G/card Buying Advice required please

[Catch22.ian]

Hi all,

My 1st post(apart from the hello one)- so bear with me.

I've got a rig that's a couple of years old :

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 2GHz Socket 775 800MHz

XFX 8600GT XXX Edition 256MB DDR3 Zalman heatsink

Crucial 2GB kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Ballistix Memory

Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L

Coolermaster Elite 330 Case With Coolermaster Elite 460W PSU

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive

Dell Professional 2209W 20" Monitor - native resolution - 1680 x1050

I've just recently downloaded a few games off steam - batman arkham asylum and bad company 2 (gotta love the steam sales).

They just about play with everything on minimun - but obviously would like better performance/ better graphcs.

I will be upgrading the rest of my rig over the next year in the meantime however - I was just thinking of upgrading the graphics card to a GTX460.

but not sure which one to get - or what memory size ect - my price limit is prob 120-130.

any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Tony]

I would save up for a new computer all together. Your CPU is holding you back even if you do get a 460.

New SB's will be here soon and it be a great time to pick up a new system for cheap.

One thing to note is that you should probably pick up a new PSU aswell, A weak PSU could end up killing your whole system

 

[Brooksie]

As Tony said, save up for a new PC, Sandybridge (socket 1155) will be here late January which is a replacement for the current 1156 sockets. Prices seem good.

Make a post in our Build Advice forum and say a budget and i'm sure we can help you build an awesome pc

 

[Catch22.ian]

I was following the article on the £600 gamer - and thought I might just get the i3 o/c bundle with a GTX460 - or is that now redundant with sandy bridge coming out?

if I did that - would I need a new PSU ?

 

[Brooksie]

It would be wise to get a new PSU regardless. Nvidia recommend a minimum of 550w.

 

[Tony]

Yeah a 460w PSU isn't going to be enough power. But don't overkill with a 700+w psu for a i3 with 460

As the year starts, sales are bound to be everywhere.

Nothing has shown us that sandy bridge will be better a lot. But we do know that it has improved a lot of things from these i3/i5/i7 chips. It won't be so great that SB be 100% better maybe 30%(just a guess) It will be an improvement.