Need a new CPU. :(

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dlock13

Platinum Member
Oct 24, 2006
2,806
2
81
Sorry to bump my old thread, but my birthday is coming up, and I'm planning on building a new PC totally. I lived with my mobo issues, and well, times has come.

Anyway, Microcenter has a 3770k for $229. I can pick that up for a total of 250 or so with tax. Think that's a good deal? Or should I stick with the 3570k? I'm not going to order or pick anything up until closer to the middle of March (when my birthday is).
 

blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
9,294
3,436
136
www.teamjuchems.com
It's a good deal - consider your budget holistically though. The 3570k is a good processor. It can be had with a decent motherboard for $260 at Microcenter, the jump to a 3770k and motherboard will be $100.

What else could you do with $100? If it keeps you happy with the CPU purchase for another year or two longer than it would otherwise, it seems like a good investment. It should have good resale value too, even down the line.

If you would rather get a nice SSD or something with that $100, I could see that side of the argument too.
 

AnitaPeterson

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
5,962
456
126
I realize that my reply will probably get lost in a sea of wild recommendations and hyperbole.

But I do have to ask: Why change your CPU at all? What is it that you do with it that absolutely requires shelling $150-$200 extra (on top of the costs associated with a new motherboard) for what is essentially no more than bragging rights?

Are you doing massive rendering? High-definition video capture and processing? Are you gaming at insane resolutions (1080p and above)?

You have a AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (Deneb) 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W quad-core processor. This processor might be a couple of years old, but it still kicks ass. In fact, it's better than what 90% of the other computer users on the planet are running every day. And it's a Socket AM3. So basically, any AM3 motherboard will make it hum along perfectly.

Save your money, mate.
 

Kenmitch

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,505
2,249
136
Sorry to bump my old thread, but my birthday is coming up, and I'm planning on building a new PC totally. I lived with my mobo issues, and well, times has come.

Anyway, Microcenter has a 3770k for $229. I can pick that up for a total of 250 or so with tax. Think that's a good deal? Or should I stick with the 3570k? I'm not going to order or pick anything up until closer to the middle of March (when my birthday is).

That is a good deal on the 3770k if you need the extra threads. The 3570k with the $50 combo discount might be the better deal if it meets your needs.
 

Hubb1e

Senior member
Aug 25, 2011
396
0
71
I realize that my reply will probably get lost in a sea of wild recommendations and hyperbole.

But I do have to ask: Why change your CPU at all? What is it that you do with it that absolutely requires shelling $150-$200 extra (on top of the costs associated with a new motherboard) for what is essentially no more than bragging rights?

Are you doing massive rendering? High-definition video capture and processing? Are you gaming at insane resolutions (1080p and above)?

You have a AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (Deneb) 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W quad-core processor. This processor might be a couple of years old, but it still kicks ass. In fact, it's better than what 90% of the other computer users on the planet are running every day. And it's a Socket AM3. So basically, any AM3 motherboard will make it hum along perfectly.

Save your money, mate.

That's a good deal on the 3770k, but the 3570k is cheaper and just as fast in gaming. If you're budget limited I'd get the 3570k since there is marginal boost in the 3770k and use the rest for an SSD or a better video card. Both those CPUs are a big step up from your 955. I made a similar move from a Core2Quad at 3ghz to a 4.4ghz 2500k and it was well worth it, but I made the change because BF3 was hitting my old CPU really hard. The core2quad was serving me well for everything else I was doing.

Without really knowing your use case, I agree with AnitaPeterson, for around $80 you could get a nice AM3+ motherboard and keep running the 955 which is a very nice processor. If you want more performance you could put an overclock on it. Or, you can add an SSD which improves your everyday usability by leaps and bounds.
 

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,298
23
81
Wait another 1-2 months until Intel launches Haswell. No sense at all building a whole new system today when next generation architecture is literally right around the corner.

