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help with upgrade

D

DrachmasErus

Member
I'm looking to upgrade within the next 6 weeks. I'm currently running amd x2 cpu. I was considering upgrading but I wasn't sure if I should just stick with am3 or would it be beneficial to just go ahead and upgrade to an fm2. I would like some room for a future upgrade and I was wondering if they are done producing am3 CPUs and if they will eventually be producing 8 core FM2 CPUs.
 
From my experience, AMD has always been cheaper than Intel so I've always defaulted just buying AMD. I mainly use it for gaming, listening to music, and watching movies.
 
What games, what screen resolution, what GPU?

Generally Intel chips push games harder than AMD these days for a marginally higher cost. Plus they use considerably less power so the cost evens out over time.
 
1920x1080 pretty high resolution to be CPU limited IMO. Stick with AM3 and buy FX6300,push it to ~4.2Ghz with stock cooler and be done with upgrades for a good while 😉
 
DrachmasErus said:
From my experience, AMD has always been cheaper than Intel so I've always defaulted just buying AMD. I mainly use it for gaming, listening to music, and watching movies.
Click to expand...

Yea, AMD is cheaper for a reason. I dont know much about AMD socket compatibility, but if you can upgrade without changing to a new motherboard, AMD makes sense. Since you are coming from a dual core though, you would want to make sure the mb could handle a higher TDP hex or 8 core cpu, and if you could overclock.

If you are upgrading both cpu and motherboard, it makes no sense not go go intel for gaming. Get an i5 3570k and an z77 mb and dont look back. Even at stock it will outperform anything from AMD for gaming, and also has more overclocking headroom than FX. It will also use less power, and if you push overclocking to the max, the power difference becomes even larger.
 
scragnoff said:
Hi DrachmasErus! I recommend the following specs:

Mobo = Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 - $139.99 at Newegg
CPU = Amd FX 6300 - $129.99 at Amazon
Ram = 8 GB - $37.49 at Amazon

For a total of $307.47
Click to expand...

IMHO AMD makes no sense especially since Skyrim is rather cpu heavy and barley multi-threaded so faster single-threaded perfromance matters a lot. You might pay less now for AMD but you next upgrade will be required sooner.
 
If he wants to go the Intel way, then it's going to be a bit more expensive, but worth it.

Mobo = Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H - $148.98 at Amazon
CPU = Intel Core i5-3570K - $214.99 at Amazon
Ram = 8 GB -#37.49 at Amazon

For a total of $401.46.
 
scragnoff said:
Hi DrachmasErus! I recommend the following specs:

Mobo = Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 - $139.99 at Newegg
Click to expand...
I would take the Asus M5A99X:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131874
Only 119 with a rebate card and an OC buddy told me that all AMD mainboards from GA have a Vdroop problem.
----------------
Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1 ASUS M5A99X EVO R2.0 AM3+ Item #: $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card $139.99
1 Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 -$8.00 Instant $52.99 $44.99
1 AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5GHz $139.99
Click to expand...
Subtotal: $324.97 (-$20 with rebate, free shipping).
 
Last edited:
i5 3470 for $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115234

ASRock Z77M motherboard for $97
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157325

Crucial Ballistix 8GB DDR3-1600 for $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148486

Total is $342. With that motherboard + cpu you can overclock to 4GHz (stock cooler should be fine) at which point it will outrun AMD chips without any problem.

EDIT: Or spend the extra $15 for the 3570K from Amazon linked above and overclock as high as you like. But if going much above 4GHz I'd suggest you also pick up a better cooler.
 
DrachmasErus said:
looking to upgrade mobo, cpu, and memory as needed. I figured I would spend around $350.
Click to expand...


I'd go with a Intel combo as I'd think it will have a longer life span for your uses. Getting a K chip will allow you to overclock it now or save the speed increase for later if needed.

It's just a matter of if you have the money when the best deal pops up 🙂

I take it you live in the US? What state? Microcenter has some pretty good bundle deals on cpu/mb's if one is local to you. If not local sometimes people take road trips to visit relatives, vacation, etc and one may be on the way or local to your destination. Might be worth a look at microcenter.com to see.
 
do you have a microcenter near you?

i5 3570k $190
msi Z77A-G45 $70 when purchased with cpu
crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB DDR3-1600 $78

witn tax in kansas $367.24
 
dawp said:
do you have a microcenter near you?

i5 3570k $190
msi Z77A-G45 $70 when purchased with cpu
crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB DDR3-1600 $78

witn tax in kansas $367.24
Click to expand...

This is my vote, only I'd opt for 8GB of RAM now if you're only gaming, and add another 8 later if you need it.
 
Microcenter specials can be pretty good. Bought an AMD FX 8320 Black and an Asus M5A97 for $207 after tax last week. Pretty much the cost of an i5 3570K. Now if only Frys would open some east coast locations...
 
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