Should I upgrade processor or video card?

[maxel2406]

I want to upgrade my computer but i'm on a low budget (around $100-$120 more or less)
and I don't know which one to upgrade first between my processor or video card
here's my computer spec

-processor : intel core 2 duo e7400
-memory : 4096mb ram
-motherboard : EP43-UD3L gigabyte
-video card : zotac gts250
-psu : i forgot the power output it was around 320W i think, but the manufacturer was venom

i want my computer to be able to play games like assassins creed black flag, bf4, cod ghost.
i already tried to play assassins creed black flag and managed to finish the game with the lowest setting with around 10-20fps.

I think if i upgrade my video card, i would change it to radeon HD7770/7750/R7 250 or nVidia GTX 640/650

but i also think that my processor was really outdated, but to upgrade it i also need to change my motherboard, so this is really confusing me

what do you guys think i should upgrade first to have the biggest outcome for my gaming performance?

 

[clutchc]

If you are running a GTS 260 on that small PSU, it must be a pretty good one. Either that, or you are mistaken about the 320W. The GTS 250 alone is 145W card. So, since the PSU seems to be holding up, you could probably move up to an HD 7770, HD 7790, or even an HD 7850. They are all below the power demand of the GTS 250:
http://www.hwcompare.com/12118/geforce-gts-250-1gb-vs-radeon-hd-7850/

But to be sure, can you read the nameplate on your PSU? If you can, let us know the make/model. Or the +12V ratings. If you have enough PSU, a new gfx card would be the least expensive way to get more frame rate.

 

[maxel2406]

If you are running a GTS 260 on that small PSU, it must be a pretty good one. Either that, or you are mistaken about the 320W. The GTS 250 alone is 145W card. So, since the PSU seems to be holding up, you could probably move up to an HD 7770, HD 7790, or even an HD 7850. They are all below the power demand of the GTS 250:
http://www.hwcompare.com/12118/geforce-gts-250-1gb-vs-radeon-hd-7850/

But to be sure, can you read the nameplate on your PSU? If you can, let us know the make/model. Or the +12V ratings. If you have enough PSU, a new gfx card would be the least expensive way to get more frame rate.

i couldnt really read the psu so i don't really know, but there are 3 number with "W" on it, it's 320W, 624W, 650W. i dont know which one that shows my power output. and what do you mean with +12V ratings? thankyou for your answers anyway

 

[Flem]

The processor would more likely bottleneck more of the cards made today or anything high end.
The graphics card is kind of weak for the latest titles as well, too, unless if you run it with the lowest of visuals. Upgrading to the mentioned graphics would give a bit less to slim frame increase. I'd go for the Nvidia GTX cards or any cards with atleast DDR5 memory. And you should have to think of a higher budget to build a PC applicable for those games at higher options. That way you could essentially get a PC which would suffice. ($600 build is good enough)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Lpte

Would get you playable FPS with a bit more higher visuals. Good luck!

 

[maxel2406]

The processor would more likely bottleneck more of the cards made today or anything high end.
The graphics card is kind of weak for the latest titles as well, too, unless if you run it with the lowest of visuals. Upgrading to the mentioned graphics would give a bit less to slim frame increase. I'd go for the Nvidia GTX cards or any cards with atleast DDR5 memory. And you should have to think of a higher budget to build a PC applicable for those games at higher options. That way you could essentially get a PC which would suffice. ($600 build is good enough)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Lpte

Would get you playable FPS with a bit more higher visuals. Good luck!

haha yeah i'll upgrade my computer little by little, but right now i'm on a low budget
so i'm trying to have the best output with the money i got now. i would upgrade my processor later if i could
thanks for the answer anyway, appreciate it

 

[clutchc]

