Upgrade time!

[WonderBread]

So I'm thinking about upgrading some components of my system in the near future but I need some advice on the avenue I want to take.

I have three different options/roads I can take for this upgrade.

1: Buy a new FX CPU that is compatible with my system to replace my 955 BE

2: Buy a second AMD 6950 to use in a crossfire setup

3: Buy a new Video Card and replace my 6950

Budget it right around $200 US give or take $10-15.

[TrevorS]

I'm an AMD enthusiast. Am currently running an FX4300 in my core machine (server & misc.) I've an FX6300 intended for an Asrock 970 Extreme4 board, but haven't got further on that build. Not clear what you'd like to know, but I'm pleased with my FX4300. Any questions I can perhaps assist with?

[danrok]

What do you mostly use your rig for? Gaming?

[WonderBread]

I want to know which would be the most effective upgrade path for the money

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[WonderBread]

Yes danrok, gaming is prettyuch what its used for. Its also my media PC.

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[TrevorS]

Originally Posted by danrok

What do you mostly use your rig for? Gaming?

Not certain who this question is targeted towards, but no, I don't use my FX4300 for gaming.

Originally Posted by WonderBread

I want to know which would be the most effective upgrade path for the money

Originally Posted by WonderBread

Yes danrok, gaming is pretty much what its used for. Its also my media PC.

I targeted my FX6300/Asrock 970 Extreme4 build towards gaming and personally believe it would do a respectable midrange job at that task (have all the parts, but never actually built it). However, there's gaming and there's gaming. The current most powerful gaming processors are clearly in the Intel stable. If cost effective is a true consideration and one is willing to go with a more midrange machine, AMD offers real possibilities. It's all a question of your needs.

[danrok]

I can't see that upgrading the CPU would have any great benefit for gaming.

Your video card needs about 200 watts I believe. Do you already have a PSU that could handle two of them?

I think it would be difficult to beat 2x 6950 for $200. That would be something like 25 GP/s and 89.6 GT/s doubled up. So, in the same ballpark as a single Radeon R9 290 (not yet available).

[WonderBread]

I have a Seasonic 750w PSU so I'm more than capable of dual video cards.

So you think getting a second video card would be my best and easiest upgrade for my budget?

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[danrok]

Yes, otherwise you'd be looking at a single Radeon HD 7950 3GB for $200 which wouldn't be twice as fast as 2x 6950.

[booman]

Originally Posted by WonderBread

I have a Seasonic 750w PSU so I'm more than capable of dual video cards.

So you think getting a second video card would be my best and easiest upgrade for my budget?

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2 video cards can be nice, but the cost and power requirements isn't so encouraging.

If you wait a bit longer these AMD R9 graphics cards will get cheaper.
It doesn't smash your 6950 but it is faster and probably won't suck as much power as two 6950's

I'm a GeForce guy, cause I use Linux. So I would recommend an Nvidia card, but it looks like you are an AMD fan.

Let us know what you end up doing...