Upgrade CPU, GPU?

[masonleak]

I have been really wanting to make an upgrade for my pc but I only have the money for one upgrade. The question is, CPU or GPU? I currently have an AMD Athlon X4 760k and a Nvidia Geforce GTX 750 Ti. I like to play demanding games like DayZ and Arma 3 (on low to medium settings of course). I have about $250 to upgrade. What do I choose to upgrade and suggestions?

 

[smitty1ky]

for games like DayZ and Arma 3 specifically, which are very CPU based, a CPU upgrade would probably be better. However, most games aside from those rely on a graphics card more heavily than your CPU, it's just that those particular games need a little bit of help.

If you could give more examples of games you play I could give a better answer, but if all you play is DayZ and Arma 3, the processor upgrade is your best bet.

 

[TNT27]

gpu, as any cpu upgrades are not going to b e very noticeable right now, grab a r9 290 if you can find a cheap 1 in that price range with a decent cooler like gigabyte, asus, powercolor, etc. Or get a r9 280x. Upgrade the CPU to intel based later.

 

[geofelt]

A perennial question....

To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) 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.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You could also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option. set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

Nothing wrong with an upgrade in two steps. Just try to do the more important one first.

 

[TNT27]

Id just get a better gpu, and overclock that 760k

 

[masonleak]

for games like DayZ and Arma 3 specifically, which are very CPU based, a CPU upgrade would probably be better. However, most games aside from those rely on a graphics card more heavily than your CPU, it's just that those particular games need a little bit of help.

If you could give more examples of games you play I could give a better answer, but if all you play is DayZ and Arma 3, the processor upgrade is your best bet.

I also play CSGO, H1Z1, Minecraft, Gmod, Just Cause 2

 

[TNT27]

you are going to get more fps and better graphics settings with a gpu upgrade. That cpu can keep up just fine in most games, 750ti is the bottleneck here.

 

[RCFProd]

I think both the CPU and GPU balance each other out well. Any better graphics card would start being bottlenecked by the CPU, any CPU upgrade would leave you with an underpowered graphics card. You have a well balanced build right now. For games like Arma I feel like the CPU is going to be limited in performance.