Hesitation on a low to mid end gaming CPU (FX6xxx, FX8xxx, I5, I3)

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hammerer

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Feb 5, 2013
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Hey guys, thanks in advance for reading me out.

I'm looking for a new CPU and Mobo upgrade. Here are the criteria and specifications I fixed myself:
I'm looking for something that's future proof. I know it doesn't go with "low-budget", but I don't mind eventually spending a little more for the added long term security;


1.All I will do with my computer is game and I don't care about many cores if I won't use them;
2.I'm very open to overclocking;
3.For now, it will be paired with a GTX660;

Being a student, I'm on a fairly tight budget. I looked up some prices and I'm wondering if 150$ would be a realistic target? Here are the few I've spotted up to date:

FX 6350 @ 135$: The only reason I'm not going for a 8xxx, is that I don't need the additional cores for gaming. It's at a very affordable price and I heard it's great for overclocking.
Intel I3 4xxx: I just realized they're dual core, should I consider them?
Intel I5: I hear they're the best bang for the buck these days, thought even the cheapest ones bust my budget.

My main concerns: by overclocking an AMD cpu, may I reach the performance level of an i5? Also, I'm told GPUs are what usually bottleneck builds these days, does that mean CPU usage for gaming has reached a kind of peak?


Thanks again everyone.
 
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DonQuixoteMC


Essentially, it works like this: Your GPU is the renderer, it does all the heavy lifting to put an image on your screen. The CPU's job is to "feed" the GPU data. If the CPU cannot give data to the GPU fast enough, then performance will suffer, because the GPU won't have the stuff to out on the screen and it will have to wait.

Now, for the FX-6300, it's pretty good at feeding GPUs. That said, some overclocking couldn't hurt.
With your current GPU, it will be fine.

For your hardware, as long as the GPU can handle the game, the CPU will be able to keep up.
When it comes to future titles, I think it will be your...
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Sep 19, 2011
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I strongly support your choice of the FX-6350. You won't see any difference with a stronger AMD or Intel processor, and the 6350 won't bottleneck your GPU either. I'd say that's a good pairing. The overclocking you plan to do will also help with future proofing.

 
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hammerer

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Feb 5, 2013
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"For your dollar, the Core i5 has no competition above $160. At $130, the Core i3-3220 is tough to beat. It no longer humiliates the FX line-up in games thanks to AMD's most recent architectural update, but it's still cheaper, faster, and more power-friendly than most of the Vishera-based models."

I just read this on this site, although the article was not too recent (FEBRUARY 11, 2013). Is this still true? Do you think it considers OCing?

I pretty much made up my mind for the 6350, what motherboard should I pair it with? Oh, and will my 500w PSU be enough?
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Sure there are better CPUs for gaming than the 6350, but since the 6350 won't bottleneck your GTX 660 there's no point in buying a stronger CPU. That's why I think the 6350 and GTX 660 make such a good pair. Heck, even go for the FX-6300. It's essentially a throttled, cheaper version of the 6350. You can make up the difference with a little bit of overclocking. :)

And I think your 500W PSU will be sufficient, wattage wise. If it's SUPER low quality, it could fail under heavy load, but that's more of a consideration than a concern. Just pay attention to any signs of stability and you'll be fine!

As for the motherboard, I'm personally planning to get a GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3P with the FX-6300. I think it'll make a good combination for a budget-ish build.

I hope that helps!

DonQuixoteMC
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Sep 19, 2011
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Essentially, it works like this: Your GPU is the renderer, it does all the heavy lifting to put an image on your screen. The CPU's job is to "feed" the GPU data. If the CPU cannot give data to the GPU fast enough, then performance will suffer, because the GPU won't have the stuff to out on the screen and it will have to wait.

Now, for the FX-6300, it's pretty good at feeding GPUs. That said, some overclocking couldn't hurt.
With your current GPU, it will be fine.

For your hardware, as long as the GPU can handle the game, the CPU will be able to keep up.
When it comes to future titles, I think it will be your GPU that will determine the performance. I don't think you have to worry about your CPU, unless suddenly developers drastically change how games are coded. If that makes any sense.

Let me know if I explained anything terribly :p

DonQuixoteMC
 
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