Is it time to buy a new CPU (or MB)?

I agree the SSD is a modest investment for a significant improvement and it can be used on a new PC if and when you get one. I would check that any new GPU will support CS6 acceleration since I don't think you can guarantee they all do.

I stumbled across this for what it's worth
http://robertoblake.com/blog/2014/01...ard-photoshop/

3 items you could get and use now, and put into a new rig later.

1) SSD
2) Graphics Card
3) PSU

Boozad said:

True John, but if the budget for a new machine is out of reach a new GPU can really make a big difference when it comes to gaming. Even a 750ti at $150 or so would be a massive boost over the OP's current GPU. Stretch to a 760 to last a couple of years and the difference would be massive.

Again, all dependent on the PSU first...

Yep mate wasn't criticising if it sounded that way I agree the new GPU would be the (in my mind) the only thing that I would be changing on that machine.:)

ICit2lol said:

Boozad said:

True John, but if the budget for a new machine is out of reach a new GPU can really make a big difference when it comes to gaming. Even a 750ti at $150 or so would be a massive boost over the OP's current GPU. Stretch to a 760 to last a couple of years and the difference would be massive.

Again, all dependent on the PSU first...

Yep mate wasn't criticising if it sounded that way I agree the new GPU would be the (in my mind) the only thing that I would be changing on that machine.:)

No no, I knew you weren't critcising mate and I would agree that a new rig would be the ideal scenario (I ended up buying two new ones last year myself). Given the OP's circumstances though I was just pointing out to him the benefits of new GPU. And of course the new GPU could be carried over to his new rig when he eventually buys one.

pintree3 said:

2 questions if I may. It has been mentioned getting a new PSU. Are you guys saying that my ''Tagan BZ Series 800W" is not good enough? It was designed for high-end computers and the specs are way up there so this seems strange to me. More info would be nice.

Nobody has recommended a new PSU so far, as far as I can see this is the first time you've mentioned what PSU you have. An 800W would be ample for virtually all systems, including ones with higher end GPUs, although I have no experience with Tagan PSUs whatsoever. My personal recommendation for PSUs is always Corsair.

pintree3 said:

Also: It also seems that getting a new video card is on top of the list here--to the point that just about any new video card would be a great improvement on what I have now. Is my video card that bad? or have video cards improved that much in the last 3-4 years to suggest this? Thanks again

Graphics cards are improved upon every year, AMD and nVidia release a new series every year which supersede the last ones, or at least are supposed to (a GTX 770 is apparently a rebranded GTX 680, so while it may not be new architecture it is better than a 670). For example, a GTX 580 is no match for a GTX 780 even though there are only a couple of years between the two. Plus a 5770 isn't exactly a high end card, this isn't being detrimental to your card either, it's just stating a fact. An upgrade in this area would make a huge difference to gaming for you.

pintree3 said:

One more question if I may. According to 2 sources, including PC Magazine, if I get an SSD card I should also get a ''SATA 6-gbps controller card'' to go with it. Any comments on this?

Looking at your motherboard specs it already has a SATA 6G/bs controller. Link.

pintree3 said:

One more question if I may. According to 2 sources, including PC Magazine, if I get an SSD card I should also get a ''SATA 6-gbps controller card'' to go with it. Any comments on this?

Your powersupply is fine, 800w is more than ample for single GPUs.

Graphics cards advance on a monthly basis a high end card from 2 years ago would make a mid tear card now!

As for the "SATA 6gbps control card", your motherboard already has a 6gbps controller in the form of a Marvel smart controller.

Just attach any SATA3 SSD to a 6gbps SATA3 port :)

pintree3,

I agree with everyone else, that for gaming performance, the single-most effective upgrade will be a graphics card.

My current gaming system is a generation older (Intel Core 2 Quad X9650) than yours. When I upgraded it from a GTX 560 Ti to a GTX 780 the difference was like night and day.

Games such as Borderlands 2, Dead Island Riptide, Assetto Corsa, etc. run at an acceptable frame rate (60 fps or higher) with the settings maxed out at a resolution of 2560 x 1600 on the GTX 780. On the GTX 560 Ti, I was lucky to get 30 fps on some games at a resolution of 1920 x 1200. Of course, the performance will be lower on the games that depend heavily on the CPU.


Kent

Lava King said:

pintree3,

I agree with everyone else, that for gaming performance, the single-most effective upgrade will be a graphics card.

My current gaming system is a generation older (Intel Core 2 Quad X9650) than yours. When I upgraded it from a GTX 560 Ti to a GTX 780 the difference was like night and day.

Games such as Borderlands 2, Dead Island Riptide, Assetto Corsa, etc. run at an acceptable frame rate (60 fps or higher) with the settings maxed out at a resolution of 2560 x 1600 on the GTX 780. On the GTX 560 Ti, I was lucky to get 30 fps on some games at a resolution of 1920 x 1200. Of course, the performance will be lower on the games that depend heavily on the CPU.


Kent

I agre with Lava my tester is powered by a Q9650 and flipping in an Asus GTX 650 over the old original plodder made all the difference in the world.