If you are running a GTS 260 on that small PSU, it must be a pretty good one. Either that, or you are mistaken about the 320W. The GTS 250 alone is 145W card. So, since the PSU seems to be holding up, you could probably move up to an HD 7770, HD 7790, or even an HD 7850. They are all below the power demand of the GTS 250:
http://www.hwcompare.com/12118/geforce-gts-250-1gb-vs-radeon-hd-7850/

But to be sure, can you read the nameplate on your PSU? If you can, let us know the make/model. Or the +12V ratings. If you have enough PSU, a new gfx card would be the least expensive way to get more frame rate.

i couldnt really read the psu so i don't really know, but there are 3 number with "W" on it, it's 320W, 624W, 650W. i dont know which one that shows my power output. and what do you mean with +12V ratings? thankyou for your answers anyway

OK. It sounds like you have more than a 320W PSU. More like a 600W+. Of course, the quality of it makes a big difference too. But I would feel safe running any card that doesn't go over the 145W of the card you are using now. If AMD isn't your choice as I mentioned above, the GTX 650ti, GTX 650 ti Boost would work and give you better frame rates than you're getting now. Anything faster and you would experience too much bottle neck to make it worth the upgrade.

 

[maxel2406]

If you are running a GTS 260 on that small PSU, it must be a pretty good one. Either that, or you are mistaken about the 320W. The GTS 250 alone is 145W card. So, since the PSU seems to be holding up, you could probably move up to an HD 7770, HD 7790, or even an HD 7850. They are all below the power demand of the GTS 250:
http://www.hwcompare.com/12118/geforce-gts-250-1gb-vs-radeon-hd-7850/

But to be sure, can you read the nameplate on your PSU? If you can, let us know the make/model. Or the +12V ratings. If you have enough PSU, a new gfx card would be the least expensive way to get more frame rate.

i couldnt really read the psu so i don't really know, but there are 3 number with "W" on it, it's 320W, 624W, 650W. i dont know which one that shows my power output. and what do you mean with +12V ratings? thankyou for your answers anyway

OK. It sounds like you have more than a 320W PSU. More like a 600W+. Of course, the quality of it makes a big difference too. But I would feel safe running any card that doesn't go over the 145W of the card you are using now. If AMD isn't your choice as I mentioned above, the GTX 650ti, GTX 650 ti Boost would work and give you better frame rates than you're getting now. Anything faster and you would experience too much bottle neck to make it worth the upgrade.

i think i would buy the 7770/R7 250/GTX 650 thanks for the help

 

[clutchc]

If you are running a GTS 260 on that small PSU, it must be a pretty good one. Either that, or you are mistaken about the 320W. The GTS 250 alone is 145W card. So, since the PSU seems to be holding up, you could probably move up to an HD 7770, HD 7790, or even an HD 7850. They are all below the power demand of the GTS 250:
http://www.hwcompare.com/12118/geforce-gts-250-1gb-vs-radeon-hd-7850/

But to be sure, can you read the nameplate on your PSU? If you can, let us know the make/model. Or the +12V ratings. If you have enough PSU, a new gfx card would be the least expensive way to get more frame rate.

i couldnt really read the psu so i don't really know, but there are 3 number with "W" on it, it's 320W, 624W, 650W. i dont know which one that shows my power output. and what do you mean with +12V ratings? thankyou for your answers anyway

OK. It sounds like you have more than a 320W PSU. More like a 600W+. Of course, the quality of it makes a big difference too. But I would feel safe running any card that doesn't go over the 145W of the card you are using now. If AMD isn't your choice as I mentioned above, the GTX 650ti, GTX 650 ti Boost would work and give you better frame rates than you're getting now. Anything faster and you would experience too much bottle neck to make it worth the upgrade.

i think i would buy the 7770/R7 250/GTX 650 thanks for the help

Go for the HD 7750 over the R7-250. The 250 runs slightly slower and uses more wattage. But the HD 7770 or GTX 650 would be a bigger upgrade in frame rate for you than either of those. Here is a comparison of the latter two:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/681?vs=536