Recommend a 'value' cpu/mobo upgrade from an E8400 c2d

[jhbball]

Hey guys, it's bonus time, and I thought I'd upgrade the system a bit. I currently have an E8400 @ 3.6ghz with 4gb dd2 memory. The only game I play is WoW really, but I'm looking to increase performance where I can.

I'm looking to spend ~300 or less on a cpu/motherboard combo, preferably a quad-core, that will offer a substantial performance increase.

In this price range, would any combo fit this description?

 

[Axon]

You won't see much of a performance increase from the E8400 at that speed with WoW. I have an i7 920 and an E8500 @ 3.6 or something, and they both run WoW virtually identically. The 920 is a little better, but there are times (such as when zoning into an instance or logging into the server initially) where the higher clock of the E8500 beats out the 920, or at least seems to. Basically, if you're in Dalaran and it's prime time, you're going to suffer those little ripples. Anywhere else, 60 FPS+.

I'd recommend a nice SSD or a new GPU if yours is a little older.

 

[aigomorla]

I'd recommend a nice SSD or a new GPU if yours is a little older.

+1

or a better internet connection.

WOW isnt really hardware based, well unless your in a middle of a massive raid, and everyone but you is spaming an AOE spell.

 

[SonicIce]

your chip is still bitchin fast no reason to upgrade unless something really needed quadcore and warcraft doesn't

 

[Piano Man]

You won't see much of a performance increase from the E8400 at that speed with WoW. I have an i7 920 and an E8500 @ 3.6 or something, and they both run WoW virtually identically. The 920 is a little better, but there are times (such as when zoning into an instance or logging into the server initially) where the higher clock of the E8500 beats out the 920, or at least seems to. Basically, if you're in Dalaran and it's prime time, you're going to suffer those little ripples. Anywhere else, 60 FPS+.

I'd recommend a nice SSD or a new GPU if yours is a little older.

Then you are extremely GPU limited then. I went from a 8400 at 4.5GHZ to a 920 to 4.2GHz and the difference is absolute night and day. Now that you don't even have to mess with WoWs affinity settings (WoW will detect the cores for you now), you'll definitely see an increase in smoother play from the get go.



WoW is VERY hardware based, almost more so than any other game. WoW will take advantage of all of you cores, and when it comes to WinterGrasp, Dalaran, Raids, BGs like IoC or AV, you will notice much, much smoother gameplay.

WoW today isn't the WoW of yesterday. Although it still leans more towards the CPU for performance, its much more balanced now, especially given the ultra high settings of textures and shadows. A good CPU and GPU are required for smooth gameplay during peak times in intense battle situations. Anyone who tells you otherwise is dead wrong.

 

[Axon]

Then you are extremely GPU limited then. I went from a 8400 at 4.5GHZ to a 920 to 4.2GHz and the difference is absolute night and day. Now that you don't even have to mess with WoWs affinity settings (WoW will detect the cores for you now), you'll definitely see an increase in smoother play from the get go.



WoW is VERY hardware based, almost more so than any other game. WoW will take advantage of all of you cores, and when it comes to WinterGrasp, Dalaran, Raids, BGs like IoC or AV, you will notice much, much smoother gameplay.

WoW today isn't the WoW of yesterday. Although it still leans more towards the CPU for performance, its much more balanced now, especially given the ultra high settings of textures and shadows. A good CPU and GPU are required for smooth gameplay during peak times in intense battle situations. Anyone who tells you otherwise is dead wrong.

I have a 4890 in my i7 rig (1900x1200) and a 4670 in my E8500 rig (1680x1020).

While I agree with your general premise, I have to disagree on a specific point. At least for what I do in the game, which is solo stuff, daily heroics, and the occasional 10/25 man raid, I see little performance difference between either CPU with the 4890 installed. Now, when I run the 4670, yes, there is a difference, though I still have 60 FPS everywhere save Dalaran at prime time. So I don't think it's the CPUs - both of which are blazing fast - in those circumstances.

 

[Voo]

WoW only uses 2 cores so there aren't that many faster CPUs out there all in all..

 

[jhbball]

How does the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition stack up against the e8400?

 

[SonicIce]

How does the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition stack up against the e8400?

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=102&p2=56&c=1 965 wins every time but in games they're closer

 

[Xg32]

I have a 4890 in my i7 rig (1900x1200) and a 4670 in my E8500 rig (1680x1020).

While I agree with your general premise, I have to disagree on a specific point. At least for what I do in the game, which is solo stuff, daily heroics, and the occasional 10/25 man raid, I see little performance difference between either CPU with the 4890 installed. Now, when I run the 4670, yes, there is a difference, though I still have 60 FPS everywhere save Dalaran at prime time. So I don't think it's the CPUs - both of which are blazing fast - in those circumstances.

thanks for the input Axon. Noob here still wondering about i5 vs e8400, it helps my decision to not upgrade yet. any ideas on the next rig?

 

[Xg32]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=102&p2=56&c=1 965 wins every time but in games they're closer

gotta remember to match the clock-speed too if you are using the link, id use the e8600 @ 3.33 to compare to the 965 since they both oc to around the same range anyway, haven't read too much on the 965 so i could be wrong.

 

[SonicIce]

gotta remember to match the clock-speed too

why would you do that

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I'm looking to spend ~300 or less on a cpu/motherboard combo, preferably a quad-core, that will offer a substantial performance increase.

In this price range, would any combo fit this description?[

I think mine in my sig would :whiste:

 

[Xg32]

why would you do that

both of the cpus kinda ocs to the same speed unless he's gonna leave it at stock.