What to do?

[discodanman45]

Here is my system specs

Intel Q6600 quad core (2.4 GHz), nVidia 8800GT (needs to be replaced, having cooling issues), Asus P5KE mobo, corsair 620 Watt PSU, and 4 gigs of RAM.

The problem is my video card is dying and I want a top notch video card for dual boxing games like LOTRO and playing SWTOR at ultra high settings. With my outdated cpu, what would be the recommendation? Start from scratch with an i5 2500K, or try to salvage my current system by upgrading to 8 gigs of RAM and getting a 560 Ti, 570, or 6950 (6970). Since my PSU is only 620 Watts it may make sense to go with the less power hungry ATI cards. I also plan to go 3D monitor in the future, so I don't know if that would influence the final decision.

I guess my main question is how much would my Q6600 hurt my gaming. Thanks for all the help here!

[Sourtop]

What's your budget? ATI cards consume no less power than their Nvidia counterparts.

If you don't have much to spend the new video card + PSU would give you the biggest performance increase.

[discodanman45]

Made a mistake with the PSU, it is 620 Watts. I built this computer late 2007 or early 2008. I have been unlucky with computer parts recently and I am not wanting to build again. The last build I did I had to RMA my RAM twice, seagate hard drive, and I should have RMA'd my video card which is only working by cranking fan to 100% through Rivatuner.

I think I may try to sucker my friend to build the system for me since he has parts to troubleshoot. The problem for me with building new is I don't have spare parts to see if RAM, MB, or other components aren't working correctly.

I think after 4 years a brand new build is required. I think I am going to give my wife my computer and spoil myself this christmas. Want a 3D monitor and new computer for under $1500. Wish there were companies like cyberpowerpc that had customer service. They use top end components, but heard nightmares about there packaging, construction, and bad service. I have built computers for the last ten years, but with my busy schedule I don't have the same enthusiasm I once did.

Guess the research begins...

[glc]

You don't need a new PSU to run any single GPU out there except the real high end ones. 4 gigs ram is fine for gaming. Get a new video card and have fun and worry about a new computer down the road. Your CPU is fine.

Best Graphics Cards For The Money: November 2011 : Best Graphics Cards For The Money, November Update

[discodanman45]

So you don't think a nVidia 570 will be bottlenecked by my cpu? I am really just concerned about gaming right now and if my set up is still current enough I guess I will just go with a video card. I went top of the line in 2007 and it seems like I am barely still kinda current.

[glc]

It should not be a significant bottleneck - and with proper cooling the Q6600 overclocks easily to 3 GHz. If you get a 570 now, it can be transferred to a future upgrade.