Best CPU/Mobo combo for Gaming/Vid <$300?

[tential]

Not to be overly contentious (curious, mostly), but show me how you do that with any of the Intel "K" series CPUs that you have been considering. Microcenter, maybe? Because I don't see it happening with e-tailers.

He might have to give up overclocking, but if he didn't, it was CERTAINLY possible with the ivybridge from MC. I know it would have cost me well under 300 for that. Haswell+mobo came out to $400 and I got a 4770k. If I got an i5 Ivy+mobo it would have been 300.

Then why haven't you made your purchase? Why are you still posting?

$300 budget and wants to OC with stock cooler.

Looking at the last posts you don't even have a motherboard in mind.

Wow you are really being mean for no reason. He wants to consider all options. It's not a race. Why are you rushing someone into getting something when they want to consider all of their options. Not everyone is trying to hit top OCs on their chip. If he wants to OC with stock cooler and maybe get an extra 200+ mhz and is happy with that more power to them.

This can be a problem sometimes posting on an enthusiast forum. People have a hard time realizing that not everyone purchases hardware for the same reasons they do. My 4770k will at most see a 200-400 mhz OC.

If you don't have an option that comes under $300 then just leave the thread. Stop trolling.

 

[crashtech]

He might have to give up overclocking, but if he didn't, it was CERTAINLY possible with the ivybridge from MC. I know it would have cost me well under 300 for that. Haswell+mobo came out to $400 and I got a 4770k. If I got an i5 Ivy+mobo it would have been 300.

Yeah, but it's been pretty clear from the start that overclocking was desired, so I've been under the impression that a better HSF would be needed. Again, not to argue, and for those with a Microcenter nearby, I salute you, but the price point and goal are rather difficult for most of us without that resource to achieve, hence my interest.

 

[tential]

Yeah, but it's been pretty clear from the start that overclocking was desired, so I've been under the impression that a better HSF would be needed. Again, not to argue, and for those with a Microcenter nearby, I salute you, but the price point and goal are rather difficult for most of us without that resource to achieve, hence my interest.

Desired, but I don't think it's a priority if you're spending $300.

Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157314
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157302
---
CPU
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SZ0E1K/...SIN=B007SZ0E1K

$220+$75=$295

If you want to add a CPU cooler afterwards,

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-.../dp/B005O65JXI

Search around if you want for lower prices, but that's it.

Non OC CPU
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-3.html

 

[crashtech]

He needs a Z77 mobo at least, he wants to overclock. So unless you scrape the bottom of the barrel, it's a touch over $300 for just the two parts without the cooler that is necessary to achieve any meaningful gains.

 

[Shephard]

He might have to give up overclocking, but if he didn't, it was CERTAINLY possible with the ivybridge from MC. I know it would have cost me well under 300 for that. Haswell+mobo came out to $400 and I got a 4770k. If I got an i5 Ivy+mobo it would have been 300.



Wow you are really being mean for no reason. He wants to consider all options. It's not a race. Why are you rushing someone into getting something when they want to consider all of their options. Not everyone is trying to hit top OCs on their chip. If he wants to OC with stock cooler and maybe get an extra 200+ mhz and is happy with that more power to them.

This can be a problem sometimes posting on an enthusiast forum. People have a hard time realizing that not everyone purchases hardware for the same reasons they do. My 4770k will at most see a 200-400 mhz OC.

If you don't have an option that comes under $300 then just leave the thread. Stop trolling.

lol give me a break.

He is shooting down most options and is totally against AMD when that's something that will actually fit his budget.

He has all the right answers but wants to OC on a stock cooler?

He wants a motherboard that can OC the best. Again, stock cooler point.

So unless he lives near a Microcenter he's not going to find an unlocked Intel quad core, motherboard, and AFTERMARKET cooler for $300-310.

 

[crashtech]

Used 2500K:_________$177.50
New ASRock Z77M:____$ 90.00
New CM Hyper 212+:___$ 32.00

That's $299.50 with one used part. Personally I think it would be better to find more funds and go with either a 3570K or 2600K, but unless there is some killer deal out there, this is about what it's going to be.

@Shephard, if you are not going to try and be helpful, why are you here?

 

[tential]

lol give me a break.

He is shooting down most options and is totally against AMD when that's something that will actually fit his budget.

He has all the right answers but wants to OC on a stock cooler?

He wants a motherboard that can OC the best. Again, stock cooler point.

So unless he lives near a Microcenter he's not going to find an unlocked Intel quad core, motherboard, and AFTERMARKET cooler for $300-310.

I get a feeling you're some type of AMD fan boy? Because surely you know that just because he is on a budget he doesn't have to get AMD. I will NOT buy AMD, yet I still got what I wanted on a budget, and could have gone much lower. I just wanted to treat myself.

