Suggestions for upgrade path

JayteeBates

[H]ard|Poof
Joined
Jul 21, 2007
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So here I sit with a QX6700 and a relativly low end Gigabyte 965G mobo 4GB of RAM and a BFG 260 (216) MaxCore.

I can step to a 285 for $60 or a $295 for about $200 or I could buy a second 260 for $300ish. Price wise the second 260 is out but performance wise would I be better off stepping up to the 295 stayin in the C2Q arena or getting the i7 platform and a 285?

I'm thinking I should just step up to the 295 and save a few bucks for a couple months and then go i7 which would allow SLI or Crossfire (later on). What's really holding me back is I will not be able to get the high end i7 chip. My QX was the bomb (and I think pretty darn respectible still) when I picked it up. Are the lower end i7's still big improvements over C2Q and does the platform really improve framerates over the C2Q?
 
it depends. are you pumping heaving pixels that you absolutely need a 295?

and to answer the question of the lower end i7s. i came from an amd quad platform, and i can def say yes they are a huge improvement. i only game @ 1680x1050 and my 940 paired with my 260 i have seen a noticeable difference in frame rates and over all smoothness. a worthy investment.

you should also take into consideration that when you go to the i7 platform, youll need a new mobo, and ddr3. but, i am sure you already know that.
 
I want to run things like GTA 4 at 1920x1200 max everything. Similarly COD4, Dead Space and most of the other newer games.
 
My thought is get a second 260. I'm thinking that you'll probably see about the performance of having the 295 and if you don't think it's worth it, you can sell one of them and not be without a card at all.
 
GTA maxed is really a pain to get going at 1920 or above. COD, deadsapce, and most of the newer games ( except crysis ) play fine with your current card.
 
My thought is get a second 260. I'm thinking that you'll probably see about the performance of having the 295 and if you don't think it's worth it, you can sell one of them and not be without a card at all.

i agree with kuro. plus, 260s are coming down in price.
 
I'd have to buy another 260 (216) OCX which is the most expensive 260 and a new Mobo to support SLI...so it's not really cost effective at all when I can apply the $320 I paid for my 260 toward a 295. Do you agree?
 
oh. you didnt mention that you were going to need a new motherboard. with that, id say go for the 295 if you feel you need it. esp with a step up price of only 200 dollars.
 
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