Upgrade Path: CPU or GPU

itsameSMB

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May 25, 2011
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So I have Php 8000(~$183) saved up for an upgrade. My problem is that I do not know whether to upgrade my cpu from an Ivy Bridge pentium to a Haswell i5, which would require me to buy another motherboard an processor, or to an Ivy Bridge i5, because I read somewhere that Haswells ran hotter, OR upgrade from my current GT630 to a 750 ti so I can upgrade the cpu+mobo later on.

What do you think?

Current Parts:
Pentium G2010
Asrock H61M-VS
Kingston 4GB DDR3-1333
Sparkle GT 630 1GB DDR3
Huntkey Green 600W

Potential Upgrade Parts (that I can find in the Philippines):
i5 4440 (recommend mobo please)
i5 3340
Palit 750 Ti StormX Dual 2GB

Btw, I use my pc for gaming and image editing, mainly Skyrim and Photoshop.
Thanks!
 
Solution
If you can find one and want to overclock grab an i5-3570K and clock that bad boy right up. Other than that I'd say grab an i5 3340. For Skyrim you're looking at heavy CPU usage and will see a better performance gain going down the CPU route first. Get your GPU afterwards if you can make do with tweaking some settings on Skyrim to get your desired FPS. Also grab yourself an SSD when you can and install Skyrim to that. I had a HUGE performance gain putting Skyrim on one, around +15-20 fps in populated areas like Whiterun and Solitude and had little to no loading times.

JimmoR3M

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Aug 13, 2012
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If you can find one and want to overclock grab an i5-3570K and clock that bad boy right up. Other than that I'd say grab an i5 3340. For Skyrim you're looking at heavy CPU usage and will see a better performance gain going down the CPU route first. Get your GPU afterwards if you can make do with tweaking some settings on Skyrim to get your desired FPS. Also grab yourself an SSD when you can and install Skyrim to that. I had a HUGE performance gain putting Skyrim on one, around +15-20 fps in populated areas like Whiterun and Solitude and had little to no loading times.
 
Solution

Vic 40

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If you want to stick with your current motherboard [strike]get the i5 3340[/strike],for the i5 3570K you also need to upgrade the motherboard and would going for socket 1150 be a better choice.

Looked again and your motherboard doesn't seem to support the 3340,get the 3450,3470,3550,3570 if you can.
 

itsameSMB

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May 25, 2011
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http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H61M-VS%20R2.0/?cat=CPU

Can I ask what you mean by it doesn't support the 3340? I don't really have the money to buy the others you said.