AMD isn't the only "budget" option.

 

[Shephard]

I will NOT buy AMD

What are you an Intel fan boy?

He can buy used or go to Microcenter if he is in the USA.

Judging by his posts and attitude he wants the best which isn't going to make a $300 budget.

He doesn't have to buy a AMD. He can buy an i3 which is better single threaded but loses multi-threaded to a Phenom...

Then again he wants a quad core.

 

[crashtech]

Shephard, why don't you contribute something to this thread besides attitude? Abuse of font size is not helpful, but picking out a combo that you feel provides the best value for the target parameters might be.

 

[Shephard]

Shephard, why don't you contribute something to this thread besides attitude? Abuse of font size is not helpful, but picking out a combo that you feel provides the best value for the target parameters might be.

I did contribute and I was defending my posts which I stand by.

He can drive to Microcenter.

3570k + you choose motherboard and you can get it all under $300.

That's good enough for any game right and good enough for video editing.

He just wants more and he won't get it for $300.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Then why haven't you made your purchase? Why are you still posting?

$300 budget and wants to OC with stock cooler.

Looking at the last posts you don't even have a motherboard in mind.

So you are trolling. Sad for you. Now stop putting words in my mouth. I never said I wanted more than a 3750 and Im even considering as low as 2500k+68z. There is no way id go i3 whern I can have i5 for under 300 new let alone used. Youve been proven wrong, why are you here acting like a angry child? 'Why have I not made my purchase?' Is there some sort of deadline? LOL!

Not to be overly contentious (curious, mostly), but show me how you do that with any of the Intel "K" series CPUs that you have been considering. Microcenter, maybe? Because I don't see it happening with e-tailers.

Yes, Im considering Microcenter. The less likely but still possible option would be if I found a 2500/3750 for 200-210 and a mobo for about 80-90. Not *that* hard as Ive found out, but Id have to wait for the deals to pop up and Id have to limit any OC severely till I got AM air

 

[icanhascpu2]

Used 2500K:_________$177.50
New ASRock Z77M:____$ 90.00
New CM Hyper 212+:___$ 32.00

That's $299.50 with one used part. Personally I think it would be better to find more funds and go with either a 3570K or 2600K, but unless there is some killer deal out there, this is about what it's going to be.

@Shephard, if you are not going to try and be helpful, why are you here?

This is close to one of my current options. Im taking my time though, as the jump to 3750K not only give me 7% ~ better performance, but it would pay for the difference itself after a year from lower power needs. Im hoping it comes down a bit over the next month. They are going for roughly 150$ on ebay. Very tempting

 

[crashtech]

There are used CPU deals available, to be sure. When one pops up, it pays not to hesitate!

 

[Shephard]

So you are trolling. Sad for you. Now stop putting words in my mouth. I never said I wanted more than a 3750 and Im considering 2500k+68z. There is no way id go i3 whern I can have i5 for under 300 new let alone used. Youve been proven wrong, why are you here acting like a angry child? Why have I not made my purchase? Is there some sort of deadline? LOL!



Yes, Im considering Microcenter. The less likely but still possible option would be if I found a 2500/3750 for 200-210 and a mobo for about 80-90. Not *that* hard as Ive found out, but Id have to wait for the deals to pop up and Id have to limit any OC severely till I got AM air

It's a 3570k not a 3750, there is no such thing as a 3750.

If there's no deadline, then surely you can put away more money from future pay cheques and get this amazing build that you want - which you currently cannot get for $300.

Not sure what I have been proven wrong at but okay.

I don't think this guy listed any of the games he plays. All I read was minecraft.

So he wants to OC a quad core on a stock cooler to get what, 1.1 more fps?

This guy is the troll himself. The deals are at Microcenter. If you can drive there why wouldn't you go there?

I don't live in the USA but if I did I would go right there even if it was an hour drive.

3570k + z77-v lk+ hyper 212 = $300

game, set, match.

 

[icanhascpu2]

-snip-

Blah blah blah? Blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah. Blah blah! Blah....Blah lol Blah blah blah, blah; blah.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

There are used CPU deals available, to be sure. When one pops up, it pays not to hesitate!

Pays literally! *Eyes bleeding watching slickdeals and such*

 

[Torn Mind]

Sometimes the Cooler Master Hyper 212 variants will go on rebate. With Z77 being supplanted by Z87, there will be discounts in the future as well.

Slickdeals is nice, but you should also look at PCpartpicker and camelcamelcamel for price tracking. Techbargains is also ok. You've probably shopped at Newegg before, so their Shell Shocker emails should come into your inbox. Also, save your Ebay searches and have the newest listings sent to your email too.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Sometimes the Cooler Master Hyper 212 variants will go on rebate. With Z77 being supplanted by Z87, there will be discounts in the future as well.

