Hardware question

[Bruno]

Should I buy a 7970 for $400 in preparation for ArmA 3, or should I buy a 7870 for $200 and a new processor.

Thanks for input.


At the moment I have a 2GB 6870 and a 2.8GHz Quad core AMD Phenom

If I buy the 7970, I won't be upgrading my processor.

7970 : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150632

If I buy the 7870, I will also buy a 3.6 GHz tp 3.9 GHz / 4.2 GHz 8 core AMD cpu

7870 : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150605

CPU : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819106011

[NoctiZ]

If you primarily want to game, then pick the 7970. A stronger CPU isn't needed as much when talking about games, atleast yours isn't in dire need of an upgrade if my knowledge doesn't betray me.

[Admiral]

What about trying to find a Tahiti 7870? (PCS MYST edition particularly) It's about 30 or so dollars more than a 7870 but performs more like a 7950. How about an i5 3570K?

Do you care about power draw? Fan noise? The Tahiti based 7870s are definitely higher on both but sort of the middle ground for what you have here.

If you primarily want to game, then pick the 7970. A stronger CPU isn't needed as much when talking about games, atleast yours isn't in dire need of an upgrade if my knowledge doesn't betray me.

That's not always true. I think he could definitely benefit from a CPU upgrade even if it's just to a Phenom II 960+ because clock speed DOES matter.

[Bruno]

What about trying to find a Tahiti 7870? (PCS MYST edition particularly) It's about 30 or so dollars more than a 7870 but performs more like a 7950. How about an i5 3570K?

Do you care about power draw? Fan noise? The Tahiti based 7870s are definitely higher on both but sort of the middle ground for what you have here.



That's not always true. I think he could definitely benefit from a CPU upgrade even if it's just to a Phenom II 960+ because clock speed DOES matter.

My mother board is AMD based and I really don't want to have to buy a new one.

Is this what you mean ? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131484

Also, what else should I get in terms of a processor?

Also, fan noise does not affect me.

[Admiral]

My mother board is AMD based and I really don't want to have to buy a new one.

Is this what you mean ? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131484

Also, what else should I get in terms of a processor?

Also, fan noise does not affect me.

Yes, that would be the right one. The 8150 will probably be fine. I honestly didn't even think about your board obviously being AMD. It's just relatively close to your price point.

Like I said another possible contendor is the Phenom II X4 965. It's $100 not on sale. Add like 30 bux if you want a cooler that you could OC well with.

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I would have to do more targeted research on the the 8150 vs the 965 to say for sure which one I would suggest. I don't think there's necessarilly going to be much of if any gap at all in gaming performance, however for things like Photosoup and video processing I am pretty sure the 8150 is going to win that battle almost if not every time.

[Bruno]

Yes, that would be the right one. The 8150 will probably be fine. I honestly didn't even think about your board obviously being AMD. It's just relatively close to your price point.

Like I said another possible contendor is the Phenom II X4 965. It's $100 not on sale. Add like 30 bux if you want a cooler that you could OC well with.

---

I would have to do more targeted research on the the 8150 vs the 965 to say for sure which one I would suggest. I don't think there's necessarilly going to be much of if any gap at all in gaming performance, however for things like Photosoup and video processing I am pretty sure the 8150 is going to win that battle almost if not every time.

I don't video edit or any of that. This computer is specifically for games.

[Ash]

game? people still game?

[Bruno]

game? people still game?

Lol. Console player.

[Admiral]

As much as I think you also need a new CPU, if you want raw power I still have to say the 7970 is going to rape that Tahiti 7870. My gut says steak out the market for a bit and see if you can swipe a 7970 on sale. Video cards in my experience tend to go on sale less often than CPUs. Arma is going to want a good CPU, but frankly they cost a lot less. If you get your painful purchase out of the way now you can justify the CPU more easily later.

The budget option is Tahiti 7870, the eye candy option is 7970. It's about how much money you want to spend. I guarantee both will be fine for Arma III but it's the rest of the games that will come out that I cannot yet speak for.

[NoctiZ]

Yes, that would be the right one. The 8150 will probably be fine. I honestly didn't even think about your board obviously being AMD. It's just relatively close to your price point.

Like I said another possible contendor is the Phenom II X4 965. It's $100 not on sale. Add like 30 bux if you want a cooler that you could OC well with.

Hm, I thought that he would already have something like the Phenom II X4 925 because my old computer had it and the specs were 4x 2.8 GhZ, so upgrading it to 965 wouldn't do much in terms of gaming power if it's the CPU I assume he has.

You can even build a gaming rig with an i3 processor, the GPU is where it's at. I personally think that it would be better to keep the 4x 2.8. If he had said that he is video editing AND playing games, then I would agree on the CPU ugrade, but like that..

I did a lot of research before I built my computer in August and believe me, you can have a Dual-Core and still go at maxed out graphic settings if you have the right GPU. The 7970 in combination with the Quad-Core he has is going to play pretty much everything smoothly.
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I did some research and found out that ArmA II atleast relies on CPU pretty heavily. Usually new games rely on the GPU and barely need anything CPU power, but in this case, since you said you wanted to upgrade for ArmA III, better get GPU + CPU.

[Bruno]

Hm, I thought that he would already have something like the Phenom II X4 925 because my old computer had it and the specs were 4x 2.8 GhZ, so upgrading it to 965 wouldn't do much in terms of gaming power if it's the CPU I assume he has.

You can even build a gaming rig with an i3 processor, the GPU is where it's at. I personally think that it would be better to keep the 4x 2.8. If he had said that he is video editing AND playing games, then I would agree on the CPU ugrade, but like that..

I did a lot of research before I built my computer in August and believe me, you can have a Dual-Core and still go at maxed out graphic settings if you have the right GPU. The 7970 in combination with the Quad-Core he has is going to play pretty much everything smoothly.
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I did some research and found out that ArmA II atleast relies on CPU pretty heavily. Usually new games rely on the GPU and barely need anything CPU power, but in this case, since you said you wanted to upgrade for ArmA III, better get GPU + CPU.

Okay, thanks.