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Upgrade time but unsure what to do. (Resolved)

Video cards cpu motherboard upgrade

Best Answer Topher3727 , 13 May 2016 - 02:24 PM

Thanks so much for your help. I've decided to go with the R 390. It's over my budget but worth it. I have had this "computer" for over 12 years. Nothing in it is the original except maybe the optic... Go to the full post »


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#1
Topher3727

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Ok so I've been playing my games without any real issues for a while, but it's time to upgrade because some more demanding games are laggy and slow on the higher quality visual settings. . I have an AMD fx-8350. So 8 cores 4Ghz. It's an AM3+ socket cpu. I have the Radeon HD 6950 2GB gpu in the system. 16GB ram Windows 10. Basically my issue is this. The processor is excellent but motherboards with an AM3+ socket dont have pci e 3.0 slots for a newer video card. I do have 2 pcie slots so I can bridge a second video card, but my question is should I go for a new processor and motherboard just for the graphics card or am I better off sticking with my current build and adding a second card? Or alternately can I just use a pcie 3.0 gpu anyway? I have read that you can use the 3.0 cards in 2.0 slots and you just have lesser performance because of the "bottleneck", but with a decrease in performance would the results still be better than what I have?

Not sure what to do... Any suggestions would be great.
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#2
iammykyl

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:welcome: Topher3727

 

This is a pretty recent article about PCI Express scaling, the conclusion, " Just like in previous articles of this kind, there is no significant performance difference between x16 3.0 and x8 3.0 (and x16 2.0, which offers the same bandwidth). " > https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/R9_Fury_X_PCI-Express_Scaling/1.html 

PCI-E is backwards compatible, so I would keep your existing system and upgrade to a single GPU, to what level will depend on your budget.   I would not go multi GPU, there is inherent problems, you would also need very good case cooling and probable a SPU upgrade, even with a single GPU, you may need a PSU upgrade.

 

If you would like to give us your budget, the country for purchasing parts, brand/model of the PSU, and the case, (to determine max video card length) we could give some suggestions. 


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#3
Topher3727

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thank you so much to your quick reply to my question.  The case that I have is the Apevia X-Trooper series ATX mid tower.  The case specs say it can take up to an 11" card length which seems about right because the card in there (Radeon HD 6950) is 10.6" and has a little room to spare.  The PSU is  IN Win Commander II IRP-COM850 850W. Live in the US.  As for my budget I would say $200-ish but open ended.  I usually go way over budget so that I'm set for a few years.  The last upgrade I gave this PC was in Jan 2013 so if I spend more I'm fine with that because I know that unless something truly unexpected happens I should get a few years out of it.  I want something that does well with games that push the system so that I can keep playing games on the higher end of visual settings for a few years. 

 

:)

Thanks


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#4
iammykyl

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Thanks for the info.

At the $200ish point, GTX 960 vs R9 380, about the same performance, swings and roundabouts, depending on the game, R9 uses more power, runs hotter.

As an example, >  http://www.hardocp.c...12#.VzM3ddR96Cg

The next tier up would cost aprox $100 More.

http://www.newegg.co...127-874:$$$$$$$


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#5
Topher3727

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✓  Best Answer
Thanks so much for your help. I've decided to go with the R 390. It's over my budget but worth it. I have had this "computer" for over 12 years. Nothing in it is the original except maybe the optical drive. I regularly keep it updated and upgraded and it has never given me problems. Hopefully with this gpu I can keep going with it for years to come. You helped me a lot. Thanks.
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#6
iammykyl

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You are very welcome :thumbsup: .

Check that your selected card fits the case and that the required ports are suitable for your monitor/s, as some GPUs come with only Display Port.

 

Are you familiar with DDU? I use before changing brands or upgrading a GPU, > http://www.guru3d.co...r-download.html


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