Is it worth upgrading my graphics card or is it just time for a new PC?

[fadegaming001]

I'm considering building a new pc altogether since its been several years but i'm considering upgrading the GPU in this setup as well. Currently this rig gets terrible frame drops in Most MMOs on higher graphics settings. Will upgrading the GPU only be enough to solve this issue? I'm worried it's a CPU / ram issue as well. Thanks guys.

This is my current rig -

Case Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition - High Air Flow Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 and All-Black Interior

Motherboard ASRock Z68 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

GPU ASUS GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) DirectX 11 ENGTX570 DCII/2DIS/1280MD5 1280MB 320-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card


PSU OCZ ZS Series 750W 80PLUS Bronze High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom


CPU Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge Quad-Core 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W BX80623I52500K Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000

RAM G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBXL

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit

Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler
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1 x Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler

 

[nitinvaid20]

Its time to get a New PC if possible otherwise even if you get a new GPU that will be bottlenecked by your CPU a lot

 

[4745454b]

I mostly disagree. The 2500K is still a really good chip. Can be OC'd to ~5GHz with some work, 4.4-4.6GHz is usually pretty easy to do. At that speed it's very similar to the 3570K, 4690, etc. The 570 is what's really holding you back. I'd get a better card and see how things are then.

 

[fadegaming001]

I mostly disagree. The 2500K is still a really good chip. Can be OC'd to ~5GHz with some work, 4.4-4.6GHz is usually pretty easy to do. At that speed it's very similar to the 3570K, 4690, etc. The 570 is what's really holding you back. I'd get a better card and see how things are then.

Yeah Ideally I would like to upgrade this rig with a mid-tier GPU so I can let my significant other game on it once I build my new rig.
Do you have any suggestions on a GPU 150-200$ range?

 

[mcconkeymike]

I think that first of all if you are not already overclocked on your CPU, you should, that could really help your performance. Once overclocked, then replace the GPU with I'd say at least a 1060 6gb. While it is true that with a high end GPU you could have some bottleneck from your CPU, I seriously doubt it will be much. That is even more true if you will be gaming at higher resolution or at least high refresh rates. Another thing I would suggest if you don't already have one is to get yourself an SSD to have Windows installed on. If you can't afford a large one, then just install Windows and your main programs on the SSD and your games and larger things on whatever traditional hard drive you are using now.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

I think that first of all if you are not already overclocked on your CPU, you should, that could really help your performance. Once overclocked, then replace the GPU with I'd say at least a 1060 6gb. While it is true that with a high end GPU you could have some bottleneck from your CPU, I seriously doubt it will be much. That is even more true if you will be gaming at higher resolution or at least high refresh rates. Another thing I would suggest if you don't already have one is to get yourself an SSD to have Windows installed on. If you can't afford a large one, then just install Windows and your main programs on the SSD and your games and larger things on whatever traditional hard drive you are using now.

yeah, but the 1060 is way over his budget. If the OP is gaming on a 1080p and is willing to dial back some settings, then a 1050ti would be more suitable, more balanced with his CPU (no bottlenecking) and still be decent enough to game. They cost upwards of about $150 depending on which brand/model etc.

 

[4745454b]

OCing the CPU will help if you need it. There hasn't really been a big/good increase in IPC for Intel CPUs since the 2500 days. A few % each generation, so an OC will bring you right up to what a 4690 can do. If you can hit 4.4, which most/all 2500s can do from what I've seen, then you are right there.

I also agree that a 1060 will match your system just fine. Problem is they aren't in the price range you listed. If you just want something for now and the SO later, I'd look to the 1050(ti). Should be cheap and handle 1080 with mid/high settings. You won't be cranking the AA up to 8x but it will work just fine.

 

[rcald2000]

fadegaming001 Could you please name three games that you're focused on playing. What resolution do you play on and how many FPS are you seeing? Also, please check your CPU temps immediately after playing a game for five minute and report back your temps: https://www.cpuid.com/downloads/hwmonitor/hwmonitor_1.32.exe

 

[The Paladin]

1050ti would work for most games, all depends what your expecting

 

[geofelt]

Normally, a I5-2500K is still a good processor.

MMO type games tend to be cpu limited and use few threads.

If you can OC your 2500K some, you could do better.
Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

If you are not cpu limited and want higher settings, a graphics card upgrade is in order.
Make it a significant jump or you may be disappointed.
GTX1060 or better.
While a GTX1050ti is nice, it is only a two tier jump on tom's gpu hierarchy chart:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html

 

[The Paladin]

perhaps goefelt has a point, considering a gtx 970 would be better than a 1050ti I would go ahead and suggest that as a used card for the price range he suggests to buy with. and get same power as a 1060 3GB for half the price.

 

[Lutfij]

I don't see why you can't get an i7-2600K and a GTX970/980 off Ebay(for cheap) and prolong your new build purchase.

 

[fadegaming001]

fadegaming001 Could you please name three games that you're focused on playing. What resolution do you play on and how many FPS are you seeing? Also, please check your CPU temps immediately after playing a game for five minute and report back your temps: https://www.cpuid.com/downloads/hwmonitor/hwmonitor_1.32.exe

I play Wow, League of Legends and PUBG.

Obviously pubg stresses my pc the most. I have to play on low everything and lag my ass off until I land and most of my environment is loaded. Max CPU Temps i was noticing after 30+ minutes was 45c-47c

 

[fadegaming001]

I mostly disagree. The 2500K is still a really good chip. Can be OC'd to ~5GHz with some work, 4.4-4.6GHz is usually pretty easy to do. At that speed it's very similar to the 3570K, 4690, etc. The 570 is what's really holding you back. I'd get a better card and see how things are then.

My first run through with a 4.2 OC the hottest any cores got using Prime 95 in 15 minutes was 64 C. Too risky to go to 4.4 ?

 

[fadegaming001]

Normally, a I5-2500K is still a good processor.

MMO type games tend to be cpu limited and use few threads.

If you can OC your 2500K some, you could do better.
Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

If you are not cpu limited and want higher settings, a graphics card upgrade is in order.
Make it a significant jump or you may be disappointed.
GTX1060 or better.
While a GTX1050ti is nice, it is only a two tier jump on tom's gpu hierarchy chart:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html

So for sure a 1060 would fit my current MOBO no issues? I actually OC'd my Processor pretty successfully to 4.2 today and i'm seeing significant improvements in environment load times in pubg. Before OC the terrain wouldn't even be loaded before i hit the ground. After OC I can actually increase my graphics a bit and the terrain is fully loaded before i even get close to the ground. It made a huge difference. Strongly considering this msi 1060 : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127963

 

[4745454b]

What was the temp game load? Prime is synthetic and might not paint a realistic temp for what you do. Without knowing all your settings on the OC I wouldn't say if you can higher or not.

I disagree about the two tier jump as well. That 570 has only a 1GB frame buffer and is just old. A 4GB 1050Ti, or even the 2GB will be better. It might be only two tiers, but it will provide a really nice boost. Yes, a 1060 would be even better but a 1050TI will still be a nice boost.

 

[fadegaming001]

Pubg max temps was like 40 -41 C each core.

 

[4745454b]

And that's well within the temp range of what a CPU can handle.

 

[fadegaming001]

And that's well within the temp range of what a CPU can handle.

Yeah i'm strongly considering this 1060 https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127963&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID= . it has great reviews and is "on sale" on newegg til sunday. It looks like it's compatible and will fit in my current setup.