Two Upgrade options

[Fulmar]

Looking for some input and what may be the better upgrade option currently (for gaming).  Coming up on the 4 year mark on my current build and usually thats when I sit down and build a new one.  1999, 2003, 2007....2011.  But at the 4 year mark I really haven't had too much in performance concerns for me to warrant a new build.  At least for what I'm playing.

Currently:
Win7 64bit
C2D E6400 Allendale @ 2.8ghz
4gb ddr2 800
Geforce 8800 GTS 640mb

I'm looking at $100-$130 range on this temporary upgrade, but I'm kind of stuck on the two upgrades I want.  On my current motherboard I can go the E8xxx Wolfdale route on CPUs, but they're quite pricey.  But I can also use the other E6xxx Wolfdales as well and overclock.

E6700 Wolfdate (stock 3.2ghz, would probably take it to 3.8ghz) is $95
or
Geforce GTS 450 is $130

Haven't touch AH in a while, but she did a pretty good job on the new graphics updates the last time I check (could be a bit better).  But pretty much play L4D2 which at med/high at 1680x1050 is a low of 45 FPS.  Eve, really doesnt tax my system at all.  Mafia 2 ran all right.

[BaldEagl]

I'd go with the video card.  You can swap that into your next build which won't be likely with the CPU.  Plus, you're further behind in the GPU chip than in the CPU chip generationally.

[TilDeath]

I agree with Bald.  I would get the best video card I can afford and move it into your 4 year build.  If you overlook the 450 and get a little better card you have the option of having it for your next build.

TD

[MonkGF]

Video card. Your next big CPU upgrade would be to the Core iX series (3,5,7) which is more than you want to spend, so upgrade the video card for now. Double-check power supply though before doing so.

[Chalenge]

A change to the 1156 or 1366 sockets is a big hit on the pockets. You can probably get another few years out of this MB if it can handle the E8400-E8600s. Can it SLI? How big is your PSU?

The reason I ask is to consider what the future is bringing. And so that you are better informed: The Fermi cards that we have now will be replaced come fall of next year (with Nvidia they will probably be late and it will be Spring of 2012). If they follow through and produce something in line with their intention the 600 series will be more than twice as powerful as the 400s. A year after that (projected spring of 2013 so probably fall 2013) will be the 800 series which will be three times more powerful still. If I was in your shoes I would go for the 460 line and follow that up with a CPU later and then possibly a second 460 in SLI (460s in SLI out perform the 480 in most cases and costs less). Thats where you run into the question of SLI and PSU. And of course Ati (if you lean that way) will probably have similar plans.

[Fulmar]

I'm kind of leaning towards the GPU.  As to you Chalenge, SLI on my current rig isn't really cost effective.  

My Mobo is the Asus P5NE-SLI http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142

I'd have to upgrade my PSU to support SLI and with this motherboard, SLI is limited to 8x, otherwise its 16x for a single card.  Additionally its PCI-E 1.0.  So we're getting into bottleneck territory.  When it comes to a build, I like to do $1000-$1200 when it comes to that time, but nothing is getting me to that point right now.  The GPU makes more sense based on that I can use it in the next system, whenever that is.

[cattb]

I have noticed prices coming down the last three months or so, have patience christmas is coming and you may pick up a good deal on what you prefer. I am thinking of upgrading my video card myself. Due to RL issues I havn't played a PC game in a few months. I am thinking of a 460 or a5800 series ATI card, I now have a 8800gt.

[Chalenge]

I'm kind of leaning towards the GPU.  As to you Chalenge, SLI on my current rig isn't really cost effective.  

My Mobo is the Asus P5NE-SLI http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142

I'd have to upgrade my PSU to support SLI and with this motherboard, SLI is limited to 8x, otherwise its 16x for a single card.  Additionally its PCI-E 1.0.  So we're getting into bottleneck territory.  When it comes to a build, I like to do $1000-$1200 when it comes to that time, but nothing is getting me to that point right now.  The GPU makes more sense based on that I can use it in the next system, whenever that is.

