What is the best AM2+ CPU?

Toncey · Jul 23, 2013

I'm 14 years old and on my birthday I plan to upgrade my stone-age ACER Desktop.

My current Aspire E380 config consists of:
- 2GB DDR2 RAM
- AMD Athlon AM2 64 X2 4400+ 2.3GHZ
- AMD Radeon HD 6450 GDDR3 1GB
- 250W PSU

I will have to re-flash my bios to allow AM2+ processors and I was wondering what is the best budget one, or best if that's what it takes. The upgrades I plan to make are as is:

- AMD Radeon HD 7750 GDDR5 1GB
- 2GB DDR2 RAM
- AMD Phenom II Processor
- Power Supply (only if necessary; looking for 69/85 watt CPU)

Onus · Jul 23, 2013

CAN your OEM motherboard be flashed? Make sure to confirm that will work before attempting it. If the flash works, then the most reasonable choice right now at Newegg looks to be the Athlon II X4 640: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871 for $80. That's a 95W CPU, but you should be ok with a HD7750 unless it's a Bestec -12E, in which case you need to replace it.

Toncey · Jul 23, 2013

I'm supposed to be getting an extra $125 before my birthday so what should I get first in your opinion? CPU or GPU?

Swordkd · Jul 23, 2013

How much money will you have to spend? Looking at your list of upgrade parts...I'm thinking you could almost just replace the core components completely.

Toncey · Jul 23, 2013

Oh, and it is confirmed that my bios is flash-able. I just hope I don't screw up while doing it.

Toncey · Jul 23, 2013

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GH - 80.00
2GB DDR2 RAM - 38.00
Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 GDDR5 - 95.00

And maybe a 40 dollar power supply if any problems arise, which I don't think will happen.

Swordkd · Jul 23, 2013

Assuming your power supply can work with this, how about:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.97 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Asus F2A55-M LK PLUS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($64.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($40.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $255.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-23 18:09 EDT-0400)

I'm not too familiar with the FM2 socket family. What I do know though, I'd expect this to at least give you similar performance with the ability to be upgraded more easily down the road.

Toncey · Jul 23, 2013

Hmm 125 from job, 80 from Mom, 50 from Aunt, and maybe more from cousings... 250 exactly, and then I'll just have to save up for GPU. I can handle 1024x768 in windowed mode for a while. The only games I really play are Assassin's Creed games, The Elder Scrolls, and of course, ROBLOX.

Toncey · Jul 23, 2013

Last year I got a 10 dollar ROBLOX card, nothing else. So in the likely chance that the cheap bastards do not deliver, I will just load money into my paypal account whenever I can, maybe do some jobs; gardening, newspapers, etc.

Swordkd · Jul 23, 2013

Changed it up a little bit. Apparently the 6800k isn't worth the money over the 5800k, which gives you enough space to add a cpu cooler. This will not only speed up your pc, but will give you better performance from the graphaics onboard the cpu. Also swapped out the memory because I didn't realize the one I linked was only cas 10. Memory plays a much bigger role with the Apu's.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($122.68 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A85XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $261.64
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-23 18:56 EDT-0400)

Toncey · Jul 23, 2013

Will the mobo work with my case automatically? In terms of fitting and the slot covers on the back of the case, etc.

Swordkd · Jul 23, 2013

unless you have a PC case that only fits micro atx, it'll fit just fine. the advantage with getting the apu is you can get a 7750 later and crossfire them. i also think it'll give you a setup that will pay you longer to you can put some more money in and seriously upgrade.

Toncey · Jul 24, 2013

Although DDR4 memory will be out by the time I can afford this setup, at least I finally have a solid plan. Thanks for this bro

Onus · Jul 24, 2013

If you're trying to save every dollar you can, get the Xigmatek Gaia instead. Frostytech found that it cools within 1C of the more commonly mentioned Hyper212 EVO, but it is up to 6db quieter, and right now is no more than $25 (at Newegg). I use them on my rigs, and they work well.

Toncey · Jul 24, 2013

Ok these upgrades should give me quite the cushy spot for gaming at 720p (I'm too cheap to get a new monitor)

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What is the best AM2+ CPU?

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