Which to buy first.....

Good morning all,

I got some birthday money over the weekend and plan on upgrading a PC next year. I am thinking about buying some parts now and maybe even install them. The current computer I am upgrading is a Dual Core 2 Duo with a 7750 4GB of RAM.

I have enough money to buy the processor and mobo or the 7870 graphics card. I am wondering which, would show more of a performance upgrade. I am leaning towards the CPU. Just because of the bottleneck issues with the GPU. Any help would be appreciated.

you'd definitely bottleneck your rig with high end GPU compared to the outdated CPU.

@PredatorRules: I figured that would be the choice, but I wanted to double check.

Errr... You call a 7870 a high end GPU?!?

I think I will wait on the GPU and get the CPU/Mobo. Think I will see any gain in gaming performance? I know games are more GPU based these days, but I figured the AMD 8 Core would be a pretty hefty upgrade from a Dual Core 2 Duo.

@WESTBLADE: Yes, when using old core 2 due, it is high end GPU, it's like using now 7990/GTX780ti with i3

So of course I was questioning myself with this stuff and wondering on the CPU now.

I was originally looking at a AMD FX-8120, but after looking through some stuff would the AMD FX-6200 be the better buy? Or bump up to the FX-8320?

@Arthas045 you can look at this http://cpuboss.com/cpus/AMD-FX-8320-vs-AMD-FX-8120

And I've already compared the FX6... so yeah go with the 8320, it's a bit better in overall, since all of em' on amazon are in the same price range the choice here is clear FX8320

@PredatorRules:

Awesome thanks for everything man will be buying today. Think I will show any type of performance gain in gaming jumping up from a Dual Core 2 Duo. My GPU currently is a 7750, which I have really enjoyed in this PC.

I cannot seem to find a budget mobo atleast I think I cannot find. This mobo says it doesn't support FX series, but review state they used a FX-6.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130679

This is my 2nd AMD build, the first I did was an APU, which was a breeze.

Then I seen this motherboard, but people state they had to throttle down a FX-6?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128565

Since I am going with the FX-8 series just want to make sure I am getting all the power that my budge allows lol.

Look at the socket type on the CPU

It need to be the same socket on the mobo.

If they both use AM3+ you're good

Whether those mobos are good or bad, or someone had to throttle down their processor, I cannot say.

My buying philosophy on Newegg is like this

I look for "most reviews."

If 1000 people bought a mobo, it must have had good reviews or word of mouth.

Even if "only" 4 stars, it's completely natural and normal that a product will have %10 of the customers with problems or faulty product, so of course they will downvote or give 1-star rating.

It's the other %90 that matter, because that's the "typical" customer.

@ZombieKiller7: I always thought that as well I will stick with my gut. Keep questioning myself lol.

Last question I jumped on the FX-8320 and stats I get 2 free games Far Cry and Sim City. How do you redeem those codes or do they just email them to you?

@Arthas045: Unlucky, you need 2 programs to download those 2 games, Far Cry from Uplay (Ubisoft), and Simcity from Origin (EA).

@PredatorRules: Yeah uplay is the only one I don't have. Do they email you the codes not sure how it works.

@Arthas045: Not sure, I think it should come inside the box, just like Sapphire GPUs with all of their game bundles.

Cool, thanks for all the help with this. Its always an exciting time putting a new pc together.

Sure :)