Tough Decision: Upgrading PC for BF3

Rlad78

Rlad78

New Member
My gaming desktop is one that I had built about 4 years ago and since then, I've just been constantly upgrading it to meet the standards of the new games that come out. The Battlefield 3 beta just came out, and I tested it on my pc. Unfortunately, according to a Nvidia test and the actual laggyness of the game, I've found that my hardware isn't quite up-to-par with the game's specs.

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5ghz CPU
4GB G.SKILL DDR3 RAM
Nvidia GeForce 8800GT 512MB

As of now, I have about $300 to spend on hardware upgrades, but possibly $500 on a later date. The best cpu I can buy that my mobo supports is a Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 3.0ghz, and as for graphics cards I'm not sure. My mobo is an ASUS P5K/SE EPU.

Which upgrade, CPU or Graphics Card, would increase game performance more?
 
Hmmm. Tough decision. Obviously you need to upgrade your GPU and honestly, in terms of games, you'll see the biggest boost in performance there.

Though, a new processor would really do you good as well. I would get the graphics card. Either way, if you upgrade to try and keep up with games, You'll end up getting it anyway.
 
You could upgrade to a LGA 775 Quad core Cpu,But i still think the C2Q are overpriced unless you can get one second hand cheap.

In all honesty,Id sell your current setup and start fresh especially because you say you already have $300 and possible another $500,an then of course whatever you get for your old system...with that budget you can build a very nice fast gaming system.
 
Im inclined to agree, i was in the same predicament to either go full overhaul or get a q9xx. In the end iv decided i may aswell just buy new mobo,ram, cpu (and iv just bought my new gpu) it turned out little more expensive than the c2q's over here :P

Just waiting on the fund in the next couple of week
 
Probably shoulda explained my situation a bit more.

I'm only going to have this computer for 8 more months. I'm going to college next year, and, since this is my me and my little brother's computer, it's going to end up staying here while I take my laptop to college. That's why I'm only spending around $300-500 on an upgrade, since I'm only going to be using it to play games that come out in the next 8 months. After that, it'll be his responsibility, and he can do whatever he wants with it. That's why selling it and starting new isn't really the best idea for me atm.

So really, I just need to know what'll get me by for the next 8 months in terms of games that come out.

And here's the list of CPU's my mobo supports. C2Q are the only quad cores I can choose from, unfortunately :/
 
Hello , Rlad 78. considering about your budget and it is necessary to change you GPU first.
and a good GPU need a good power supply.
Troncoso,johnb35,Nevakonaza, all are very much perfect .but brother you have to change the GPU with good power supply . according to your budget. it is very tough to upgrading system with limited budget .
according to john35 go for GPu which cost $250 ( i proffered Ati HD6850 .)
if possible upgrade your processor core2quad Q90xx serires.(775 socket). -some time you can get Q90XX series processor in chip price also.

have a nice day.
 
as long as you don't need to get max res, then i'd say drop a cpu upgrade, and go for a hd6850 or similar, that'll let you get some decent settings on it and all and only cost you about 150 or so and you'll have an mir, and also what's your psu, it may need to be upgraded.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top