04-17-2009, 05:47 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-17-2009, 05:49 PM by Concillian.)
Processor & video card are likely both contributing. Video sees heavy use in the AoE.
7600GT is getting long in the tooth, you can do VERY well now for <$100.
HD4830 or HD4850 can be had under $100. Some 4830s are in the $75 range after rebate ($90 range before)
The nVidia competition to the 4830 is 9800GT.
If those are too rich, 4670 / 9600GT are cheaper and still very large steps up.
You can keep your RAM if you limit your FSB speed. The most common dual core now is an e7400, but these e5xxx series are reasonably competitive. I have both an e5200 and an e7200 and the e5xxx series benchmarks about the same as the e7xxx when it's clocked about 200 MHz higher. If that helps your comparisons.
e5xxx CPU (pick your speed / price) 2.5GHz 2.6GHz 2.7GHz
mobo then is whatever your favorite P43 or P45 board is.
Gigabyte UD3 series boards get very high marks. I have ASUS boards in my machines, it doens't make a whole lot of difference here aside from having the slots you want and anything special you want to plug into it (like firewire?)
Total damage is under $300 to make a very substantial upgrade for you.
If you want to try a piecewise upgrade, get the Graphics card first and see if that addresses your issue, this is the furthest "behind the curve" I think. It's also the cheapest. The re-evaluate and continue if necessary. There is very little need for much more than a 4850 in WoW at typical resolutions (20" widescreen or less), and they can be had for around $100 now. It's what I use, andI feel it was pretty worth it when I bought mine when it was >$150. I'm very happy with it.
7600GT is getting long in the tooth, you can do VERY well now for <$100.
HD4830 or HD4850 can be had under $100. Some 4830s are in the $75 range after rebate ($90 range before)
The nVidia competition to the 4830 is 9800GT.
If those are too rich, 4670 / 9600GT are cheaper and still very large steps up.
You can keep your RAM if you limit your FSB speed. The most common dual core now is an e7400, but these e5xxx series are reasonably competitive. I have both an e5200 and an e7200 and the e5xxx series benchmarks about the same as the e7xxx when it's clocked about 200 MHz higher. If that helps your comparisons.
e5xxx CPU (pick your speed / price) 2.5GHz 2.6GHz 2.7GHz
mobo then is whatever your favorite P43 or P45 board is.
Gigabyte UD3 series boards get very high marks. I have ASUS boards in my machines, it doens't make a whole lot of difference here aside from having the slots you want and anything special you want to plug into it (like firewire?)
Total damage is under $300 to make a very substantial upgrade for you.
If you want to try a piecewise upgrade, get the Graphics card first and see if that addresses your issue, this is the furthest "behind the curve" I think. It's also the cheapest. The re-evaluate and continue if necessary. There is very little need for much more than a 4850 in WoW at typical resolutions (20" widescreen or less), and they can be had for around $100 now. It's what I use, andI feel it was pretty worth it when I bought mine when it was >$150. I'm very happy with it.
Conc / Concillian -- Vintage player of many games. Deadly leader of the All Pally Team (or was it Death leader?)
Terenas WoW player... while we waited for Diablo III.
And it came... and it went... and I played Hearthstone longer than Diablo III.
Terenas WoW player... while we waited for Diablo III.
And it came... and it went... and I played Hearthstone longer than Diablo III.