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

[pcsavvy]

Here are some price ranges for new parts: (tax not included)(as of 6/15/13)

FX 6300 =$119.99 @ NE and MC

MC Bundles: Asrock Extreme3 970--$164.98
Asrock Extreme4 970--$179.99

FX 8350 = $179.99 at MC, $199.99 @ NE

MC bundles: Asrock Extreme4 970--239.99
Asus Sabertooth 990FX--324.98

I5-3570K = $189.99 @ MC, $214.99 @ NE

MC Bundles: Asrock Extreme4 Z77--284.98
Asus Sabertooth Z77--$389.98

I7-3770K = 249.99 @ MC, $319.99 @ NE

MC Bundles: Asrock Extreme4 Z77--$344.98
Asus Sabertooth Z77--$449.99

Depending upon where you purchase your computer parts, and which m/b you choose, your cost will vary. As you can see with these examples, the cost can vary by quite a bit. Someone on a tight budget who is willing to weigh the pro's and cons of AMD vs Intel for a computer system using new parts vs used parts. Factoring in system use, HTPC, Gaming, General use, etc. They maybe tempted to go AMD because the cost of cpu and m/b combo is cheaper and allows them to have more money for other parts they may need.

 

[Mallibu]

Are you me? Because I was told the same. A hard $100 lesson. I gained roughly 10% fps in FTB and my GPU sits at 10-20% still. Even in GW2 (can use all 4 cores) my 460GTX isnt the bottleneck. I still see people here trying to do it again. Im not sure if they actually believe what they are saying and honestly dont know better or they are just trolling me.

Everyone was like "Oh, a Core I7/I5 is a waste, because you will be GPU bottlenecked all the time"

In reality, I had frame drops in GTA IV / Shogun 2 / Civilization V / WoW / Starcraft 2 / Assassins Creed / Witcher / Boarderlands 2 / Battlefield: Bad Company 2 aka a lot of games I played, not just one or two, and I was wondering what the hell was happening.

As I told you, switching to an I5 2500, which had the same number of cores but almost 1.5 x the core power solved all of these problems. No matter how well multithreaded applications/games are, they still require strong per core performance, and that is not going to change, so if I was buying a new pc now, I wouldn't even consider going AMD again. The main argument of AMD fans is "buy the inferior AMD cpu, because it's shortcomings won't be visible in GPU bottlenecks". Well guess what, you can lower a setting or two and remove the GPU bottleneck, but the CPU bottleneck the AMD cpus cause, can't be removed.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Dang, it was a 2600K and a Z68 mobo for well under $300...

Anyway, I think I've read so many posts today I forgot what you are now leaning towards. 3570K? 2500K?

Im finding a lot of 2500/3570 for <$150 on ebay. I might do that if I find someone with a good seller rating and I can make sure the chip actually works. A 2500k would be a huge upgrade from a 965BE. My C3 only OCs to 3.9 and Im betting even with a 80$ Z75/77 a i5 will get to at least 4.2. If I find a 3570k then thats just cake.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Here are some price ranges for new parts: (tax not included)(as of 6/15/13)

FX 6300 =$119.99 @ NE and MC

MC Bundles: Asrock Extreme3 970--$164.98
Asrock Extreme4 970--$179.99

FX 8350 = $179.99 at MC, $199.99 @ NE

MC bundles: Asrock Extreme4 970--239.99
Asus Sabertooth 990FX--324.98

I5-3570K = $189.99 @ MC, $214.99 @ NE

MC Bundles: Asrock Extreme4 Z77--284.98
Asus Sabertooth Z77--$389.98

I7-3770K = 249.99 @ MC, $319.99 @ NE

MC Bundles: Asrock Extreme4 Z77--$344.98
Asus Sabertooth Z77--$449.99

Depending upon where you purchase your computer parts, and which m/b you choose, your cost will vary. As you can see with these examples, the cost can vary by quite a bit. Someone on a tight budget who is willing to weigh the pro's and cons of AMD vs Intel for a computer system using new parts vs used parts. Factoring in system use, HTPC, Gaming, General use, etc. They maybe tempted to go AMD because the cost of cpu and m/b combo is cheaper and allows them to have more money for other parts they may need.

I understand about AMD. I went into getting the 965BE with the same logic. Big mistake. If I went 8350 tomorrow i'd gain literally no framerate and be out $180. While with even a 2500K id see 50-75% higher frames in CPU intensive gaming.

965 vs FX8350
http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/770/AMD_FX-Series_FX-8350_vs_AMD_Phenom_II_X4_965_(125W__BE).html

965 vs 2500k
http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/895/AMD_Phenom_II_X4_965_(125W__BE)_vs_Intel_Core_i5_i5-2500K.html

NE really needs to pricematch with MC

Everyone was like "Oh, a Core I7/I5 is a waste, because you will be GPU bottlenecked all the time"

In reality, I had frame drops in GTA IV / Shogun 2 / Civilization V / WoW / Starcraft 2 / Assassins Creed / Witcher / Boarderlands 2 / Battlefield: Bad Company 2 aka a lot of games I played, not just one or two, and I was wondering what the hell was happening.

As I told you, switching to an I5 2500, which had the same number of cores but almost 1.5 x the core power solved all of these problems. No matter how well multithreaded applications/games are, they still require strong per core performance, and that is not going to change, so if I was buying a new pc now, I wouldn't even consider going AMD again. The main argument of AMD fans is "buy the inferior AMD cpu, because it's shortcomings won't be visible in GPU bottlenecks". Well guess what, you can lower a setting or two and remove the GPU bottleneck, but the CPU bottleneck the AMD cpus cause, can't be removed.

Where the hell were you a few months ago when I was considering all this and went 965?

