Affordable graphic cards and motherboards for wow ultra settings?

[a C e]

Hi guys,

I just saved up some cash for a new graphic card, mother board( or processor)?

My budget in total is around 400 dollars.

my other specs are good but i lack a good graphic card and motherboard.



PS: I prefer ati amd graphic cards


Thank you

[vesseblah]

my other specs are good but i lack a good graphic card and motherboard.

Motherboard almost never makes a difference for performance, so changing that will not increase framerates. Need more info!

What are your current cpu, motherboard, graphics card, RAM, what resolution WoW is set at, and are you doing 25man raids?

PS: I prefer ati amd graphic cards

Blizzard games prefers Nvidia cards.

[Deleted]

What are your current CPU/motherboard/graphics card?

[a C e]

my PC is old and I used to raid on my laptop and now i decided to upgrade my PC abit so i can play wow properly.

My guild is 10 man

Here are my specs:

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/23/2013, 21:56:47
Machine name: SHL-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: EP43-UD3L
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8300 @ 2.50GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8190MB RAM
Page File: 3682MB used, 12696MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode


I know there are many things that i should change in my PC but can you tell me which of these have higher priority over the others so i can upgrade them one by one on a monthly basis as a save up more cash.

[Salty Maud]

There are no "affordable" parts to run wow on ultra properly. My HD7950 clocked to beat 7970 still does not get me 60 fps in 25 men raids at 2560x1440 at high settings.

[vesseblah]

I know there are many things that i should change in my PC but can tell which of these have a higher priority over the others so i can change them one by one on a monthly bassis as a save up more cash.

Swapping any single part besides graphics card is not possible for you. You need to swap motherboard+processor+RAM in one go and graphics card in second batch, it can't be split further. Or get those other way around. Also if you're really unlucky and still have old fashioned ATA drives those need to go too.

For most cost-effective WoW computer you should wait few weeks until Intel releases their new i3 lineup (supposedly out sept 1st) before getting motherboard+ram+processor.

There are no "affordable" parts to run wow on ultra properly. My HD7950 clocked to beat 7970 still does not get me 60 fps in 25 men raids at 2560x1440 at high settings.

Yeah there is. i3 with midrange graphics card (like Radeon 7850) will run 1920x1080 at 40fps with high/ultra settings in 25mans.

The thing is that graphics card does not mean shit for WoW and any midrange card can run it. What matters more is the raw CPU power. Also 7950 is underpowered to run games on 2560x1440 anyway.

[MrPaladinGuy]

Please be aware that your CPU matters as well and it's frequency is only a fraction of what matters as the architecture/instruction sets/IPC etc control performance nowadays (Frequency does matter a bit too though).

And something having 423432 cores doesn't make it awesome either.

MMO's are especially CPU bound as more people are around you or within loaded distance. Your CPU will become your bottleneck at settings that high unless you have a significantly lower performing GPU paired with it for that game; in which case your GPU will become your bottleneck, especially with shadows on ultra since it appears to offloaded to the CPU.


Your ram is fine assuming it's dual channeled and is the proper speed, your version of W7 is 64bit so it's not limited to 3GB of ram.

Your GPU isn't listed though.

Do this;

Control Panel > System > Device Manager > Display Adapters

Tell us your GPU

Your resolution won't matter that much as I sincerely doubt you're using anything above 1080p, if even that.

I'm not going to talk about your CPU until I know what GPU you have.

Tell us what you have

[a C e]

thank you guys

- - - Updated - - -

Card name: ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x68BE)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_68BE&SUBSYS_21D61458&REV_00
Display Memory: 4095 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1012 MB
Shared Memory: 3083 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: L206WTQ
Monitor Id: GSM4E69
Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (59.883Hz)
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dl l,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1172 (English)
Driver Version: 9.12.0.0

[jmt]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: MSI B85M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $364.97
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-23 14:53 EDT-0400)

--OR--

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($117.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G46 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($78.56 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $396.54
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-23 14:57 EDT-0400)

[vesseblah]

Out of the two lists above the first one with Intel processor will give significantly higher fps in WoW unless you're willing and able to overclock the shit out of the AMD processor in the second list.

Also those need RAM since the OP has DDR2 sticks in the current computer that are not compatible with new motherboards, something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220570

[Salty Maud]

Also 7950 is underpowered to run games on 2560x1440 anyway.

Going offtopic, but amd graphics cards are a clear winner at 1440p gaming, and at <400€ budget there is no better option than 7970 (which on the other hand is a pretty crappy option, given that a good unit of 7950 can clock as high as a 7970 can, getting nearly as much performance for less of a cost). It takes a GTX780 to beat 7970 at the given resolution, but that would cost you +200€ more. What i mean to say in the end is that i find my 7950 at its current clocks quite adequate for 1440p gaming, if i don't want to maximize every graphical setting in nvidia friendly game.

All of this is irrelevant though, as the OP's CPU is going to slow down his performance, though a mere i3 would probably still be a bottleneck. Even with i3 3350p it would still limit the framerate, as my nearly 4 year old i7 920 at 4.2GHz is still by far a better CPU, and i think that it is what is keeping my fps from hitting 60 at 25men raids. Though, if i go from windowed fullscreen to fullscreen and disable most of my most taxing addons i get mostly stable 60fps in the indoors are of ToT (everything but the first part in lfr).

TL;DR you cant go for a cheap setup and wish to play games at maximum settings at 60fps.

