Upgrade GPU or CPU?

[iWerli]

Upgrade my graphics card or my processor?

wassup guys, i have a GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB graphics card and an AMD FX-4300 4Core pc (O.C. to 4.4GHz) and i have a $300 christmas budget (as i dont have a job and im 17 lol) but i want the GTX 760 with FX 6300 but that's around $300 and then the $60ish power supply (because mine isnt modular, doesnt have PCIE connectors, and its only 450W) so im pretty torn.

get the GTX760 + PSU without a new processor? that might cause bottlenecking

get the FX 6300 + PSU without the 760? that won't really improve much.

what do you guys think? i really want to be able to play things like BF4 (right now i can only play BF4 on med/high at 40-70 fps) on ultra

any ideas on what i can do to get the 760 AND FX 6300 AND the power supply for $300? thanks for any ideas!

 

[rolli59]

If you sell your GTX750Ti you can get all three, here is a good but cheap PSU that will handle it https://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-100b10500kr
I would start with the GPU and PSU then do the CPU

 

[Kohwali]

The answer is simple: go AMD. Will post a build in a second.

Build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.92 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card ($141.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $297.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-23 12:23 EST-0500

R9 280 has better performance than the GTX 760: http://youtu.be/Qim-asQrT_Y

Review on the Powercolor R9 280: http://www.eteknix.com/powercolor-r9-280x-turboduo-3gb-graphics-card-review/19/

Here is a review on the Rosewill Capstone by JonnyGURU: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=266
The OEM on that model is Super Flower so you can expect a pretty good PSU from them.

 

[Kohwali]

You'll also need to overclock the FX-6300 so it doesn't bottleneck the GPU, which is why I included an aftermarket CPU cooler as well. The Hyper 212 EVO is a very popular budget cooling solution. If you already own this, then good for you 😉

 

[iWerli]

The answer is simple: go AMD. Will post a build in a second.

Build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.92 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card ($141.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $297.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-23 12:23 EST-0500

R9 280 has better performance than the GTX 760: http://youtu.be/Qim-asQrT_Y

Review on the Powercolor R9 280: http://www.eteknix.com/powercolor-r9-280x-turboduo-3gb-graphics-card-review/19/

Here is a review on the Rosewill Capstone by JonnyGURU: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=266
The OEM on that model is Super Flower so you can expect a pretty good PSU from them.

isn't the 280 different from the 280x? similarly to 760 and 760Ti? just wondering because the review says its on the 280x

 

[Kohwali]

isn't the 280 different from the 280x? similarly to 760 and 760Ti? just wondering because the review says its on the 280x

Yes you're right! Sorry about that, both GPUs still use the same cooler though which was the main concern. Try this review instead: http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/6595/powercolor-turboduo-radeon-r9-280-3gb-oc-crossfire-video-card-review/index.html

 

[iWerli]

isn't the 280 different from the 280x? similarly to 760 and 760Ti? just wondering because the review says its on the 280x

Yes you're right! Sorry about that, both GPUs still use the same cooler though which was the main concern. Try this review instead: http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/6595/powercolor-turboduo-radeon-r9-280-3gb-oc-crossfire-video-card-review/index.html

thanks! also.. does newegg usually do christmas deals on stuff like PSUs and GPUs? or should i not wait?

 

[Kohwali]

thanks! also.. does newegg usually do christmas deals on stuff like PSUs and GPUs? or should i not wait?

The PSU is at a really good deal right now, so I would jump on that. Most PSUs with the same specs cost 3x as much. The OEM is Super Flower as I said earlier. Super Flower is a top of the line PSU manufacturer.

For the R9 280 its $141 post mail-in-rebate. I don't think the price will drop any further, so I would go for that as well. I could be wrong though.

The CPU and Hyper 212 EVO aren't even on clearance, so you could wait those out.