU run either of them?)

Also, currently seeing that the difference in size of those two cards is within .2 of an inch. My current card is in the middle of that width difference, so I'm thinking .1 inch won't matter that much.

 

[reflex99]

1. assuming you have a dell/HP/etc, get a new motherboard, see if you can get 3GHz out of that processor (probably can). If you already have a motherboard capable of overclocking, what are you waiting for.

2. spend yo' money on a new graphics card. something like a GTX 560Ti, or 6950 is about $200 if you bargain hunt a bit.

 

[a pet rock]

^What reflex said, between 560Ti and 6950 just get whichever is cheaper.

Also 500 watts is plenty for any single card.