[chazus]

The i3-4340 is a 3.6ghz Haswell with 2/4 threads. That very nearly would perform on par with a 4670 (Non-K). I'm just hoping that it's in the $130 area, and not the $170 area. That, paired with a cheap B85 board and stock heatsink... That would make it EXTREMELY attractive to anyone a couple hundred short for the full Haswell OC package.

I'm looking forward to an era of sub $700 WoW systems running Ultra in raids.

- - - Updated - - -

a mere i3 would probably still be a bottleneck. Even with i3 3350p it would still limit the framerate, as my nearly 4 year old i7 920 at 4.2GHz is still by far a better CPU

The current (Or well, Ivy) i3's are stronger than you think. The i3-3220 at $120 is -nearly- as good as your ~$350 i7-920 @ 4.2ghz. The upcoming haswell i3's ought to be equal at worst, and more likely better on the average, at a very attractive price point.

PS: the 3350p is an i5

[vesseblah]

Going offtopic, but amd graphics cards are a clear winner at 1440p gaming,

Wrong. GTX780 is (or dual 770's). Considering what 1440p monitors cost something like 7950 is cheapo solution.

and at <400€ budget there is no better option than 7970

At that price yes, but that price range is too low to run 1440p monitor at 60fps or higher. Would work with 1080p monitor just fine though. The main reason why I'm not getting cheap 1440p monitor from Korea is because I couldn't afford the proper graphics card to run it.

All of this is irrelevant though, as the OP's CPU is going to slow down his performance, though a mere i3 would probably still be a bottleneck. Even with i3 3350p it would still limit the framerate, as my nearly 4 year old i7 920 at 4.2GHz is still by far a better CPU

That's just plain wrong. i7-920 at maximum overclock can match i3's just barely, but comparing it at stock clock you'll see old junk is old junk.

TL;DR you cant go for a cheap setup and wish to play games at maximum settings at 60fps.

TL;DR you don't need 7950 for 1680x1050 monitor the OP has when 7850 would run WoW at exactly same speed.

[jmt]

Good catch on the RAM. Toss another $50 on there, OP.

I would personally opt for the i5 build, or wait until the Haswell i3 hits as Chazus suggested. The exercise was only to show you what sacrificing CPU or GPU meant in terms of a build.

Neither CPU will bottleneck either of those two cards.

[Salty Maud]

I was doing lfr at the same time so i probably didnt bring myself out as clearly as i would have wished to. At a reasonable price range, AMD is the way to go at 1440p, or higher, didn't mean to imply that "no matter what the variables AMD, period". What comes to the CPU debate, i don't know what benchmarks you have been running to get a stock i3 3350 to beat 920 at 4.2GHz, but once again that would be a moot point as what i ment with that comparrision was that a stock i3 from the better end of the line is not that great, it should not be expected to run everything you can throw at it perfectly. It's not a high end CPU, as it can hardly beat a high end cpu from years back (given that the 4 year old high end cpu was at it's stock, which it should not be ran at really ).

And the reason i am talking about a stock i3 is because if the OP has to ask for a decent set up, he is probably not the kind that OC's his parts either. And oh yeah, my monitor's aren't exactly "cheap taiwanese", i try to keep my home equipment adequate for graphical designer's standards if i need to bring my projects home.

[vesseblah]

What comes to the CPU debate, i don't know what benchmarks you have been running to get a stock i3 3350 to beat 920 at 4.2GHz

Single core performance, which is all that matters for WoW and other MMORPGs.

[kabbie]

There are no "affordable" parts to run wow on ultra properly. My HD7950 clocked to beat 7970 still does not get me 60 fps in 25 men raids at 2560x1440 at high settings.

Wait a second, what about the options given in Marest's Sample Builds thread? I've been lurking that thread for more info on a new PC (as opposed to using my laptop) to run WOW, and I was under the impression that the Budget Gaming 570 would be able to handle WOW on fairly high settings.

[vesseblah]

Wait a second, what about the options given in Marest's Sample Builds thread? I've been lurking that thread for more info on a new PC (as opposed to using my laptop) to run WOW, and I was under the impression that the Budget Gaming 570 would be able to handle WOW on fairly high settings.

Yep, you can do high settings with it, even in 25man raids at fps around 40-50 with drops to 20's during adds phases on a 1920x1080 or lower res monitor.

[Salty Maud]

Wait a second, what about the options given in Marest's Sample Builds thread? I've been lurking that thread for more info on a new PC (as opposed to using my laptop) to run WOW, and I was under the impression that the Budget Gaming 570 would be able to handle WOW on fairly high settings.

Wow can be run at any fairly decent machine, but bumping your graphics from high to ultra is just derp and suddenly the game requires twice the muscle it did on high settings. At 1080p and good settings the game does not require a 7970/680/770/insert_a_beefy_GPU to run at 40fps or even 60fps. The thing is, that the OP asked for a upgrade to raid at ultra, which is pretty much to ask with 400 dollars in your pocket. On the other hand, some may be considering 30fps "running the game at ultra", so i dunno.

[kabbie]

So in other words, the box that Marest suggested is good for High settings with a few hiccups on 25m raiding on high-res monitors? As much as I'd love to run WOW on ultra, I realize that what I really want is a dedicated machine with decent high graphics settings that won't inexplicably lock up during the Elegon fight or during an Auctioneer scan on Stormrage.

Sorry for all the questions, it's just that I too am trying to move away from raiding on my laptop and had some questions.