Current Specs:

i5-2500k

Gigabyte z77-ds3h

GTX 560 Ti 1Gb

7200rpm HD

2 x 4 GB RAM

600w Power supply

Windows 7 pro

Can currently play LCPDFR with ELS enabled vehicles for about 20-40 min before crashing (usually during pursuit), though I am only able to play at medium settings ...

Should I get an SSD and install the game there?

OR upgrade my graphics card?

OR get a bigger power supply and cooler and over clock the heck out of my i5-2500k?

And, if I go get a new graphics card ... Focus on getting a 4GB card? Or higher clock speed? Not going to spend $350 on a card BTW.

If I were you, I'd upgrade the graphics card (and possibly the PSU as well depending on the new requirements). 2GB of VRAM will most likely be sufficient, but the choice is entirely up to you (there are "affordable" cards with 4 gigs of VRAM out there).

 

An SSD would only decrease the loading times BTW, you wouldn't see any difference in-game.

Personally, I think a GTX 970 should suit you for a new graphics card. Will run all games at 1080p, and most games at 1440p to 4k (except Unity and Watch Dogs but screw them). If you want a new processor, the i5-3570 works well, too, and fits your motherboard. You may want to change your processor (yours was released in 2011), but I don't think it will give you a ton more FPS.

 

And, believe it or not, the new processor and GPU will in fact take up less wattage than your current setup! (See below)

 

Edit: Just read your no $350 cards. I would recommend a Radeon R9 card since they're cheaper. However, the R9s take a lot more power than the new 900 series cards. You could wait until Nvidia releases the 960, I've heard that will be a good budget card but will be at least $100 cheaper than the 970.

Edited January 3, 201511 yr by theninja35

Current Specs:

i5-2500k

Gigabyte z77-ds3h

GTX 560 Ti 1Gb

7200rpm HD

2 x 4 GB RAM

600w Power supply

Windows 7 pro

Can currently play LCPDFR with ELS enabled vehicles for about 20-40 min before crashing (usually during pursuit), though I am only able to play at medium settings ...

Should I get an SSD and install the game there?

OR upgrade my graphics card?

OR get a bigger power supply and cooler and over clock the heck out of my i5-2500k?

And, if I go get a new graphics card ... Focus on getting a 4GB card? Or higher clock speed? Not going to spend $350 on a card BTW.

 

 

I recently did an SSD upgrade and a GPU upgrade. I went from a Radeon HD6750 1GB to a R9 270X 2GB and I was able to switch from VisionENB to CryENB with a lot better graphics. You should Obviously get an Nvidia card since its better when running GTA. I was on a tight budget so I went for AMD. However the SSD, I didnt notice even a little bit of a difference in loading times. But maybe that's just me. If you have the money, I would buy a GTX 760 Superclocked from EVGA since I think it's one of the best cards that is in that price/perf. ratio range.

Defiantly go for a new GPU. I would suggest, if you arent willing to shell out a lot of money, the GTX 760. Either the Asus DirectCU 2GB GTX760 or the EVGA SC GTX760. Both are great cards but the EVGA comes with slightly higher clock speeds. They go for about 200$ but you can probably find one for cheaper right now. 600 watt is fine for running a 760. With my current rig, a Asus 760, FX-6300 OC @ 4.3Ghz, 8GB RAM, 7200RPM 1TB HDD, I get about 40-55FPS @ 1080p with LCPDFR, CRYEnb v3, ELS V8 police car pack and about 7-10 other mods such as trafficflow, braveheart, etc on Max-high settings.

Edited January 3, 201511 yr by davelaric