cpu vs gpu upgrade (black friday)

[Shining_Sadist]

Your Current Specs: i5 650 @4.0ghz, asus p7p55lx, 4 gb ram, corsair tx 850, 2x 160gb hdd, 5770
Budget: $200, plus whatever I can get selling components
Main Use:Gaming/folding
Monitor Resolution: 1440x900 will eventually upgrade
List SPECIFIC games that you MUST be able to play: Skyrim, SC2, Mass Effects
Are reusing any parts?: see below
When will you build?: black friday
Will you be overclocking?: yes

I have money burning a hole in my pocket, and am ready for an upgrade.
I could raise probably 150 selling cpu and mobo towards 2500k and new motherboard.

Or, I could keep my weak(er) processor and upgrade my gpu.

am i better off selling my 1156 parts while they still have some value or going for the graphics now?

 

[Forceman]

I wouldn't bother upgrading to Sandy Bridge - I think you'd be better off just trying to pick up a used quad-core for LGA1156. Maybe the i5-760 or something similar, and then upgrading the GPU to a 6870 or GTX 560 (or if you want to go more upmarket, a 6950 or GTX 560 Ti, but that'll be over your budget).

 

[Dangman]

A new platform really isn't worthwhile for you. I'd say updated graphics is your best bet.

 

[Shining_Sadist]

Thanks for the help.

Good advice about the 750. If I'm able to get one cheap on ebay I probably will.
How high end can I go for graphics without my current CPU becoming an issue?
Because until that point I'm realistically better off spending on graphics, right?

 

[Forceman]

At that resolution, I don't think you'd want to go higher than a GTX 560 Ti unless you plan to upgrade the monitor down the road. Even a vanilla 560 or 6870 would probably be sufficient. If you plan to upgrade in the semi-near future, than maybe the Ti or the 6950 starts to make more sense.