What component to replace next?

[mikeb33]

My Son's PC has a Core 2 Quad Q9550 CPU, 4GB DDR2 and a GTX260 graphics card. He gets some low frame rates in WOW when there's a lot of action on screen. Also Crysis 3 and others slows down a lot too.

My PC has a Xenon X3480 CPU 8GB DDR3 and a GTX 560 Ti. I usually upgrade my own and he gets my old stuff.

So the question is what would help him most?
More RAM?
My CPU/MoBo and I get a new Ivybridge CPU/MoBo?
My GTX560 and I get a newer video card?

Thanks

 

[farrengottu]

your sons cpu is decent still. its nearly as fast as a fx 4170 which is more than enough for WOW. 4GB of ddr2 is plenty for wow. i would get him a new video card for get yourself a better one and pass yours down.

 

[manofchalk]

Probably the GPU would be the biggest benefit I think.
Though WoW being slow likely isn't an issue with the graphics card, more likely that's a CPU bottleneck happening.

Will need pretty much a new computer to solve the problem fully.

 

[Guest]

The GPU would probably be best as the CPU is easily enough for WOW

 

[lostgamer_03]

Something is being misunderstood here..

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6396/the-vishera-review-amd-fx8350-fx8320-fx6300-and-fx4300-tested/5

World of warcraft is highly CPU dependent, so I think the boost of FPS with a new CPU will be better for him there.

In games as Crysis 3 will a better GPU do.

MMO games are often more CPU depending than GPU depending, because of the large player base.

 

[sDutchey]

GTX260 is one of the old(est) models. I'd rather go with a 560Ti which is a pretty good card and it can get some nice FPS.
8GB 1600MHz RAM Memory is more then enough for gaming.
CPU is still pretty decent, I wouldn't change that.

For gaming, the GPU/video card is always the most important thing.

 

[lostgamer_03]

GTX260 is one of the old(est) models. I'd rather go with a 560Ti which is a pretty good card and it can get some nice FPS.
8GB 1600MHz RAM Memory is more then enough for gaming.
CPU is still pretty decent, I wouldn't change that.

For gaming, the GPU/video card is always the most important thing.

You did not just recommend him to buy a GTX 560 ti for himself and give his old GTX 560 to his son..

 

[swifty_morgan]

I still use the 9550 for gaming. you didn't mention monitor resolution for you or for him.

I also had/have the 260's and the 560's. didn't like either one of them.

the best bet would be a video card. A gtx660 or an amd 6950 on up..... 2gig cards.

you mentioned your system. the 9550 should be good for a while. i just recently found that my gaming is cpu bound and am in a current upgrade, (zeon). but I max out my settings as much as possible and if I made some graphics adjustments I'm sure I can get more out of it. (9550)

slow downs are lack of vram.

 

[mikeb33]

He runs everything on max, as I do. I believe it is 1920X1080.
I found some extra DDR2 here so I am going to get him up to 8GB and Maybe I'll give him my 560Ti and buy something new for me. Recommendations?
I play L4D2, COD MW3 and MS Flight.

 

[manofchalk]

Depends on you budget which card you should get, but those games aren't that intensive, wouldn't really go for much higher than a 7850 (which is actually a side-grade from the 560ti...).

 

[swifty_morgan]

i have a thought on that. 4gigs of system ram is enough. if gaming at 1600 resolution or above 1gig video cards fail.

 

[Cazalan]

So the question is what would help him most?

Turning down the game details.

Your CPU is about the same so that won't help much.

The GTX560 would help the most but high pop areas can still bog down without a faster CPU.

 

[farrengottu]

ive played Wow across 10 or so systems over the course of 5 years, for a while with a slightly slower 2 core version of this guys processor, the e5650. paired with a radeon 5770 it ran beautifully.
now if my slower, half as many core processor is enough, then his is. the GPU is the problem. im positive.
oh i played at max with shadows turned down, @1920x1200