Graphics card, is it worth a new card? Or new PC?

[_Grid21]

So I recently rebuild my old system for my dad to use to play World of Tanks on medium low settings. The game looks really nice and runs pretty smooth since I overclocked the video card. But I'm stuck between two ideas. Do I either A. Get a brand new custom built system? Or B. buy a better graphics card until I have a little more money build something new, but have a new graphics card to hold him over for the time being. If I were to just get a graphics card, which should I get that would make sense to have in this low end machine?

 

The system specs are as followed

 

Intel Core Duo 2.33Ghz Dual core

XFX Nvidia Geforce 9300 Motherboard

I don't remember what brand of memory but it has 8GB running at 800Mhz

Nvidia Geforce GTX 260

 

Default clocks for GTX 260

GPU 518Mhz, Memory 1008Mhz, Shader 1080Mhz

 

Overclocked timings

GPU 631Mhz, Memory 1185Mhz, Shader 1316Mhz

 

Thanks in advance!

[RyomaSJibenG]

new pc

second this

[_Grid21]

Would you actually believe my dad had the terrible idea of me giving him my GTX 760 if I upgraded? I said it won't make any sense to do that at all. So you all say, new pc? I was hoping to get some other ideas from this. I know he needs one, but until then, I suppose just hold out till we get money for something newer?

[Fgtfv567]

New PC entirely. Core 2 Duo?! WHAT IS THIS, 2007?!

[_Grid21]

New PC entirely. Core 2 Duo?! WHAT IS THIS, 2007?!

I'll tell you this, to render an hour of 1080p footage takes 3 days, not 3 hours, 3 days. ANd I used to edit on that machine. 

[insayan]

New pc, most modern gpu's will bottleneck with your computer

[_Grid21]

New pc, most modern gpu's will bottleneck with your computer

Is that because the GPU is faster and the other hardware is slower? Just double checking myself here.

[insayan]

Is that because the GPU is faster and the other hardware is slower? Just double checking myself here.

Yes, your cpu will max out well before you can hit max settings with your gpu. 

[_Grid21]

Yes, your cpu will max out well before you can hit max settings with your gpu. 

I'm actually suprised though that I was even able to overclock the GTX 260 with MSI afterburner and still have it run smoothly.

[StareX]

Is that because the GPU is faster and the other hardware is slower? Just double checking myself here.

 

Yes.. a "bottleneck" happens is when you put something huge on something small and it won't pass so easily. Like a bottle with a neck. you remove that neck and you can fill it in water easily, right? Say the GPU is the body of the bottle and the neck is your CPU.. try to fill it with water.... now modify that neck to be the exact same as the body and bam! you can fill it all.

 

There's no other idea tbh.. you need a new PC buddy, well.. not new PC, but just a new CPU, new motherboard, new GPU(or.. I think I saw you said having a GTX 760 which is ok) .. etc

[Snadzies]

What is your dad looking to play? How important are graphics to him?

If he only plays fairly easy to run games like World of Tanks and / or doesn't care if they don't run on ultra at 60fps then I see no reason to get a whole new PC right now.

If there are more demanding games he wants to play then it may be upgrade time otherwise a newer GPU would be fine for the time being.

[insayan]

I'm actually suprised though that I was even able to overclock the GTX 260 with MSI afterburner and still have it run smoothly.

The GTX 260 is am outdated card by itself (it's 8 years old) and much slower than modern day gpu's. To give you an idea, you can see how it compares to a 970 for example here: http://gpuboss.com/gpus/GeForce-GTX-970-vs-GeForce-GTX-260

[_Grid21]

Yes.. a "bottleneck" happens is when you put something huge on something small and it won't pass so easily. Like a bottle with a neck. you remove that neck and you can fill it in water easily, right? Say the GPU is the body of the bottle and the neck is your CPU.. try to fill it with water.... now modify that neck to be the exact same as the body and bam! you can fill it all.

 

There's no other idea tbh.. you need a new PC buddy, well.. not new PC, but just a new CPU, new motherboard, new GPU(or.. I think I saw you said having a GTX 760 which is ok) .. etc

Yeah that makes sense, I know what a bottleneck is, but thank you for that excellent example! Here's an apple for being a good teacher! (Get it Apple? haha)

 

What is your dad looking to play? How important are graphics to him?

If he only plays fairly easy to run games like World of Tanks and / or doesn't care if they don't run on ultra at 60fps then I see no reason to get a whole new PC right now.

If there are more demanding games he wants to play then it may be upgrade time otherwise a newer GPU would be fine for the time being.

 

Mostly World of Tanks. He does like the detail in the game as it helps me see things from further away, plus with him doing a little video editing here and there. I know it's time for an upgrade.

The GTX 260 is am outdated card by itself (it's 8 years old). To give you an idea, you can see how it compares to a 970 for example here: http://gpuboss.com/gpus/GeForce-GTX-970-vs-GeForce-GTX-260

Wow!! 8 Years old? geez!

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

Indeed. To put it simply : the graphics card can handle X amount of data per second and turn that into the images on the screen. However the rest of the PC is so slow that it can only supply the card with a third (or a fourth, or whatever) of that amount of data, causing the card to run at reduced speed.

EDIT : Wow, I'm slow today, perhaps I should stop eating when I'm typing.

[insayan]

Yeah that makes sense, I know what a bottleneck is, but thank you for that excellent example! Here's an apple for being a good teacher! (Get it Apple? haha)

 

 

Mostly World of Tanks. He does like the detail in the game as it helps me see things from further away, plus with him doing a little video editing here and there. I know it's time for an upgrade.

Wow!! 8 Years old? geez!

I meant to type 7 (it came out in 2008), sorry I just woke up  

[_Grid21]

I'm confused.

 

So now your dad has a PC, I suppose you also have your own?

 

The specs you listed is for which PC?

 

Who's getting the new stuff you intend to buy?

This whole thing is related to his PC. I just recently build a custom machine for myself.

[_Grid21]

I meant to type 7 (it came out in 2008), sorry I just woke up

Thanks for clearing that up, but that is still old.

[_Grid21]

Well is your dad not satisfied with it for the stuff that he plays?

 

If you want to do something with it, I suggest a complete overhaul.

 

And then you can have the old machine as a HTPC or backup computer.

Well like any gamer and video editor, I think he's looking to get something more powerful to handle more intense things.

[Nexxus]

New PC