Old video card (X1600 XT) - Will new one get better FPS?

[Arinoth]

Originally Posted by enaberif

Bad advice. The system needs a total upgrade before seeing any benefits

Agreed, especially seeing as BF3 seems to use up to 4 threads/cores when it can.

[cameronc]

Thanks for the prompt replies!

From what I gather, I'm not going to see ANY improvement from a new video card with the current motherboard/cpu setup? Really? None at all?

I'm going to do one of two things:

a) Upgrade video card in current system to new one

or

b) Upgrade system and use current video card

New system would be quad or 6 core system as they're priced amazingly right now.. would have to hold off on video card until next month, thus use current video cards in new system.

[yycraven]

Do you know what you budget is for a new system. Maybe some of us here can help you on choice.

[Soultribunal]

Originally Posted by jumpload

true but you lose nothing by changing the video card now seeing as when you change the rest down the road the video card is all ready pay-for as all ready stated.

Not true. The 550TI is a last resort card to put in there anyways. Coupled with Kepler and the lower end AMD cards around the corner buying a GPU now is pointless.
Best bet would be to wait it out and see what comes on the market while the OP saves his money. He needs a whole system overhaul.

-ST

[cameronc]

Specs on system:
ASUS M5A78L-M LX Thermaltake Barebones Kit - ASUS M5A78L-M LX Board, AMD Phenom II X4 830, CPU Cooler, Patriot 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 RAM, Seagate 1TB HDD, DVD Writer, Thermaltake V2 Mid Tower, 450W PSU
Price is $325 CDN after rebate.

For another $25, I think I'll do with this one:
ASUS M4A88T-M Thermaltake Barebones Kit - ASUS M4A88T-M Board, AMD Phenom II X6 1035T CPU, Corsair 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 RAM, Seagate 2TB HDD, 24x DVDRW, Thermaltake V2 Mid Tower, 450W Power Supply
Price is $350 CDN after rebate.

I don't want two expenditures on computer products this month. I either purchase this system and wait on video card until next month or purchase video card and wait on system until next month.

[Soultribunal]

Originally Posted by cameronc

Specs on system:
ASUS M5A78L-M LX Thermaltake Barebones Kit - ASUS M5A78L-M LX Board, AMD Phenom II X4 830, CPU Cooler, Patriot 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 RAM, Seagate 1TB HDD, DVD Writer, Thermaltake V2 Mid Tower, 450W PSU
Price is $325 CDN after rebate.

For another $25, I think I'll do with this one:
ASUS M4A88T-M Thermaltake Barebones Kit - ASUS M4A88T-M Board, AMD Phenom II X6 1035T CPU, Corsair 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 RAM, Seagate 2TB HDD, 24x DVDRW, Thermaltake V2 Mid Tower, 450W Power Supply
Price is $350 CDN after rebate.

I don't want two expenditures on computer products this month. I either purchase this system and wait on video card until next month or purchase video card and wait on system until next month.

Do you prefer AMD or Intel for your setups? Avoid those Barebones combos. THe PSU in them is one step removed from Garbage and usually low quality stuff inside.

-ST

[Adzsask]

Just save for a month or two and grab an AMD X6/6870, or intel 1155 socket i5(i3 to save some $)/560Ti(560 to save $, but lose quite a bit of power), bare bones bundles use stuff the gamer crowd wouldn't touch basically, also cheaper to look around and grab individually. (example say RAM and video card is on sale this month, grab it then wait for a motherboard/CPU to be on sale,etc)

[Bond007]

Originally Posted by cameronc

Specs on system:
ASUS M5A78L-M LX Thermaltake Barebones Kit - ASUS M5A78L-M LX Board, AMD Phenom II X4 830, CPU Cooler, Patriot 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 RAM, Seagate 1TB HDD, DVD Writer, Thermaltake V2 Mid Tower, 450W PSU
Price is $325 CDN after rebate.

For another $25, I think I'll do with this one:
ASUS M4A88T-M Thermaltake Barebones Kit - ASUS M4A88T-M Board, AMD Phenom II X6 1035T CPU, Corsair 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 RAM, Seagate 2TB HDD, 24x DVDRW, Thermaltake V2 Mid Tower, 450W Power Supply
Price is $350 CDN after rebate.

I don't want two expenditures on computer products this month. I either purchase this system and wait on video card until next month or purchase video card and wait on system until next month.

If you went with something like that just remember that it is barebones, so you will need to buy windows. And the power supply would need to be replaced with a better quality one before running a video card in it...I would just pick quality parts and not buy one of the kits. NCIX will price match parts from anywhere and assemble the pc for you for $50 if you are not comfortable with building.

[Dragonstongue]

Cpu is well underpowered for BF3, not much you can do on that side.

A decent rig with a new video card would depeding on the choices run from $750-$2000+. The rig I have an use for BF3 would cost just shy of $1000, though it can be trimmed up some to get the price down, and even more if there are just the simple parts.
CPU
Motherboard
Memory
GPU
RAM
Power supply

It honestly would be pointless putitng in a brand new gpu, you would never get the most out of it. Just as an idea, I had an E8400 OC to a bit over 4.0Ghz and even then there were alot of times the game with the same 6870 I am using in my new AMD rig would be very sluggish. E8400 is way way more fast then a pentium D was/is, and I had problems, I can just imagine you would have even more.

Also, I know 550TI is cheap, but there are far better choices for gpus that are not that much more $ and some even cheaper that would eat a 550TI for lunch, it really is not a "gaming" card, it is a graphics card that "can" game. GTX 460 336 Shader 1gb, 560 560TI, Radeon 6850/6870 would be what I would go with, no less, but I most certainly WOULD NOT pair it with a Pentium D and try to play BF3, its your money, but it would be a waste. If you OC to PD by ALOT it may help, but I would not advice this route either.

[Dragonstongue]

I would also recomend Ncix and things such as shopbot.ca to find the best prices on gear.
my stuff
Phenom II 955BE-$109
M5A99X EVO motherboard $140(M5A97 EVO would work as well and be about $110)
Ram 8gb ddr3 1600 kit around $50
Radeon 6870 $160
Power supply 650-750 watt(mine is HX750 around $135 but there are just as good for a little bit less)
Case if need be $50-$120(mine is Raven 3 but you need a few longer sata cables and such)
Hard drives if needed(I have Agility 3 60gb SSD $110 and Caviar Black 640GB AALS model $70 Caviar Blue 1tb sata 6gb model $65)
Optical drives if needed(I have 2 ASUS B1ST DVD drives $23)
I also have Hyper 212+ cooler with an Extra bladmaster fan and MX4 paste all of this would be $24 for cooler $10 for fan and $10 or so for paste which you dont really need, but I did anyways :P