Bad CPU But Good GPU = Gaming?

fyucel789

Honorable
Aug 25, 2013
11
0
10,510
Hey guys, I have an ancient computer from 2005 with an AMD Athlon 64 3700+ 2.4 GHz single core processor with an Asus K8V-X Socket 754 motherboard.
I plan to buy an Asus K8N4-E Deluxe motherboard for it. It has a PCI Express X16 slot, compared to the AGP 4X/8X my current motherboard has.

I already have a spare Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB GDDR5 video card lying around with me. If I get the motherboard and use the video card with my current CPU could I play games well?
 
Solution
From a gaming perspective, that is a waste of time, money and effort. You really need to upgrade the CPU as well even if it is only a modern low performance CPU, you will get a pretty large performance increase. Many popular games use 2 cores so having a single core CPU is a bottleneck. If you intend on playing the Sims 3 or Cities XL 2011/2012/2013 then what you propose is doable since those games only use one core.

In order to keep costs low, I will limit the cost of the CPU to $50 before shipping and taxes. Based on what's available at Newegg the best CPUs are the:

1. AMD A4-4000 Richland 3.2GHz Socket FM2 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor = $46 + Free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113343

2...

toddybody

Distinguished
I just saw a Linus Tech video with a review of gaming on different core counts. For some games @ one core, they wouldnt even start. For those that did, it was pretty obvious that a dual core CPU is the minimum standard for acceptable play-ability. I suppose its all about which games you want to play. ?
 

SirDrannik

Honorable
Jun 7, 2013
249
0
10,710
Maybe the older games, sure, it will run them at acceptable frame rates. I'd say, sell the system for cheap, get a new cpu and mobo, like those Budget Pentium CPUs, a cheap mobo and use the video card.
 
nope. that cpu is too old. like 10 years too old. dual core min, generally i'd say a quad core is really the best these days. how about you save a little cash and get yourself something modern rather then waste cash trying to squeeze life out of that old junk.
 

toddybody

Distinguished


I agree with the sentiment, but not a fan of labeling other people's rig as junk :pfff:
 



ok... how about i clarify it... I had an old Athlon 64 3000+ until i blew it up last summer. so i had even older junk. it was a good warhorse, but in comparison to modern cpus it was junk.
 

toddybody

Distinguished


Oh well, since ya' put it that way ;)
 

bigj1985

Distinguished
Mar 12, 2010
331
0
18,810
While it's generally a rule of thumb that the GPU is way more important than the CPU for most games not CPU bound; this doesn't mean you can use some crappy CPU from 2005 and think you will get any type of gaming experience. Whatever CPU you choose it needs to be at least powerful enough to drive a mid range GFX card. GFX cards take CPU cycles.

With that said any modern cheap i3/Phenom 2 from the past 2 years will give you a pretty good gaming experience.
 
From a gaming perspective, that is a waste of time, money and effort. You really need to upgrade the CPU as well even if it is only a modern low performance CPU, you will get a pretty large performance increase. Many popular games use 2 cores so having a single core CPU is a bottleneck. If you intend on playing the Sims 3 or Cities XL 2011/2012/2013 then what you propose is doable since those games only use one core.

In order to keep costs low, I will limit the cost of the CPU to $50 before shipping and taxes. Based on what's available at Newegg the best CPUs are the:

1. AMD A4-4000 Richland 3.2GHz Socket FM2 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor = $46 + Free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113343

2. Intel Celeron G1610 Ivy Bridge 2.6GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core = $50 + Free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116889

Even though the AMD A4 APU is clocked higher than the Intel Celeron, both should more or less be of equal performance. The Celeron may be slightly faster though. Since Intel released their Haswell CPU, socket 1155 (Sandy Bridge / Ivy Bridge) is basically dead. No new CPUs will be released for that socket. However, the same can also be said of socket FM2 used by AMD's Trinity and Richland APUs. Their next generation APU (Kaveri) will require a socket FM2+ motherboard. While it can physically fit in socket FM2, it lacks some circuitry required by Kaveri; possible a voltage regulator. For all intents and purposes socket 1155 and FM2 are dead.

Both A4 and Celeron cannot be overclocked. Both have integrated graphic cores. While the A4 has better integrated graphics compared to the Celeron, you are installing your own card. Therefore this point is moot. The only other thing is power consumption, Intel CPUs generally are more power efficient than AMD's APUs and CPUs.

The future upgrade path for the Celeron is an i5-4670 which basically Intel's most powerful quad core i5 CPU that cannot be overclocked. The best socket FM2 APU is the A10-6800k. While it can be overclocked it would still be slower than the i5-4670 and will also consume more power as well. While the i5-4670 is more powerful than the A10-6880 it is also more expensive. The good thing is that if you eventually want more power than an A10-6800k can provide, then going down the Intel route is the better option.
 
Solution