Motherboard/CPU or GPU first?

[DrkNinja]

So right now I'm kinda stuck between buying a GPU now or buying a motherboard and a CPU in the coming days. I could buy a GPU this week and install it immediately but how much a performance boost would it be? Or I could buy a CPU/Motherboard within the next month, which I know will be a performance boost but then will my GPU bottleneck its gaming potential?

 

Current Build:

 

CPU: Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4Ghz

Motherboard: Nvidia Nforce 480 sli 

RAM: 8Gbs of DDR2 

GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX 550 Ti

SSD: Samsung 840 EVO

PSU: Ulra 650 Watt PSU

 

 

I'm looking into a EVGA GTX 760 or a 660 (which is the better alternative?) as the 550's replacement.

 

As For the CPU/Motherboard, i7 4790k/ASUS Maximus VII Hero (or should I just wait and save for x99 even though broadwell will be supported on z97?)

 

I have about 200$ to spend this week, so I can get the motherboard this week or the GPU. 

 

I feel like the GPU will be much easier to install and uninstall for the later CPU/motherboard installation but honestly I don't know what kind of performance boost I'll see out of it. I also have two monitors if that's relevant.

 

Thanks in advance!

Ninja

[AlwaysFSX]

If you're gaming get an i5 4690k and something like an MSI Z97-G45... Don't waste your money like that.

 

CPU/MOBO first.

[79wjd]

If you're gaming get an i5 4690k and something like an MSI Z97-G45... Don't waste your money like that.

 

CPU/MOBO first.

This, and I'd also upgrade to a 290 instead of a 760 as a 290 can be had for like $50~ more. 

[EcoBoost]

So right now I'm kinda stuck between buying a GPU now or buying a motherboard and a CPU in the coming days. I could buy a GPU this week and install it immediately but how much a performance boost would it be? Or I could buy a CPU/Motherboard within the next month, which I know will be a performance boost but then will my GPU bottleneck its gaming potential?

 

I have about 200$ to spend this week, so I can get the motherboard this week or the GPU. 

I'd get an R9 280 first. A month of putting up with bottlenecks isn't that bad. You will see more performance gains with a GPU upgrade in the meantime then a CPU upgrade.

[DrkNinja]

I forgot to mention this but I will be gaming/streaming/Video editing/rendering... And why would I skip on i7?

[AlwaysFSX]

I forgot to mention this but I will be gaming/streaming/Video editing/rendering... And why would I skip on i7?

It's not necessary for what you're doing?

[79wjd]

I forgot to mention this but I will be gaming/streaming/Video editing/rendering... And why would I skip on i7?

Because for gaming an i7 yields very little difference considering the extra $100, and are you editing so much that the extra speed of an i7 would matter? If you're only making a video or two a week then saving an extra a few minutes when editing/rendering isn't worth a hell of a lot. 

[SimpleG]

I forgot to mention this but I will be gaming/streaming/Video editing/rendering... And why would I skip on i7?

If you're just gaming. If you are doing all those things, then yeah, i7 and later a 970

[Krytopsy]

Feel free to go on my website on the Hardware page for tips about PC parts. [snip]

 

Edited by Mod Glenwing

[DrkNinja]

Honestly, I just need to know what I should get first. I want an i7 as I do not plan on upgrading my computer anytime after for quite some time; futureproofing... So it's kinda irrelevant what CPU I get.

[FearMe]

Feel free to go on my website on the Hardware page for tips about PC parts. [snip]

 

Edited by Mod Glenwing

The i7 4790K is the best gaming processor, the second best is the i5 4690K.

 

Sorry but I can't take your site serious.

[Krytopsy]

I'm not sorry, I posted the link for DrkNinja.

[GangstaRas]

get the cpu/mobo first. cpus and mobos are alot more static to changes in either new technology or price than gpus are. so upgrade from that core 2 quad and settle in on that system and by time you're ready, something better might be available than a 760 for the same price

[Aniallation]

Feel free to go on my website on the Hardware page for tips about PC parts. [snip]

 

Edited by Mod Glenwing

Please stop advertising your site which just contains a bunch of nonsense. Saying that 4790K is the best gaming CPU, you need an ROG board for auto-OC and the most PCIe lanes, and Corsair RM is the best power supply is just misleading information.

[Krytopsy]

I've made it to avoid keep repeating myself, there is no ''need'' word in the entire website, they are all recommendations and tips that not everybody would thought about. I don't mind your insulting profile picture but I'm not into that.

[DrkNinja]

First off this topic isn't here for everyone to bash this kid, it's here to help me out a bit. Second, quoting his link over and over again, going to the site, and talking about it is just perpetuating his site and giving it more attention.

So back on topic pl0x

[Aniallation]

I've made it to avoid keep repeating myself, there is no ''need'' word in the entire website, they are all recommendations and tips that not everybody would thought about. I don't mind your insulting profile picture but I'm not into that.

At least click the "quote" button to reply to somebody. Again, the recommendation information is misleading. 

 

4690K isn't any worse then 4790K in gaming.

A sound card will still work in a Z97 board with two GPUs running in SLI, as the x1 slots run off the chipset, not the 16 PCIe lanes of the CPU.

Corsair RM is no where near being one of the best power supplies.

Closed loop coolers are not the only way to cool a CPU.

[Aniallation]

First off this topic isn't here for everyone to bash this kid, it's here to help me out a bit. Second, quoting his link over and over again, going to the site, and talking about it is just perpetuating his site and giving it more attention.

Well if you've been around here for a whole you notice that this guy rarely actually provides any insight on the topic, just copy pastes a link to his site and tells people to go read it, in this case it provides no useful information to answering your question.

 

A Q6600 is a bit weak at stock clocks, but if you can live with a slight bottleneck while you save up money to buy a new CPU and mobo, then upgrade the GPU first. As somebody said before me, an R9 280 would also be a great choice and should be given some consideration alongside a 760.

[DrkNinja]

Well if you've been around here for a whole you notice that this guy rarely actually provides any insight on the topic, just copy pastes a link to his site and tells people to go read it, in this case it provides no useful information to answering your question.

 

A Q6600 is a bit weak at stock clocks, but if you can live with a slight bottleneck while you save up money to buy a new CPU and mobo, then upgrade the GPU first. As somebody said before me, an R9 280 would also be a great choice and should be given some consideration alongside a 760.

Thank you,I appreciate the input. Honestly though I'm a bit of an Intel/Nvidia fanboy ass the and products I have have not only been lackluster but lasted half the lifespan of any Intel/Nvidia product I have owned. Judge me if you will, but my experiences have made me victim to fanboyism.

[Aniallation]

Thank you,I appreciate the input. Honestly though I'm a bit of an Intel/Nvidia fanboy ass the and products I have have not only been lackluster but lasted half the lifespan of any Intel/Nvidia product I have owned. Judge me if you will, but my experiences have made me victim to fanboyism.

Well personally I've actually had more Nvidia GPUs die on me then ATI/AMD, but the last GPU I had die on me was a GTX 280, and I've used many since then, so really either brand nowadays will last quite a while. It's just that the R9 280 is a better price to performance competitor then the 760.