Current Specs:
CPU: AMD FX-8350 8 core 4.12 GHz OC
Cooling: Corsair Hydro Series H60 Liquid CPU cooling 120mm fan
RAM: 16 GB DDR3-1600
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7870 -2GB
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3 -- AMD 970
PSU: 650 Watt
HDD: 2 TB 64M cache 7200 rpm 6.0 Gb/s
OS: Windows 7 64-bit
Case: AZZA Armour Gaming Case - Red
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
So basically I'm thinking its time to update my GPU because the new games coming out (e.g. Witcher 3) have the 7870 as a minimum requirement, and that just doesn't cut it for me. I'd like to keep it AMD if at all possible because you get more for your money, however I'm open to Nvida options
Id like to keep it between 400-600 bucks for my update total, but I was thinking if I update my GPU I will need a new more powerful PSU. Also I could buy another 7870 and run crossfire but I would then need to update my mobo and psu so that i can support 3 pci express 16 ports on my mobo for 2 gpus and my sound card. I'd just like to see what you suggest and what a good option for that price range would be.
You would be fine just upgrading your GPU to a newer card. Doing a Gaming PC budget build in your price range with mostly new parts would result in almost the same specifications you currently have. Your PSU can supply enough power for most of the newer cards on the market, including a GTX 980. You can pickup the recommended cards for around $300.
upgrading a gpu would be fine for now indeed.
a 7870 doesnt realy cut it anymore, thats true, i have one my self, and AC unity isnt realy playable.
I would say something like a Sapphire 290 TriX OC or Sapphire 290X TriX OC would be a nice step up. Or a GTX970 maybe.
I have no idea how the new witcher game will run on a AMD cpu, It seems like Witcher 2 is very cpu intensive.
But keep in mind that a FX cpu will bottleneck a highend gpu like 290X or GTX970 in certain games at 1080p. Still you will see performance improvements over your current 7870 with a new gpu anyway, so i would upgrade the gpu first.
290x's are going for under 300. good buy in my opinion
+1 the R9 290x are stupidly cheap , here the 290 sells for ~250 and 290x for ~300 .
I would jump on a 290x .
Look for the new Gtx 900 series especially the gtx 970 or the 980 that's where I would look for if I needed a gpu upgrade. I am currently running a 270x which is basically a 7870 on drugs but I am happy for what I am doing with it.
And i thought my 7770 was fine (though im still running high even in new games). If you can wait there was a rumor at one time that the 380x may drop as early as February, and depending on the price, it may be a great choice.