Too many intel fanboys, Piledriver cpus are a fine choice.  For the majority of games there won't be a noticeable difference between a similarly priced amd and intel cpu.  And, while it doesn't concern most core gamers where budget and form factor aren't a big issue, AMD APUs absolutely destroy intel's integrated options.  When my little brother's 360 died late last year, I built him a trinity based system for a little more than it would have cost to buy a new xbox bundle, and he can play modern games at 768 on high-max settings at 30+ fps.  That's with no dedicated gpu.  And as a bonus, I'm not forced to use a controller when we play online anymore.

Need to upgrade the wife's and my computer. Current specs are Phenom X3 720 BE, Gigabyte AM3 board, Radeon 5750, Antec Sonata III case with 500w Earthwatts PSU that came with the case, 4gb DDR3 1300 RAM. Built these two PC's several years ago, and they're really starting to show their age.

So how can I get the biggest improvement out of both of these given my current setup? I WANT to build us two brand new machines, but I simply don't have the money for it. Obviously the graphics cards will need to be upgraded...but to what? I want these to get a solid 30fps @1080p with high settings for all current gen games and "next gen" games on the horizon. Would 7870's do the trick?

Also, what about our CPU's? Can these last for awhile longer? Maybe upgrade them to Phenom x4's? I want to go to Intel, but getting chips and mobo's would eat most if not all of my budget. And unfortunately my board is only AM3, so upgrading to the new FX line isn't possible without a new mobo.

As far as the games we'll be playing, her and I differ. She mainly plays MMO's like Rift and WoW, but wants to play more demanding ones like Guild Wars 2. I like these as well, but I really enjoy visually demanding games like Crysis and CoH2, but don't have a good enough rig to really experience them like they should be.

 

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

xxxLUGZxxx

Well you're going to need to upgrade it all down the road but right now go with the gpu.  The 7950 or the 660ti are both good choices, though i'd go with the 7950 for the overclock potential.  Not worth upgrading from an x3 to an x4.  Just shoot for saving enough money to replace the mobo/cpus next.

[QUOTE="xhawk27"]

Did you really use PC free to play games to pad the exclusive list on the PS4? :| Really, 

shadowchronicle

But they aren't exclusives.  That's like the lems calling Titanfall exclusive.

Phil Spencer is so damn awkward, that was painful to watch.

[QUOTE="silversix_"]Unless you have 3 Titans running in SLiKingOfAsia

theofore consoles win again. I can play my nice graphics with ease on a $500 budget while still going to clubs and getting girls.

But sig says: "Im a virgin. Im waiting till im married when STD's arn't rampant and spread like wildfire"

[QUOTE="Badosh"][QUOTE="freedomfreak"]Just finished it. Very mediocre and forgetful experience.freedomfreak

Oh shi son dat burn

[QUOTE="Heil68"]That's not what the article says..hahahaaKingOfAsia

the technology hasent caught up yet..

Are the X1 and PS4 from the future?  Did Skynet send them back to our time to destroy humanity?

[QUOTE="PTMags"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

 

No, it's not.  Having owned both products, I can tell you that there is no debate.  

hartsickdiscipl

Derp.  How are you gonna compare a 3.7 P2x4 to a 4.5 3570k?  Of course you're going to get higher FPS.

OP: For a better comparison-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8Sekdb-IE

He was talking about an AMD CPU that was roughly half the price.  When I bought my 3570k, a Phenom II X4 955 or better was about half the price.  I'm not the one making the comparison anyways.  I know that there is no comparison.  Some people here are clearly trying to argue that.  Derp yourself.  

I watched that absolutely retarded TekSyndicate review months ago.  It's no more valid today than it was then.  Terrible testing methodology, bad game selection, and a total toolbag of a reviewer.  They came up with results that are different from 95% of other tests and reviews done.  It's not trustworthy.  

First, I apologize for the derp, too much system wars.  Second, I don't think he was talking about your specific situation, as your post that he quoted didn't mention your upgrade from a 955 to a 3570.  I think he was making a general statement about buying a cheaper, modern cpu and better gpu versus a more expensive cpu but lesser gpu; and that, for example, you'd see a much more drastic improvement upgrading a gpu from 2009 versus a cpu from 2009.

As for the video, what's wrong with the game choice and methodology?  There's also this one using Crysis 3/FC3.  I know most benches give the 3570 a slight edge in most games, but I figured i'd post that because it's different.  If there really is something genuinely untrustworthy about it though then please let me know and by all means take it with a grain of salt.  In the end, the difference between the two is going to be marginal in the real world (with a single gpu setup at least), and for gaming, splurging on the gpu is going to make a much bigger difference than splurging on a cpu.

[QUOTE="GummiRaccoon"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

 

I guess you weren't paying attention.  My last CPU was a 3.7ghz Phenom II X4.  I haven't upgraded my GPU, and yet a saw a big performance increase in quite a few of my games, just by getting an Ivy Bridge i5.  Higher average FPS in most games, and better minimum FPS in all.  This is not even a debate.  

hartsickdiscipl

But it is a debate captain kirk

No, it's not.  Having owned both products, I can tell you that there is no debate.  

Derp.  How are you gonna compare a 3.7 P2x4 to a 4.5 3570k?  Of course you're going to get higher FPS.

OP: For a better comparison-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8Sekdb-IE

Baldur's Gate 2, no other RPG has come close. Baldur's Gate 2 has an amazing soundtrack, handpainted backgrounds that still hold up today (true for all infinity engine games), some of the best character interaction in games (Minsc in general or how your party members can fight to the death if their alignments are off), mage duels make the combat some of the best, Irenicus is a badass, there is a metric boatload of content that is all high quality, and every encounter in the game means something so there is absolutely no filler in a 100 hour game. 

Project Eternity can't come soon enough, these kinds of games need to make a glorious return.

Whiteblade999

You are a wise man.