Help: Upgrading from FM1 A6-3500 APU

[JinRoh3]

Hello! I currently have a computer running an AMD A6-3500 APU with an ASUS F1A75-M LE motherboard.

I've been thinking about upgrading it to be able to comfortably run "some" modern games (not needed at HIGH ULTRA detail) along with (and most often) some low-demanding mini games.

We've been having trouble with Child of Light (it doesn't even run)

My options as of today:

1 - Buy a graphics card ( R7 250x or 260x -> 90€ vs 97€). My fear is that the processor would hold the graphics back...

2 - Upgrade MOBO + Processor (since it's a FM1, would need FM2(+).

Which Processor would you recommend? A modern, powerful APU?

Let's say I could spend 100-200€ top. In which case would I find more differences in general and gaming performance

Aside from this, the computer also has:

Recently purchased:

A new case
Corsair CX430 v2

Moved from another computer:
Crucial 120GB SSD
2x4GB RAM from Kingston

 

[ViRGE]

What is your current video card? Or are you using the iGPU?

 

[Insert_Nickname]

If you're using the IGP definitely add a graphics card. I don't think the A6-3500 will hold something like a 260(X) or GTX750TI back too much. Either properly has 3-4x the performance of the IGP.

You could also try and find a 3670K or 3870K used for extra CPU performance, but again I don't think it'll matter too much.

 

[Essence_of_War]

If you're using the IGP definitely add a graphics card. I don't think the A6-3500 will hold something like a 260(X) or GTX750TI back too much.

I agree with this. You should be able to pick up either of those GPUs within your budget of 100-200 euro. The 750(Ti) offers nearly unmatched perf/watt right now, but depending on your budget, but you may be able to squeeze a little better perf/dollar out of an AMD card in the R7-260X->270X range, depending on your local prices.

 

[Torn Mind]

Integrated graphics are not at the point where they are more powerful than current $100 discrete cards. Hell, even a 7750 would run circles around any Llano APU graphics, especially the chips below the A8s.

Even the current A10-7850K is slower than an R7 250. (Fewer stream processors, texture units, etc)

 

[mistersprinkles]

You can track down used X58 stuff for pennies on the dollar on ebay. I saw someone selling an ASUS X58D-E with an i7 950 in it for $60 the other day. That would leave you $140 for a GPU. (enough for a 750Ti) and you'd have decent performance.

 

[mfenn]

I agree with this. You should be able to pick up either of those GPUs within your budget of 100-200 euro. The 750(Ti) offers nearly unmatched perf/watt right now, but depending on your budget, but you may be able to squeeze a little better perf/dollar out of an AMD card in the R7-260X->270X range, depending on your local prices.

Thirded. The A6-3500 is a 2.1 GHz base clock tri-core. That isn't the fastest thing in the world (not by a long shot), but it is still roughly equivalent to an Athlon II X4 405e.

OP, let us know where you shop and we can make some specific recommendations.

 

[ViRGE]

Thirded. The A6-3500 is a 2.1 GHz base clock quad core. That isn't the fasted thing in the world (not by a long shot), but it is still roughly equivalent to an Athlon II X4 620.

OP, let us know where you shop and we can make some specific recommendations.

Minor correction: that's a tri-core, not a quad core. And 2.1GHz for a Stars core processor is pretty slow. Keep in mind that it's IPC is lower than Core 2, so we're talking about the single-threaded performance rivaling of some of the slowest C2Ds. Being a tri-core rather than a dual core is beneficial here, but it's still very liable to be a CPU bottleneck in just about anything.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Minor correction: that's a tri-core, not a quad core. And 2.1GHz for a Stars core processor is pretty slow. Keep in mind that it's IPC is lower than Core 2, so we're talking about the single-threaded performance rivaling of some of the slowest C2Ds. Being a tri-core rather than a dual core is beneficial here, but it's still very liable to be a CPU bottleneck in just about anything.

I saw some trials pairing an Athlon 5350 with a GTX750TI, CPU bottlenecking didn't look that bad at all. The Jaguar core is roughly comparable in IPC to the older K8 core. K10.5 should have a bit better IPC, and a small clockspeed advantage, the A6-3500 does turbo to 2.4GHz after all. It'll still lack that last core though. But overall a 260(X) or GTX750TI is going to completely annihilate the 320 shader VLIW5 IGP...

 

[mfenn]

Minor correction: that's a tri-core, not a quad core. And 2.1GHz for a Stars core processor is pretty slow. Keep in mind that it's IPC is lower than Core 2, so we're talking about the single-threaded performance rivaling of some of the slowest C2Ds. Being a tri-core rather than a dual core is beneficial here, but it's still very liable to be a CPU bottleneck in just about anything.

Fixed, thanks. The CPU is definitely slow like I mentioned. The IGP is roughly equivalent to a "6550" (not that they actually made such a thing), which would be between a 6450 and 6570 in performance.

He really needs to upgrade both, but but I'm not sure that his budget allows a worthwhile upgrade of both parts (feedback on web shops pending). In this situation, when forced to choose between CPU/mobo and GPU, I'd upgrade the GPU.