GTX 295: To upgrade or not?

[mbjones79]

I have a computer going on 5 years old now. I'm running an i7 920 @ 2.7 with a gtx 295.

I don't get the fps in games (wow, rift, cod, titanfall) that I want. I run at 1980x1200 and use dual monitors, usually streaming video on the second monitor while I play on the other.

If I built a new machine, I'd be looking at the i5 4670k and boosting it to 3.9+ (it's stock at 3.4). Would it be worth my while to upgrade the gpu and if so, what would be a noticeable upgrade? I've been looking at the gtx 770, but they are quite expensive. Or would I be ok to stick with the gtx 295 and notice an improvement just from the cpu upgrade?

 

[cabudinen]

If you are gaming most of the time, get a GPU first, see how it runs... and then get a better CPU if you see any bottlenecks. Even 6 series would be a major upgrade from the 2 series.

 

[renz496]

you should get more noticeable performance increase with gpu upgrade. if you're concerned with bottleneck just OC your current CPU. what kind of budget you can come up with?

 

[cst1992]

If you are gaming most of the time, get a GPU first, see how it runs... and then get a better CPU if you see any bottlenecks. Even 6 series would be a major upgrade from the 2 series.

It doesn't work that way.
Drivers and support wise, sure, but games the 2 series could handle, it's a good chance getting a random 600 series GPU will be a downgrade.

That said, the 295 was the flagship dual-GPU card of the 200 series, and is roughly on par with the GTX 650 Ti BOOST card.
Your best choice of upgrade would be the 770 or the 780, but if you're finding those too expensive, you could also go with the GTX 760 which is around $250. It's a good card, around 50% faster than the 295.
However, if you can help it, get the 770.
The 295 is also a very power hungry card; so your PSU shouldn't be a problem, apart from the fact it's 5 years old so get a new one.
The 4670k is a good choice of processor, but you'll need a Z87 board for that, such as the Gigabyte GA-Z87X-** series which support SLI for your graphics card as well.

 

[unknownofprob]

agreed, great response.

GTX 760 or a R9 270X are great cards right now, the 760 better but more expensive, the R9 270/X offering better value/performance.