Slickdeals is nice, but you should also look at PCpartpicker and camelcamelcamel for price tracking. Techbargains is also ok. You've probably shopped at Newegg before, so their Shell Shocker emails should come into your inbox. Also, save your Ebay searches and have the newest listings sent to your email too.

Ah, thanks for the tips. I shall take this advice over the coming weeks.

 

[crashtech]

Pays literally! *Eyes bleeding watching slickdeals and such*

ALTHOUGH, I must say it also pays to slow down and make sure you read the description right. I once accidentally clicked "Buy it Now" on a Xeon E3-1230 thinking it was an E3-1230V2.

Damn ebay...

Though I am certain you would never do something so foolish...

 

[Torn Mind]

ALTHOUGH, I must say it also pays to slow down and make sure you read the description right. I once accidentally clicked "Buy it Now" on a Xeon E3-1230 thinking it was an E3-1230V2.

Damn ebay...

Though I am certain you would never do something so foolish...

Did that listing have a "Commit to Buy" button? If it didn't, you didn't have to pay up. If it did, I guess you learned to slow down.

 

[crashtech]

In my own defense, it was during my first cup of morning coffee. It took a few minutes to clear the sleep from my eyes and realize what I'd just purchased.

I'm not a morning person.

Oh, yeah, and may I mention how I hate the fact that ebay emails me saying there are items that match my search, and then displays items that DON"T match my search? It's worse than spam.

 

[Shephard]

Blah blah blah? Blah blah, blah blah blah. Blah. Blah blah! Blah....Blah lol Blah blah blah, blah; blah.

Blah. Blah. Blah.




Pays literally! *Eyes bleeding watching slickdeals and such*

That's what I thought.

 

[pcsavvy]

I DO NOT work for AMD nor do I get any commissions from AMD!D:

OP asked what is the best cpu and m/b combo for gaming/vid <$300?

OP should have asked what is the cheapest Intel cpu and m/b combo that one could get to game with and still o/c.

I answered the op's question with my opinion based on research that I have done and a factual listing of computer parts at current price points at two different sources. I feel that if one is on a tight budget, needed the parts fairly quickly, wanted to game, do video, o/c, and maybe need other parts in addition to a cpu and m/b that AMD as an ENTRY LEVEL GAMING system was a good compromise. Not the perfect high end gaming system. I thought op would like to know all his choices when it comes to price vs performance. In my mind, if you only have $300 to spend on a cpu and m/b then maybe a 6300 or 6350 would make sense. You can get either of those two cpu's ~$120-130 plus invest in a higher end m/b for about ~$100-125 and still have enough left over to purchase a third party heat sink for ~$30 and still be under budget and be able to o/c easily, with the understanding that this is not an high end Intel setup. An AMD set up may not have the performance level of a more efficient Intel system but in day to day computing I doubt anyone could tell which is which.
If one does not agree, fine, all you have to say is Thanks, but no Thanks. I am not interested at all in AMD.
These diatribes against both AMD and Intel, do nothing to further the cause of people seeking information about computer systems at various price points. Not everyone is a high end gamer nor do they have the budget for it. In fact, some of these personalized attacks can actually discourage people from offering their opinions and viewpoints or even coming back to Anandtech forums as a source for information.

 

[Eureka]

I DO NOT work for AMD nor do I get any commissions from AMD!D:

OP asked what is the best cpu and m/b combo for gaming/vid <$300?

OP should have asked what is the cheapest Intel cpu and m/b combo that one could get to game with and still o/c.

I answered the op's question with my opinion based on research that I have done and a factual listing of computer parts at current price points at two different sources. I feel that if one is on a tight budget, needed the parts fairly quickly, wanted to game, do video, o/c, and maybe need other parts in addition to a cpu and m/b that AMD as an ENTRY LEVEL GAMING system was a good compromise. Not the perfect high end gaming system. I thought op would like to know all his choices when it comes to price vs performance. In my mind, if you only have $300 to spend on a cpu and m/b then maybe a 6300 or 6350 would make sense. You can get either of those two cpu's ~$120-130 plus invest in a higher end m/b for about ~$100-125 and still have enough left over to purchase a third party heat sink for ~$30 and still be under budget and be able to o/c easily, with the understanding that this is not an high end Intel setup. An AMD set up may not have the performance level of a more efficient Intel system but in day to day computing I doubt anyone could tell which is which.
If one does not agree, fine, all you have to say is Thanks, but no Thanks. I am not interested at all in AMD.
These diatribes against both AMD and Intel, do nothing to further the cause of people seeking information about computer systems at various price points. Not everyone is a high end gamer nor do they have the budget for it. In fact, some of these personalized attacks can actually discourage people from offering their opinions and viewpoints or even coming back to Anandtech forums as a source for information.