 

[crashtech]

Im finding a lot of 2500/3570 for <$150 on ebay. I might do that if I find someone with a good seller rating and I can make sure the chip actually works. A 2500k would be a huge upgrade from a 965BE. My C3 only OCs to 3.9 and Im betting even with a 80$ Z75/77 a i5 will get to at least 4.2. If I find a 3570k then thats just cake.

I've never gotten a bad chip from ebay, not to say they're not out there. It's the mobos you have to watch out for, I think I will only buy those new or from a known good trader here on the forum.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Yes, I dont think Ill use ebay for mobo. Either here or more likely Amazon used. However even new is an option, Im seeing some good ones for well under 100. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157304

 

[24601]

Here is a rule of thumb.

Stock 3570k/4670k - Match with 660 or 7850 max if you want no CPU bottlenecks.

4.5ghz 3570k/4.2ghz 4670k - Match with 7970 or 670 max if you want no CPU bottlenecks.

People telling people to go AMD CPU for a true gaming rig are intentionally harming people by providing false information.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Anyone know of any sort of motherboard OC database? I'm 98% certain the CPU type ill get but I have a few mobos to look over now.

 

[24601]

Anyone know of any sort of motherboard OC database? I'm 98% certain the CPU type ill get but I have a few mobos to look over now.

ASrock z75/z77 pro3 goes up to 4.5 no problem, even though its only 3 phase, since 3570k only draws about 77w worst case with Prime95 with a good cooler like Thermalright True Spirit 140.

For the others you'll probably have to look at overclock.net to find the threads about them.

The Mobo I listed is because it's usually the cheapest mobo available with z75/z77.

 

[crashtech]

Not that I know of, though if they are similar enough, you may find two of your prospects in the same review together.

 

[icanhascpu2]

ASrock z75/z77 pro3 goes up to 4.5 no problem, even though its only 3 phase, since 3570k only draws about 77w worst case with Prime95 with a good cooler like Thermalright True Spirit 140.

For the others you'll probably have to look at overclock.net to find the threads about them.

The Mobo I listed is because it's usually the cheapest mobo available with z75/z77.

Not that I know of, though if they are similar enough, you may find two of your prospects in the same review together.

4.5 is more than I'd expect so aftermarket air would be my next buy. How is the stock cooler on the i5 2nd and 3rd gens? I may go 2500K if it OCs better on stock air than the 3570K, but Id expect that to be the other way around?

Thanks for the input.

 

[crashtech]

Stock coolers are paperweights for any enthusiast app, imo. Heaven knows I've installed bunches, but they really do suck at anything over stock. They're hot under load even AT stock.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Time to look at heatsinks then.

 

[24601]

Time to look at heatsinks then.

Thermalright True Spirit 140
http://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-T...dp/B00629G1PG/

 

[icanhascpu2]

That is one large heatsink.

 

[monstercameron]

Here is a rule of thumb.

Stock 3570k/4670k - Match with 660 or 7850 max if you want no CPU bottlenecks.

4.5ghz 3570k/4.2ghz 4670k - Match with 7970 or 670 max if you want no CPU bottlenecks.

People telling people to go AMD CPU for a true gaming rig are intentionally harming people by providing false information.

utter fud...

 

[icanhascpu2]

utter fud...

Unless youre willing to OC the FX to 5Ghz its going to lag high CPU demand low threaded games. And even at 5Ghz it would bottleneck my three generation old GPU in FTB Minecraft. As a gamer, unless your taste for gaming is very limited to the few games that actually thread past 4 cores (and by the way, even AMDs 6 cores barely pass and often fall behind Intels' 4 in gaming even IF the game uses all 6 cores), there is absolutely no reason that I have found to go AMD at 200$ or higher.

So why in good conscious would anyone ever recommend AMD to a gamer at this pricepoint?

 

[crashtech]

Well, it does depend on budget, and Communism's initial declaration failed to include that caveat. I think it's possible on the lower side of midrange to have an AMD system that provides good performance on a budget and with lower parts count (no discrete GPU).

 

[icanhascpu2]

If no discrete GPU I think they could be running with a paperclip as a CPU. On that angle AMD low power APU lineup is better than Intels imo.

 

[Torn Mind]

So why in good conscious would anyone ever recommend AMD to a gamer at this pricepoint?

Well, the key phrase is intentionally harm. I don't think people deliberately want to harm the advisee, but their priorities is to be an unofficial AMD salesman first, customer second. Closing the deal is important, and hence the constant resassurances that it will be ok. The consumer benefits some, but not as much as they could have had they been bought otherwise.

 

[icanhascpu2]

Well, the key phrase is intentionally harm. I don't think people deliberately want to harm the advisee, but their priorities is to be an unofficial AMD salesman first, customer second. Closing the deal is important, and hence the constant resassurances that it will be ok. The consumer benefits some, but not as much as they could have had they been bought otherwise.

Uh, thats intentionally harm in my mind. I (and thousands of others) come to sites like this for informed information, not a sales pitch from fanboys, ya know? Its very misleading, and they are consciously doing the leading.

 

[Shephard]

This guy wants only the best but his budget is $300 and then he wants to OC with a stock cooler.

LOL!

not going to happen.

used or you lose!

 

[icanhascpu2]

This guy wants only the best but his budget is $300 and then he wants to OC with a stock cooler.

LOL!

not going to happen.

used or you lose!

Are you trolling or are you just slow? Who said anything about "only the best" ? I could actually go new and still be under 300. LOL! You lose.

 

[Shephard]

Are you trolling or are you just slow? Who said anything about "only the best" ? I could actually go new and still be under 300. LOL! You lose.

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.

 

[crashtech]

Are you trolling or are you just slow? Who said anything about "only the best" ? I could actually go new and still be under 300. LOL! You lose.

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.