Hi. It's my first time writing on the forum but I've read a number of discussions and have been very impressed by the collective knowledge of this group.

I'm facing a bit of a dilemma that I could use some advice on. The question is where I should upgrade my PC (specs below) or to buy a brand new one.

I recently bought IL2: Cliffs of Dover, and would love to be able to enjoy it closer to it's maximum potential (bugs not withstanding) within a reasonable budget.

My current setup is as follows:

Dell Dimension 9200 (detailed specs here : http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim9200/en/sm_en/specs.htm)
Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz (L2 Cache, 4M shared, 65 nm)
Nvidia GT 250
3 GB Ram (DDR2, 667MHZ)
375W power supply.
1900 x 1200 display


2 years ago, when I upgraded to the GTS250 from the stock 7900GS, it made my computer feel like an entirely new one. This system does a great job on games such as dawn of war 2, RUSE, Silent Hunter 5, Wings of Prey on close to max settings at 1900 x1200.

However, il2 cod (with beta patch 2) crawls on this system, and while I recognize that there ar still quite a number of performance issues that need to be addressed, I am seeing a number of reports of people with higher end systems finally being able to enjoy the game.

Option 1: Upgrade
Like I did 2 years ago, i can just upgrade the GPU but I recognize that my power supply no longer cuts it so i would replace it with a unit that can supply 500-600 Watts and buy something like a AMD 6850 or comparable NVIDIA.

Expected cost:
$200 for 6870
$60 for 500W PSU from Dell (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=A1311579&baynote_bnrank=1&baynote_irrank=0&~ck=baynoteSearch)
------
$310

Benefits (much cheaper - I could even get more expensive GPU, but does not upgrade the CPU)



Option 2: Replace

Example system from Cyberpower

Intel® Core™ i5-2500K 3.30 GHz 6M Intel Smart Cache LGA1155 (All Venom OC Certified)
[CrossFireX] GigaByte GA-P67A-UD3-B3 Intel P67 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, USB3.0, 2x SATA-III RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, 3 PCIe X1 & 2 PCI [B3 Stepping]
4GB (2GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Module (Corsair or Major Brand)
AMD Radeon HD 6850 1GB GDDR5 16X PCIe Video Card [+142] (Major Brand Powered by AMD)
600 Watts - XtremeGear Power Supply - SLI/CrossFireX Ready
1TB SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 64MB Cache 7200RPM HDD (Single Hard Drive)

Expected cost:
$931

Benefits: More expensive, but future proof


What do you all think? How much does a newer CPU matter for gaming? Is there any incompatibilities I should know about?

Nothing is future proof. LOL

3rd option (what I'm doing): Upgrade into a new system over a few months, take the time to shop each part and get the best you can.

Month 1: Buy a case, good cooling system
Move your current pc into the new case, might as well use it.

Month 2: Upgrade your power supply to about 600 watts, get new graphics card. Start using them. I'm thinking ATI 5870, seems the best for the money, ~$200

Month 3: Motherboard

Month 4: CPU

Month 5: Memory

Just use the dvd drive you have now if it works well.
Combine steps as budget allows. I'm looking to spend around $7-750 total.

Replace entire system would be the thing. Investing money in that Dell would be a waste with it's DDR 2 memory. Also a power supply from Dell that's rated at 500W would be questionable to me.

I tend to buy Mobo/CPU/Ram all together, that way I can assemble, test and RMA anything that has an issue, if you order one, wait 30 days, order another, wait 30 days and order another, by time you get it assembled and burnt in the RMA doors on 2 of the 3 components are already closed.

A low cost step by step could start with a GPU -- e.g. HD5870 at about $200 (will equal or exceed HD6870). See if that does it for you.

If not, go for a new CPU, MB, memory, PSU, case: Should add up to about $500 if one shops sales and buys good stuff. Being an AMD/ATI fan, I suggest AMD/ATI for the best value -- but Intel is OK if overclocking is important to you

Total with GPU about $700.

But, if one wants to avoid building it one's self, then add $100 for a hard drive and optical drive and $100 to $150 to get it assembled with a warranty -- close to the price of the system you identified

The only further upgrade on the above options (that makes sense to me), is moving up to an HD6970 GPU and an extra hard drive for backups.

P.S. Depending on your timeframe: The all new AMD Bulldozer CPU is due in July (it is rumored).

Good point there Skate.

Thanks everyone.

Allen - I haven't been tracking the GPU market for a while but I did check Tom's hardware and used the chart below to pick the card. I tend to run my games at 1900x1200 since that's my monitor's native resolution and picked that specific example to check on the comparative performance.

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2011-...siast,2668.html

Guess I'm a little confused about AMD's numbering system? Why does the 5870 exceed 6870? Wouldn't it be the other way around. Though after you mentioned that, I did check the charts and the 5870's are right up there in performance with the 6870's.

Nothing against AMD/ATI - but I've remember seeing quite a number of threads on ATI's having some graphical anomaly or the other (now mind you, this is purely an anecdotal, nothing I can prove). But looking at that chart, it looks like the ATI cards are up there (and I think they come with more VRAM at the same price point that Nvidia as well?)

Anyway, I think I'm leaning towards the GPU upgrade first. If that doesn't work, I can always use that in the next system - no harm done.

@Speedbump - The reason I looked at the Dell PSU is that I don't want fit issues with the PSU that I'm going to likely have with aftermarket companies.

I'm not sure about that numbering system either, best just to look at the reviews like you're looking at and compare each one to your budget.

As for the PS, that's pretty standardized. I'd just go with one from Newegg or Tigerdirect. Compare the measurements, but you'll be fine.
NEWEGG

I see a Coolmax there for a good price plus a mail in rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...9-055-_-Product

You can do well for under $60 and get a 600 watt for a little headroom but without going overboard.
Pay attention to the connectors, it's nice not to have to use adapters all over the place to get set up how you want.

Thanks. Now I'm getting excited about this project. Been a while since I've been inside my PC's innards.

Logically, it should be as you say. However, AMD/ATI changed their numbering system with release of the HD6xxx series. Its the HD6970 that is the new upgrade to the older HD5870 (and out performs it in most cases). The HD6870 is not quite up to the HD5870 in many cases. As you note, 2GB of graphics memory is an improvement over 1GB at very high resolutions. But, 1GB will do the job up to and including 1920x1200 -- unless one wants to run very high AA, like 8X or more at high resolutions (I run 0AA as I don't find it needed at such high resolutions). Actually, I run Eyefinity at 5760x1200 0AA with no memory issues I know of.

FWIW, the HD6xxx and Nvidia GTX5xx series are 40nm fabrication "stopgaps" put in place because the 32nm fabrication process failed (at their mutually used chip fabricator) and is being replaced with a 28nm process. The GPUs for 28nm have "taped out" and await the 28nm fabrication process to be cost competitive. Likely, the 28nm GPUs will release this Fall or later. So, some of us went with HD5870 for about $200 (for the heck of it I bought 2 for Crossfire at that price) -- saving our cash for the HD7xxx or GTX6xx this Fall, or later.

Tom's Graphics card comparisons and CPU comparisons are about as complete and "objective" as one can find. So, using them to help decision making is good.

If you use 1 GPU, a 600W PSU is plenty. I would plan to get a "quality" (not no-name) 600 to 650W on sale for $50 to $65 at Newegg (I got a 650W and mine runs the Crossfire system below -- loads of everything in the case).