I'd have to agree... people get too personal here. It's silicon and plastic.

I actually had a friend in the same situation... around $200 budget for motherboard or CPU. Only game is SC2. Does a lot of virtual machine work. Lots of media stuff. Does an i3 combo still make sense over a FX-8320/8350 combo? I think not. It's about getting what you need for what you can pay for.

 

[crashtech]

The 8350 is more closely aligned with the i5 than the i3 in price, and in that bracket it's been shown that the i5, generally speaking, wins most contests.

But in the 8320 price bracket and below, AMD can make sense, since at that point the competition consists of only dual core CPUs. At that point it depends on what the intended use is.

All of this is a moot point now, though. The OP has already displayed his preference, and is at the price point (albeit barely) where Intel is pretty clearly the better performer.

 

[icanhascpu2]

I DO NOT work for AMD nor do I get any commissions from AMD!D:

OP asked what is the best cpu and m/b combo for gaming/vid <$300?

OP should have asked what is the cheapest Intel cpu and m/b combo that one could get to game with and still o/c.

I answered the op's question with my opinion based on research that I have done and a factual listing of computer parts at current price points at two different sources. I feel that if one is on a tight budget, needed the parts fairly quickly, wanted to game, do video, o/c, and maybe need other parts in addition to a cpu and m/b that AMD as an ENTRY LEVEL GAMING system was a good compromise. Not the perfect high end gaming system. I thought op would like to know all his choices when it comes to price vs performance. In my mind, if you only have $300 to spend on a cpu and m/b then maybe a 6300 or 6350 would make sense. You can get either of those two cpu's ~$120-130 plus invest in a higher end m/b for about ~$100-125 and still have enough left over to purchase a third party heat sink for ~$30 and still be under budget and be able to o/c easily, with the understanding that this is not an high end Intel setup. An AMD set up may not have the performance level of a more efficient Intel system but in day to day computing I doubt anyone could tell which is which.
If one does not agree, fine, all you have to say is Thanks, but no Thanks. I am not interested at all in AMD.
These diatribes against both AMD and Intel, do nothing to further the cause of people seeking information about computer systems at various price points. Not everyone is a high end gamer nor do they have the budget for it. In fact, some of these personalized attacks can actually discourage people from offering their opinions and viewpoints or even coming back to Anandtech forums as a source for information.

Its not the im not interested in AMD, Im simply not interested in a pointless upgrade. I appreciate the more mature attitude regardless. I think youre coming at this at the angle of going from Zero->CPU/Mobo when that's not the case. I currently own a PhenomII 965BE that is capable of 4Ghz on stock air if I need it to do that, so there is a bar set that I need at least to be pushed 50% higher. From all of the information I have gathered, going from that to a 6300 or 6350 would make no sense at all. Even going from that to a FX8350 would be a bad choice as the vast (95%+) majority of my time will not be spent in anything that's able to utilize more than 4 cores anyway plus core for core the FX is basically the same as my current Phenom. So all the FX would have is a better overclock. I might hit 4.8 in it if Im lucky. So that would be 20% (as the rest of the cores would do little good to me). Not worth it, not even close.

If we lived in a world where even half my stuff was able to use those 8 shiny cores, I would still be considering it and likely leaning to AMD over the i5s superior per core performance, but its simply not the case. I'm looking at pure numbers and applying them to applications I will put in use, rather than brands here.

So im *not* asking what the cheapest intel/bored combo I can OC to game with is. Im asking for the best m/b cpu combo under 300 to game is. That encompasses even more than I originally thought. I should have been more clear that video editing was a small % but something I will do sometimes.

I'd have to agree... people get too personal here. It's silicon and plastic.

I actually had a friend in the same situation... around $200 budget for motherboard or CPU. Only game is SC2. Does a lot of virtual machine work. Lots of media stuff. Does an i3 combo still make sense over a FX-8320/8350 combo? I think not. It's about getting what you need for what you can pay for.

For $200 I'd definitely go AMD. Hell, I have. Often; for the last 7+ years. Because it made sense at that pricepoint, and 2-4 cores was more relevant then than 8 is now for people at that pricepoint. I think there is a clear crossover at 250+ unless you do heavy video editing and little gaming.

ALTHOUGH, I must say it also pays to slow down and make sure you read the description right. I once accidentally clicked "Buy it Now" on a Xeon E3-1230 thinking it was an E3-1230V2.

Damn ebay...

Though I am certain you would never do something so foolish...

I've been taking my sweet time reading when on ebay to make sure items are what I am expecting.

It's almost my bedtime.

How precious.