Looking for CPU/video card suggestions to max WoW

[Jaling]

Current internals:
Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037
Video Card - Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102830

I run with two monitors and typically have WoW full screened on one with iTunes/podcasts on the other. When I have both running, especially a video in iTunes, the video runs terribly. In WoW, in a raiding situation, especially 25 man LFR, my frame rate drops badly, to maybe 10-15 fps. I'd like to be able to max the settings in WoW and run 25 man raids with high frame rates. How much of a bump do I need to achieve that?

[Sturmbringe]

I suggest the following:

1. Change your CPU to a Q9650 or a QX 9650 (Q9650 costs abt $100, QX 9650 about $280 at e-bay)
2. Upgrade your GPU to a GTX 580.
3. Run Windows 7 64 Bit if you already aren't.
4. Run WoW in DirectX 11 mode after you get your GTX 580.
5. Upgrade your memory to at least 4GB.

Your MOBO does not need an upgrade as it is a PCI express 2.0 MOBO. (I had to change my old EP 35 MOBO to a P45 one)

I run socket 775 Core 2 Quad QX 9650 Extreme, and I am able to play the game maxed out ULTRA (all settings at maximum) with my CPU underclocked at 1.788 GHz and my GPU also underclocked as noted in my sig.

The only case I run my CPU at stock is a 40 man raid. I recently discovered that my CPU has got enough raw power to run at a 25 man raid UNDERVOLTED at stock speeds, so I no longer run 25 man raids at stock.

I am very happy with my PC's performance, I get no lockups, freezes or whatever, and fluid motion enough to come up as top DPS in raids. (25 man or 40 man).

Edit: I do NOT overclock my CPU. It is uneccesary to OC one's CPU for a game as archaic as WoW.

Here's my rig: http://www.overclock.net/lists/display/view/id/4640824

I use an ASUS P5Q Deluxe MOBO and a Thermaltake Frio Overclock King aftermarket CPU cooler.

Also: Running Windows 7 64 Bit and running Direct X 11 resulted in better performance, however, I still run the 32-bit client as opposed to the 64 bit one, as I noted reduced performance with the 64 bit client prolly b/c I don't have 8GB RAM.

[noteworthynerd]

I'd probably do something like (assuming you don't want to overclock):

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($209.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $553.50

Note: You'll have to buy new RAM, your RAM now is not compatible with new boards.

That build will definitely achieve what you're looking for. You could probably do something like this, but I'm not sure it would fair as well, especially in high traffic areas like capital cities, raids, and daily hubs:

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Silverline 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($164.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $406.51

Snip

So you're suggesting he buys:

A used, outdated, discontinued CPU for the same price as a new, more powerful Ivy Bridge i3 and compatible motherboard?
A video card that only performs marginally better than other video cards that cost $75 less (i.e. 7870)?

That doesn't make any sense.

[Sturmbringe]

Ι see your point. I just assumed that he would like to keep some of his rig. With regard to the GPU, Nividia performs better in WoW (numerous threads on that at Overclock.net).

If he would like to keep all of his rig as is, then his best option would be to OC hard his CPU. It is however not necessary to buy a Core i5 for WoW, as my socket 775 rig performs more than fine.

[noteworthynerd]

Fair enough. NVIDIA does perform better in WoW, but for $317 (the cheapest 580 I could find on pcpartpicker.com) he could buy a 660Ti or 7950 (or almost buy a 670 or 7970), all of which perform as well or better in WoW.

And no, he probably doesn't have to have an i5 for WoW, but that's why I suggested the i3 as well.

[Jaling]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to keep some parts of my existing but replace the core. I'm keeping my case, monitors, hhd, dvd, mouse/keyboard.

Using the i5 build from above, what SSD would you recommend, along with a power supply (currently have a 520w, but the cables are so short) and an NVIDIA-based video card?

[noteworthynerd]

Well, it really depends on how much you're wanting to spend... I guess I would do something like this, personally:

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($222.55 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $766.05

[Jaling]

Thanks for the assistance again. I ended up ordering this setup minus the SSD and adding another 4GB of memory. I recently installed Windows 8 and I'm hoping it doesn't barf when I introduce new internals. We shall see.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Is that the K version you ordered or the non-K version?

---------- Post added 2012-12-05 at 08:35 PM ----------

Thanks for the assistance again. I ended up ordering this setup minus the SSD and adding another 4GB of memory. I recently installed Windows 8 and I'm hoping it doesn't barf when I introduce new internals. We shall see.

Just re-install it. Takes 10 minutes tops.

[Jaling]

This one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID=

The K version is for overclocking, right? If so, not planning on doing that.