New Graphics Card or new CPU/mobo?

[KapteinFruit]

TL;DR
Looking for a new CPU and motherboard or a new GPU, budget is at £400, thinking of getting used hardware. Holla back with some suggestions!

I'm kind of stuck here, I've been out of the whole PC gaming scene for a bit and my rig has gotten older obviously, it's not quite up to the spec I'd like anymore. The problem is that I'm torn about whether to get a new GPU or a new CPU and motherboard. I'm not sure what would earn me the most performance. My current rig has a XFX 6970, an i5-750 at 4,1GHz and an EVGA Classified 200 motherboard.

Another problem is that the part(s) I'm going to buy are going to be bought used. I'm not sure whether or not that's a good idea because I've seen these morons that just chuck their hardware where ever and don't treat the electronics with care. Maybe I'm just nit-picking, but that stuff bothers me.

Anyway, do you guys have any suggestions? I was thinking of getting something beefy like a GTX 690 or 7970 so I won't have to upgrade for a while and being able to max out what I throw at it in 1080p. For a CPU and a motherboard I don't have any clear plans, I'm not sure what to go for other than Intel, I won't go back to AMD again, I refuse to. Me and my brother have had nothing but problems with AMD. (Yeah we're geekin' brothers, problem? ) My budget is about £400 somewhere, holla back with some suggestions!

Sorry if this is in the wrong section by the way, didn't see a place that seemed proper for this.

 

[jamesriley94]

I'd go for a new motherboard.

Get a 3570k and an MSI GD65, plus some new RAM maybe, then save up for a better graphics card for the next gen maybe?

 

[Chimp]

well, i cant see the point from what you say in changing your mobo and cpu.

6970 gpu upgrade? i would say that a gtx 690 is overkill for anything at the moment at HD resolutions.

the GTX 660 Ti is outperforming the GTX 580 that i am running currently in my i5 machine. i have not found a game yet where im wishing i had more grunt.

So my point is that if it were me, i would look at the GTX 670 and save some beer tokens or at a push the GTX 680. you can buy either new for that budget.

 

[J0s3e]

For this budget you could probably get GTX 680, but I don't think it is the kind of performance boost you are looking for.. Get 3570k and a new mobo (probably 1.5V memory as well), resell the old bits and get a GTX 670

 

[Chimp]

For this budget you could probably get GTX 680, but I don't think it is the kind of performance boost you are looking for.. Get 3570k and a new mobo (probably 1.5V memory as well), resell the old bits and get a GTX 670

thats smart.. wish i had thought of that lol

 

[KapteinFruit]

Hmmmm... I'm confused because it's supposedly overkill, but my brother's rig has a GTX 580 and he had an 1100T, but he recently switched over to Intel, but that's besides the point. Point is, he had problems running games smoothly, now note that I'm a FPS whore, I can't play games under 60 FPS at all, I must have a 60++ FPS to be satisfied.

I did like one idea tho, get a new CPU and motherboard and sell the old bits to get a new GPU, sounds like a smart idea. But how about this, if I were to add another 6970 on top of a new CPU and a motherboard, what kind of performance would I be looking at? I remember back when they were showing off BF3, those rigs had 2 x 6970s I believe and that made the game run like butter, I guess that's something to consider at least.

 

[I Hunta x]

2x 2nd hand 580's can be had for around £400, its not like your psu wouldnt be up for the job

i had no problem with my single 580 TBH, bf3 did high at 60+ constant

 

[Chimp]

i had no problem with my single 580 TBH, bf3 did high at 60+ constant

ill second that

 

[J0s3e]

670 beats 580, with much lower energy consumption and running much colder. I wouldn't get 580 instead of 6970, it makes no sense at all. If I was you I'd start with a good, stable mobo to oc 3570k towards 4.6GHz and it might just be enough improvement.. Are you gaming on a 120Hz monitor?

 

[tinytomlogan]

6970??? Really? Now? I think you are mad.

Get a GPU first if you are a gamer. Mobo and CPU after.

 

[KapteinFruit]

670 beats 580, with much lower energy consumption and running much colder. I wouldn't get 580 instead of 6970, it makes no sense at all. If I was you I'd start with a good, stable mobo to oc 3570k towards 4.6GHz and it might just be enough improvement.. Are you gaming on a 120Hz monitor?

Hmmm... I'm leaning more towards a CPU/Mobo upgrade over a 6970, because really, I could just buy a second 6970 if I'm yet to be satisfied. I mean two 6970's and a new CPU would have to be enough performance for me. Point is, the 6970 can be had for cheap and two of them ain't no joke. My PSU can handle it easy. I'm sick and f'd up so sorry if it makes little sense.

 

[rossi94]

I would go with the GTX 670 FTW. Has higher clocks than a reference 680 the 680 PCB and fan and the best: it's cheaper

 

[CPMFW]

+1 for the gtx 670