Upgrading system for q9400

[ThePopsicleStick]

Hi guys kinda a new here and to the whole computer upgrading process but i would like to upgrade my 3yo Acer pc and wondering if i could get some help and advice from the community.
Mainly i would like to be able to play games like witcher 2 and borderlands 2 battlefield 3 on medium settings at the bare minimum.
What graphics card will be able to do this is with my current cpu i was thinking at gtx 560 ti or gtx 650 ti without bottleneck and would i need to upgrade my motherboard for this as well?
Thanks in advance.

my PC SPECS:
WINDOWS 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 @ 2.66GHz
3.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 533MHz
Acer EG43M MOBO
1024MB GeForce GT 220
650W/620w (forgot the exact w) PSU coolermaster

 

[luckiest charm]

Get the GTX 650 Ti Boost 2 GB -

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx650tibdc2oc2gd5boost

Anything higher than that (GTX 660), and your CPU will cause bottlenecks. In that config you can play all games you mentioned on mid - high settings. That card is really very powerful and budget friendly.

No you don't need to change your motherboard for that. It has got enough PCIE slots. Its fully compatible.

You also have a good enough PSU to house it in, no worries in anything.

 

[ThePopsicleStick]

Thanks a heap but i have a couple of questions firstly is the GTX 650 TI HAWK 1GB or MSI GTX650Ti 2GB Twin Frozr OC Boost or Palit GTX650Ti 2GB good enough cos they are much cheaper where i come from and will i need to add any coolers or fans to prevent this cards from overheating?

 

[luckiest charm]

Go for MSI one. It should keep it cool enough so you won't have to add aftermarket coolers. That card won't get hot in any case.

 

[ThePopsicleStick]

Alright thanks a lot but a final question will this rig be able to keep up with gaming for atleast 2yrs cos if it cant i might as well save up for a new one and stupid question but this card is able to go med to high for said games at 1080p resolution with good fps?

 

[guanyu210379]

I would recommend to upgrade the proc earlier than 2 years
I ditched my 775 (Q6600) system about a month ago


now...back to your question...1080p in games with medium to high resolution...
It depends on which games ...but for most of the cases, 650Ti can handle it (as long as the Q9400 is not bottlenecking it)

 

[ThePopsicleStick]

Ah alright thanks a heap luckiest charm and guanyu210379 for all the help. Cheers and have a good day 😀

 

[luckiest charm]

Anytime mate.

 

[guanyu210379]

Yup...anytime mate!