Vid card or CPU upgrade

[greyeyezz]

Looking to upgrade my 5770 or CPU. Have a 24" widescreen Dell, resolution is killing my framerates in Crysis, 1680x1050.
I know my CPU sucks, would upgrading to a Phenom X4 965 help more than a GPU upgrade?

Athlon 2 X3 450 3.2G
Asus M487TD EVO
4G corsair
xfx 5770
Corsair TX 650

 

[IGemini]

I'd say go for the CPU. Athlon CPUs are cache-starved which makes them proportionally less efficient than Phenom cores. Knowing what game(s) are getting low framerates would help.

 

[happy medium]

Crysis 1 or 2? If its Crysis 1 a dual core cpu is fine. You will need more gpu.
A gtx 560ti should double your fps for about 200$AR.

If its Crysis 2 I would still say more gpu would be better.

 

[Rhezuss]

GPU here too! Like a HD 6870/GTX 560 or more.

And while you're at it, why not try to unlock your AII X3? My former Athlon II X3 435 unlocked to a Phenom II X4 B35 (without the L3 cache though) when I had it and on this M4A77D.

 

[SickBeast]

OP, your system is balanced right now. It's weak, but balanced.

You're not going to get much out of an extra core on the CPU.

The market right now is really stale. I would wait a bit if I were you, and just upgrade the entire system if you can.

 

[nyker96]

i like a gpu upgrade, u can really pump up resolution and details. however, ur cpu also needs upgrade just at a lower priority.

 

[happy medium]

OP, your system is balanced right now

ARe you sure you dont want to rethink that?

He said for Crysis, he is gpu bound by a mile @ 1600x1050.

 

[toyota]

you need more gpu for sure but for overall gaming you almost need to upgrade them both. a 6950 2gb and Phenom X4 would have you pretty set for a while.

 

[happy medium]

you almost need to upgrade them both. a 6950 2gb and Phenom X4 would have you pretty set for a while.

His cpu can handle Crysis. His gpu is weak for Crysis @1600x1050. AT best that 5770 can avg. 30 fps.

 

[toyota]

His cpu can handle Crysis. His gpu is weak for Crysis @1600x1050. AT best that 5770 can avg. 30 fps.

how did you quote that so fast? I edited that within 30 seconds of posting it. slow your roll playa...:biggrin:

 

[Bill Brasky]

His cpu can handle Crysis. His gpu is weak for Crysis @1600x1050. AT best that 5770 can avg. 30 fps.

This. A gpu upgrade would be more way more beneficial than a cpu upgrade.

 

[timma]

buy GTX 560/6870~

 

[greyeyezz]

It won't unlock, I BS.
Actually I'm averaging 40's in crysis, DX10 high settings, but during heavy action it dips to low 20's.

What makes this CPU so weak? It has a fairly high clock.

 

[happy medium]

What makes this CPU so weak? It has a fairly high clock.

The lack of level 3 cache makes it weaker than most, but in your case its good enough.