Question from a hardware newbie. BF3 related

[ChuckHale]

Hey, I recently got an Nvidia Geforce 9600 GSO for Christmas, along with Battlefield 3. I have tried playing it, but I am starting to think my 2 core is not going to cut it for this game. I get stuttering and crashing all the time. I want to know if that video card is sufficiant and if this processor will work with it? (Note, my motherboard will only allow a Socket 775 if I don't want to have to upgrade that too) http://goo.gl/UxocE

 

[DComander1x]

Hey, I recently got an Nvidia Geforce 9600 GSO for Christmas, along with Battlefield 3. I have tried playing it, but I am starting to think my 2 core is not going to cut it for this game. I get stuttering and crashing all the time. I want to know if that video card is sufficiant and if this processor will work with it? (Note, my motherboard will only allow a Socket 775 if I don't want to have to upgrade that too) http://goo.gl/UxocE

You will need at least a quad core processor with an updated motherboard (either AMD Phenom II X4 & socket AM3 / Intel Core i5 with socket 1155 or Higher) and a Mid-line GPU from either AMDs Radeon HD 6000 series or Nvidia's 400 Series (i.e Nvidia GTX 460 or AMD Radeon HD 6770) to play the game with a good level of detail at a sufficient speed without anything bottle-necking badly.

Though for most low settings, your CPU will work ok, but will bottle-neck anything higher then a Nvidia GTX 285, so upgrading is suggested for the game.

 

[ChuckHale]

Thanks, but I am on a budget. Do you have any cheaper ideas?

 

[DComander1x]

Thanks, but I am on a budget. Do you have any cheaper ideas?

What kind of a budget may I ask

 

[ChuckHale]

I want to keep everything under $250-300 if I can.

 

[DComander1x]

I want to keep everything under $250-300 if I can.

If you keep your current system, and add the following graphics card:

DIAMOND Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103205

you will need a 550w Power supply for it -

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX550M 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139032

the upgrades are a total of $241 without shipping - this can be a stop-gap upgrade until you can fully invest in to a new system with either a Core i5 from Intel, or AMD's Phenom II X4s

 

[HEXiT]

cpu upgrade is needed so the 1 you picked out is fine...
rosewill do a 650w psu its not the best but will be enough. @60bux
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121419 for 150

so 350 will get you bf3 on medium high settings at 1080p if your monitor will allow it.
if your monitors smaller then you may get away with high settings @60fps

the reason i suggest the 6850 over the 7770 is the 7770 is gimped by the 128bit bandwidth.

 

[bumnut53]

You can get 775 quad cores if you want to stick with your existing motherboard, it would keep the cost down. A 9600 is a weak graphics card, spend as much as you can afford on a graphics card and it should run well.

 

[13thmonkey]

your picked cpu is ok, i just left a Q9550 for an 3570k, the Q9550 good enough, you do not need a platform upgrade.

 

[harsh321]

sumthing cheaper if u want i wud suggest a PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028 (70$)
and graphics card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131397 (120$)
total of 190$...and BF3 wud work just fine at high...i hav the same 35-60fps(at high)
and 60-100fps(at medium setings)

 

[ChuckHale]

Best answer selected by ChuckHale.

 

[HEXiT]

do not buy powercolour.... there customer service is worse than "it sux" i couldnt return my gfx card when the fan died 5 weeks after purchase... which for a 300 pound gfx card thats pretty poor...

stay well clear of em...