Upgrade GPU or PC

[merig00]

I'm a casual gamer so don't require anything crazy but I do enjoy my FPS games like Battlefield series. I just noticed that my rig is the exact minimum requirement for the Rainbow 6 - Siege. This means it's time to think about upgrade.

This is what I have right now:
motherboard: Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H
processor: AMD Phenom II x4 965 3.40GHz
RAM: 4 panks of Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2GB = 8 GB total
PSU: Corsair GS700 at 700Watt
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX460 1GB

I don't think there's a better CPU i could buy for this motherboard, however does it make sense to upgrade GPU or is it time to build a new rig?

If you think I can still get another 2 years of playing on MID-HIGH settings with a better GPU which one would make sense for this motherboard?

Thanks!

 

[Robert Cook]

Is that a phenom black edition? if so then you can easily OC that chip to 4.0GHz or higher. really I would say your GPU is the let down as of now. I would spring for a Gtx 950 or R7 260X or R7 360 they will make a noticeable difference.

 

[rolli59]

You could go higher on GPU like GTX950 but would need OC on the CPU to lessen bottleneck. Then again it is time to upgrade the whole thing really.

 

[Robert Cook]

^ hence why if it is a black edition matters. I have a 965 BE and it is happily humming along at 4.4 GHz on the average day. and when I want it, it tops out at 5.1 GHz, while I might have won the silicon lottery 4.2GHz is pretty much a given. but eve if it is not, I do not fell a 950 could bottle neck this system to the point of anything significant.

 

[Robert Cook]

Those Phenoms, while old, still are great chips.

 

[rolli59]

They were great, they are no longer great.

 

[merig00]

Is that a phenom black edition? if so then you can easily OC that chip to 4.0GHz or higher. really I would say your GPU is the let down as of now. I would spring for a Gtx 950 or R7 260X or R7 360 they will make a noticeable difference.

Yes it is Black Edition. I'll look into OCing it. Robert could you drop me a link on a good instruction/discussion on OCing it?

 

[Robert Cook]

They were great, they are no longer great.

At stock speeds yes. but there is a reason why used unlocked ones still sell for $140 and up.

 

[rolli59]

They were great, they are no longer great.

At stock speeds yes. but there is a reason why used unlocked ones still sell for $140 and up.

LOL you can get better CPU out of the box that will outperform it for less. I upgraded from my 955BE 3 years ago but still have it in a spare rig.
Just sold a 4 year old I5 2400 that walked circles around it even OC for $95!

 

[Robert Cook]

What was the best you ever over clocked it to?
As for merig00,
pretty much enter the BIOS, and raise the CPU multiplier until you can get no higher at a giver voltage. I would take the voltage up to 1.55 Volts at the most. and that should easily get you to 4.2 or so. if you want you can raise the base clock by a few MHz but any more than 7 and I find it tends to be unstable. really I would put the base clock to 205 MHz and try to get the multiplier to around 19.5 or 20 and if 20.5 works then great. if 21 works even greater. Runs a stress test like cinabench or an odler version of prime 95 after each change. Obviously you must watch temps carefully. anything above 70C is not exactly great on these chips.

 

[rolli59]

What was the best you ever over clocked it to?
As for merig00,
pretty much enter the BIOS, and raise the CPU multiplier until you can get no higher at a giver voltage. I would take the voltage up to 1.55 Volts at the most. and that should easily get you to 4.2 or so. if you want you can raise the base clock by a few MHz but any more than 7 and I find it tends to be unstable. really I would put the base clock to 205 MHz and try to get the multiplier to around 19.5 or 20 and if 20.5 works then great. if 21 works even greater. Runs a stress test like cinabench or an odler version of prime 95 after each change. Obviously you must watch temps carefully. anything above 70C is not exactly great on these chips.

Ran it at 3.6GHz with HD6870 and HD7850 took it up to 3.9Ghz and no benefit in gaming from the higher clock. Needed the 3.6 to keep up with the HD7850 but still running at 3.6 with the 6870. Many of those CPU's top out at 3.8-4GHz.

 

[Robert Cook]

I did not realize the 955 is was that much worse than the 965. because I have not yet seen a 965 that could not break 4.0 on a decent motherboard. ( I have seen and personally tested over 15 of them.) what kind of motherboard did you use?

 

[rolli59]

I have used it in 3 boards 870, 970 and 990FX board which i could have taken it higher on but no need since then it was GPU limited. Currently sitting the 870 board CM TX2 cooler (left over from my Opty X2 days) at 3.6GHz and runs cool.

 

[merig00]

Anyone else?