EDIT: Is the problem that your slowly dying motherboard is getting there? If that's the case, I somewhat agree with Anita above, at least in the short-ish term. Buy an el-cheapo AM3 motherboard, transfer components and live with it for 3-6 months until Haswell launches and the early upgrade surcharge has died down (plus motherboard etc availability will be better). Then build a whole new box (or innards, or whatever) using Haswell and you're set for several years. Plus with this option you can likely sell the AMD parts more easily (functional motherboard can make a difference).
 
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blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
9,294
3,436
136
www.teamjuchems.com
Wait another 1-2 months until Intel launches Haswell. No sense at all building a whole new system today when next generation architecture is literally right around the corner.

EDIT: Is the problem that your slowly dying motherboard is getting there? If that's the case, I somewhat agree with Anita above, at least in the short-ish term. Buy an el-cheapo AM3 motherboard, transfer components and live with it for 3-6 months until Haswell launches and the early upgrade surcharge has died down (plus motherboard etc availability will be better). Then build a whole new box (or innards, or whatever) using Haswell and you're set for several years. Plus with this option you can likely sell the AMD parts more easily (functional motherboard can make a difference).

Haha, all those people with high-end Nehalem I7's were really crying when Sandybridge came out, right? Because all of sudden their last gen chips were junk.

Remember, this is Microcenter we are talking about. Why throw away $60 on a cheap board when he could flip his Phenom for $50, pretty easily I think, and get an i5 and Z77 board for $230 (or even less) on the cheap side? Seems like a poor time investment when he could start enjoying better performance today versus some months from now when MC has the new CPU's on special.
 

dlock13

Platinum Member
Oct 24, 2006
2,806
2
81
Wait another 1-2 months until Intel launches Haswell. No sense at all building a whole new system today when next generation architecture is literally right around the corner.

EDIT: Is the problem that your slowly dying motherboard is getting there? If that's the case, I somewhat agree with Anita above, at least in the short-ish term. Buy an el-cheapo AM3 motherboard, transfer components and live with it for 3-6 months until Haswell launches and the early upgrade surcharge has died down (plus motherboard etc availability will be better). Then build a whole new box (or innards, or whatever) using Haswell and you're set for several years. Plus with this option you can likely sell the AMD parts more easily (functional motherboard can make a difference).
Yes, and well, I just really want to upgrade my box.

Haha, all those people with high-end Nehalem I7's were really crying when Sandybridge came out, right? Because all of sudden their last gen chips were junk.

Remember, this is Microcenter we are talking about. Why throw away $60 on a cheap board when he could flip his Phenom for $50, pretty easily I think, and get an i5 and Z77 board for $230 (or even less) on the cheap side? Seems like a poor time investment when he could start enjoying better performance today versus some months from now when MC has the new CPU's on special.

So you're suggesting I get the 3570k and a good Z77 mobo?

I don't need the extra performance of the 3770k because I'm never going to be pushing my computer to it's limits. The most I'll ever probably do would be stream/Fraps with a secondary monitor. That's about it.
 

Face2Face

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2001
4,100
215
106
Why do you need a 3570K? Just take the Quad-core out of your Droid DNA and throw it in your desktop. Problem solved
 

dlock13

Platinum Member
Oct 24, 2006
2,806
2
81
Why? Because I want lasting power. That way when I upgrade, it'll be the video card next instead if another CPU.

Also, I wish I could, but this CPU won't run my desktop games. Haha.
 

dawp

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
11,347
2,709
136
Sorry to bump my old thread, but my birthday is coming up, and I'm planning on building a new PC totally. I lived with my mobo issues, and well, times has come.

Anyway, Microcenter has a 3770k for $229. I can pick that up for a total of 250 or so with tax. Think that's a good deal? Or should I stick with the 3570k? I'm not going to order or pick anything up until closer to the middle of March (when my birthday is).

I'd go with a 3570k, you'll get that for $190 and you can get $50 off certain boards, like the asrock z77 extreme4 for $80, making it less than $300 plus tax.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e055b2fc#/e055b2fc/33
 
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dawp

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
11,347
2,709
136
Awesome. I'm taking a look at this now. Thanks.

How is that motherboard by the way?

I have 2 of them, both with 3570k and are running great tho not overclocked. my son said he may try his in a bit.
 
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