GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Regarding newer options—if you're looking for an upgrade from a GeForce GTX 1050 $433
A step up—the hardware we discussed in the threads above yours. It would also be a smart move to upgrade your processor to a Core i7 47xx or similar

He says used gear is an option. A GTX970 or something similar would fit right in, especially since prices are dropping lately.
Just watch out when buying cards like the GTX970—they might have been chewed up by crypto mining.

You need to set a budget first. For under $333, you could grab something like a GTX770. It won't be a massive leap over what you had, but it'll push World of Tanks.

If you look on $333, there are plenty of other paths, but it's impossible to give specifics without knowing your limit.

As for the CPU... I used to run an i3 3220, which is pretty similar to your Pentium, but it has Hyperthreading, making it a lot more capable. Once I upgraded to a Xeon 1245v2 (i7 3770), my FPS in World of Tanks jumped from 50-70 to well over 100 (paired with an RX580).

Look, your Pentium is going to bottleneck even something like a GTX1050Ti in World of Tanks. If I were you, I'd aim for one of these setups:

1) Upgrade the CPU to an i5 or i7—they're cheap for your platform right now—plus a better GPU.
2) Upgrade the CPU to an i5 or i7 and pair it with a used card under $333 that can handle World of Tanks decently.

I wouldn't bother upgrading the GPU without beefing up the processor first. Buying a used i7 is cheap right now, whereas GPUs stay expensive and age fast. An i7 upgrade will actually outlast the GPU in terms of generations.

Unless you're planning to swap out the entire platform, I wouldn't waste money on a GPU higher than $333 while stuck with that Pentium. It’s just not enough for World of Tanks anymore, even if the rest of your setup is decent.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown.
I’m not looking to swap out the whole platform; for what I need, this setup is perfectly fine. A while back, I actually considered upgrading to an i5,
but I passed because the used market for i5 chips was pathetic. Prices were sitting around $333, which is just ridiculous if you ask me.
I haven't checked current listings lately, though—what would be a realistic price for a used i5 (1150) right now?
As for the GPU, you mentioned that most GTX770 cards have been run into the ground with mining. Is there any decent alternative to that card? Something else I should grab instead? How am I supposed to tell if a card hasn't been absolutely trashed by a miner?

https://www.craigslist.com/cs/processors/i5...listing-25696454
https://www.craigslist.com/cs/processors/in...listing-24068345
https://www.craigslist.com/cs/processors/i5...listing-25501076

If you feel like playing negotiator, try lowballing them by $50-$100 $50 since I doubt there's a huge line of buyers waiting

Alternatively, if you go for an i7, you could offer him up to $333 the absolute max
for that chip.
Regarding GPUs, if we're talking about used gear under $333—it really just depends on what kind of luck you have. Honestly, the best deal I've spotted lately was a GTX 960 for $200 (though it had a blower cooler and no warranty)
. This option is fine, provided it actually fits in your case 😁
.
If it doesn't fit, you also have this and this available.

You might even find a slightly beefier 280X for roughly the same price, but those are older and lack FreeSync support, so IMO, I’d rather aim for a 4GB 380 model. You also have this GTX 770 with 4GB
.

I was scrolling through eBay yesterday, and you can actually snag a Xeon E3 1220—basically an i5 4460—for around $50. Honestly, it beats just about anything you'd find locally. $200 It’s a decent price, though nothing life-changing. Especially since buying a CPU is arguably the lowest-risk part of a build, I think grabbing something like this from eBay is a pretty solid move.

If he can find one, he should absolutely go for it. He just needs to check the motherboard's CPU support list, then hit up AliExpress or eBay—look for that free shipping tag and pull the trigger. Just make sure he double-checks if a BIOS update is required first.

Yeah, CPU prices on that platform are dirt cheap right now, especially since a new Ryzen 2200G is sitting around $110.

