Dear forumers,
My build is currently AMD Phenom II X4 945, 16 Gb RAM and Radeon 7950. I use this PC mainly for surfing the internet, modest gaming and basic Office usage. (I'm a heavy browser, typically I have 200+ tabs at any given time).
I'd like to upgrade my CPU, but the problem is my mobo only supports 95 W. I currently have M5A78L-MLE (socket AM3+). I do not seek to change the mobo (too much hassle and I do like the small mobo), and as such I am only limited to 95 W CPUs.
So the question is, what sort of CPU would you recommend? I am looking at AMD FX-8300. When it comes to PC, I am the sort of a cheap person that would try to make the most of it. My last PC was an Acer 4720 G that I used until the end of last year (still functioning btw).
The thing is, I don't know how long Phenom II will be relevant before it becomes completely obsolete and outdated. I intend to keep using this PC for at least 5 years (with minimal or no upgrading). And within that 5 years, I am expecting my PC to at least be able to play the latest game and to withstand my browsing habits without being too slow (it doesn't have to run on the highest setting)...which led me to purchasing the extra RAM.
Also. I'd like to keep power consumption and temperature modest (reason why I chose Radeon 7950 over 7970).
I am quite convinced that the 8 core FX-8300 would be able to hold its own for quite some time.
In the future I might want to do some Matlab programming and some engineering design. I am not aiming for future-proof. All I want is decent value for my PC. (next time I build a new PC I won't feel so bad, but of course after I squeeze every cent out of my current build)
Besides, a lot of energy is used in making (small) semiconductor devices (not to mention the waste generated). It's really unsustainable to upgrade so often. Really appreciate your advice and thanks for your input.
My build is currently AMD Phenom II X4 945, 16 Gb RAM and Radeon 7950. I use this PC mainly for surfing the internet, modest gaming and basic Office usage. (I'm a heavy browser, typically I have 200+ tabs at any given time).
I'd like to upgrade my CPU, but the problem is my mobo only supports 95 W. I currently have M5A78L-MLE (socket AM3+). I do not seek to change the mobo (too much hassle and I do like the small mobo), and as such I am only limited to 95 W CPUs.
So the question is, what sort of CPU would you recommend? I am looking at AMD FX-8300. When it comes to PC, I am the sort of a cheap person that would try to make the most of it. My last PC was an Acer 4720 G that I used until the end of last year (still functioning btw).
The thing is, I don't know how long Phenom II will be relevant before it becomes completely obsolete and outdated. I intend to keep using this PC for at least 5 years (with minimal or no upgrading). And within that 5 years, I am expecting my PC to at least be able to play the latest game and to withstand my browsing habits without being too slow (it doesn't have to run on the highest setting)...which led me to purchasing the extra RAM.
Also. I'd like to keep power consumption and temperature modest (reason why I chose Radeon 7950 over 7970).
I am quite convinced that the 8 core FX-8300 would be able to hold its own for quite some time.
In the future I might want to do some Matlab programming and some engineering design. I am not aiming for future-proof. All I want is decent value for my PC. (next time I build a new PC I won't feel so bad, but of course after I squeeze every cent out of my current build)
Besides, a lot of energy is used in making (small) semiconductor devices (not to mention the waste generated). It's really unsustainable to upgrade so often. Really appreciate your advice and thanks for your input.