Your running less than 600 Watts?

Thats another misunderstood variable in motherboards (the PCIe channel). I fell into the same belief and bought out of the P5NE board last year. While it is true that the best approach is two x16 slots the performance difference with that and one x16 and one x8 is not substantial. In fact if two 460s in SLI went below the performace of a 480 I would be shocked (that could probably only happen on a really cheap MB). The main problem with the P5NE is the memory sockets which will not run stable with all four slots occupied. And concerning PCIe 1.0 versus 2.0 the bandwidth of current video cards does not approach anything like filling 1.0 and of course not 2.0 either. If anything you will eventually be CPU bound.

My point was to suggest for you to keep an eye toward the more popular (and available) 460s so you could pick one up later if you are inclined in that direction.

[Dragon]

I'm kind of leaning towards the GPU.  As to you Chalenge, SLI on my current rig isn't really cost effective.  

My Mobo is the Asus P5NE-SLI http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142

I'd have to upgrade my PSU to support SLI and with this motherboard, SLI is limited to 8x, otherwise its 16x for a single card.  Additionally its PCI-E 1.0.  So we're getting into bottleneck territory.  When it comes to a build, I like to do $1000-$1200 when it comes to that time, but nothing is getting me to that point right now.  The GPU makes more sense based on that I can use it in the next system, whenever that is.

I have that board with 6750 overclocked a bit and a 9800GTX+ 1 GB.  Comp crunches anything I throw at it even with only 2 GB RAM and running Vista.


+4 on upgrading your VC first.

[columbus]

+5 on the video card. shop around get the best value/perfomance card

[guncrasher]

i bought my 465 2 months ago and prices have gone down $40.  I would wait till xmas, i wish i had.

semp

[Fulmar]

Your running less than 600 Watts?

Thats another misunderstood variable in motherboards (the PCIe channel). I fell into the same belief and bought out of the P5NE board last year. While it is true that the best approach is two x16 slots the performance difference with that and one x16 and one x8 is not substantial. In fact if two 460s in SLI went below the performace of a 480 I would be shocked (that could probably only happen on a really cheap MB). The main problem with the P5NE is the memory sockets which will not run stable with all four slots occupied. And concerning PCIe 1.0 versus 2.0 the bandwidth of current video cards does not approach anything like filling 1.0 and of course not 2.0 either. If anything you will eventually be CPU bound.

My point was to suggest for you to keep an eye toward the more popular (and available) 460s so you could pick one up later if you are inclined in that direction.

I am running 600 watts.  I don't have the worlds greatest PSU in there, but I'm at 4 years without any problems.  I'm more upgrade now guy rather than later.  Unless we're talking about a completely new generation of product coming out in 2 months, you can play the waiting game forever.  "It'll be cheaper come XXXX" or "Wait until the XXXXX comes out."  But by that time come around, guess whats down the road? 

[Chalenge]

I understand of course but I wanted to let you know whats coming and so on. A single 460 wont allow all the max settings in AH (not without a potential "AcesHigh.exe has stopped working" message) but it will get pretty close. If the game load goes up in the future you might be able to run two cards (depending on your +12V rail wattage) but before then you will probably want more CPU.

[Fulmar]

Without pulling the side off the case I believe it split across 4 rails IIRC and last time I calculated the amperage the only SLI I could do on it was on low end cards.  I never bought the motherboard in the first place based off its SLI support, right price and right other features at the time.  TBO, never been disappointed with any of the Asus boards I've run in the past, just don't buy their cheaper ones.

[columbus]

Without pulling the side off the case I believe it split across 4 rails IIRC and last time I calculated the amperage the only SLI I could do on it was on low end cards.  I never bought the motherboard in the first place based off its SLI support, right price and right other features at the time.  TBO, never been disappointed with any of the Asus boards I've run in the past, just don't buy their cheaper ones.

+1