Pentiums and i3s from that era are basically pocket change. I'd say an i5 should be around $167 (or a Xeon 1240), while an i7 3770—which is essentially the same as a Xeon 1245v2—should go for $750-$333.

If you're planning on sticking with that platform, an i7 or its Xeon equivalent is a solid move.

You could also snag a Sandy Bridge i7 (i7 2600) for less cash; most motherboards will support it, and the performance is pretty much on par with the i7 3770.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=i7+2600

Just one thing: if you grab an i7, specifically that i7 2600, make sure it comes with its own cooler (most do). Your old Pentium cooler isn't going to cut it.

It won't work; that's an LGA 1150 socket, so you're limited strictly to the 4xxx series.

Timothy Kim60 said:Doesn't fit. He's on the 1150 socket, strictly 4xxx series.

Dammit, I messed up.

Saw the Pentium G3258 and somehow thought we were talking Ivy Bridge—so the 2000 and 3000 series.

I always screw up these Pentiums.

G3258 is 4th Gen (Haswell, same as i7 4770) dual core
G4400 is 6th Gen (Skylake, same as i7 6700) dual core
G4560 is 7th Gen (Kaby Lake, same as i7 7700) dual core

i5 8250U is 8th Gen (Kaby Lake, same as i7 7700) quad core
i7 7800X is ? Gen (Skylake, same as i7 6700) hexa core

Intel and their naming schemes... 😵😵😵

Alright, I’ve read through everything here and taken all your advice to heart. I finally managed to track down a used i5-4460.
Today, I’m moving on to the GPU. I'll most likely be picking up something pre-owned. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

Hey everyone!

I wanted to pick your brains on whether picking up this graphics card is a smart move. I can snag a brand-new one for about $567. Do you think I should pull the trigger now, or would it be wiser to hold off for a month or two? I'm wondering if waiting for Nvidia to drop their next series might cause prices to dip across the board. What do you all think? Thanks in advance!

Hey there.

I need some advice on picking up a new GPU. Here’s what I’m running right now:
CPU: Intel i5 4460
RAM: 8 GB DDR3
MB: ASUS H81-PLUS
CASE: LC-POWER Pro-925B, 600W ATX
GPU: SAPPHIRE AMD RADEON R7 360 OC, 2GB, PCIe

I want to swap out my current card for something with 8GB of VRAM for gaming. What would be the best move considering the rest of my build?

Or maybe this one:

If you go with the Radeon RX 580, you’ll probably need a new power supply if you're still running that Office 600 w that came with your case. You might get away with the GeForce GTX 1060 without upgrading, but I guess I'd still recommend just getting a new unit anyway.

A GeForce GTX 1060 for $567 is an absolute steal, provided it’s actually reliable. If I were in the market for a card right now, I wouldn't even hesitate

crimsonstag84 said:https://www.centro.com/msi-video-card...-3xdp-hdm.aspx

Or this:

https://www.centro.com/sapphire-video...w-bp-uefi.aspx

If you go with a Radeon RX 580, you’re going to need a new PSU if you're still running that Office 600 w unit that came with your case. You might squeeze by with a GeForce GTX 1060, but honestly? I'd still recommend upgrading.

What kind of PSU should I actually get? Any specific wattage or brands you'd recommend?

It all depends on how hard it was pushed for mining... and if there's any warranty left ☕

Fortron Hexa 85 + 550 w

Thanks for the info.

Hey guys, looking for some advice on the best GPU I can grab for under $500. My motherboard slot is just PCIe 2.0-16x. Thinking about ordering online through Amazon or maybe hitting up a Best Buy if I'm lucky. Any tips? Thanks!

If you can scrape together an extra $30 or so

https://www.amazon.com/inno3d-geforce...m_medium=click
https://www.newegg.com/zotac-vga-...m_medium=click
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/katalog/kom...m_medium=click

But if your budget is strictly set in stone, then you're stuck with https://www.ebay.com/graficke-kartice?q=1050ti