Overwhelmed by choices and need helping picking a new CPU

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Royal_King

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Apr 4, 2012
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Greetings!

I'm looking at the next wave of PC gaming, and my current 2-core cpu is looking old. I'd like to play the new games (Batman: Arkham Origins, Assassins Creed: Black Flag, etc.) at their full potential. Batman especially is running a tad sluggish. Far as I can tell, it's my processor that's holding me back.

I've begun looking around, and the sheer volume of choices has overwhelmed me. I don't mind spending cash on my gaming, but I'm looking to keep it around $200. I'm flexible, so going over is okay if it's worth it. I read the cpu buyer's guide 2.0, but I'm still lost. I'd like to keep my cpu for a while, as upgrading often isn't really my thing.

My current set up is: PCPartPicker part list

Keeping my current motherboard, the Intel Core i5-3470 is looking appealing. However, if something like the i7-3770K would be significantly better, then I want to go with that.

If I get a new motherboard too, then would something like the 8-core, 4 Ghz AMD FX-8350 last me a long time? Is the AMD processor even good? I'm seriously lost. =(

So what should I do? Buy the i5? Buy the i7? Or should I get a new cpu/mb and pick something else? I need help.
 
Solution
Jake Wenta
If you are going to play multi core (6+ such as BF3 and 4) I'd go for AMD.
8320 would be my recommendation, if you can afford the 9590-don't get it(look at intel below).
Amd, great for multi tasking due to more cores, and great for performance/price.
More cores, less powerful.
Take more power, and get pretty hot.

Intel, If you are looking at the 9590, look at the i7-4770k.
i7 has hyperthreading, so 4 cores act like 8.
Performs better than the 9590 for about the same price.
Less cores, very powerful cores and lower TDP.
Overclocks about the same as AMD, (My opinion is AMD OC's more)
Better for more RAM and higher frequencies/lower timings & lower latency.
If you won't be playing such games like BF4 for octo cores-I'd recommend an...
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Jake Wenta

Jake Wenta

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Mar 13, 2013
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If you are going to play multi core (6+ such as BF3 and 4) I'd go for AMD.
8320 would be my recommendation, if you can afford the 9590-don't get it(look at intel below).
Amd, great for multi tasking due to more cores, and great for performance/price.
More cores, less powerful.
Take more power, and get pretty hot.

Intel, If you are looking at the 9590, look at the i7-4770k.
i7 has hyperthreading, so 4 cores act like 8.
Performs better than the 9590 for about the same price.
Less cores, very powerful cores and lower TDP.
Overclocks about the same as AMD, (My opinion is AMD OC's more)
Better for more RAM and higher frequencies/lower timings & lower latency.
If you won't be playing such games like BF4 for octo cores-I'd recommend an i5-4670k

To future proof your PC, I'd recommend AMD FX for the same budget of the i5.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. :)

But the cheapest solution is getting the i7 3770k, it is compatible with your board and you won't need a new motherboard or a new Windows License.
(Make sure to update your BIOS first)
And you can also get an aftermarket cooler such as the Hyper 212 EVO from Coolermaster. It performs better and quieter than the stock Intel cooler.

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)

And with that CPU-you may want to look into a new GPU :)
No idea on your budget, so for $300-look at a r9 280x, for $400-R9 290, for $550 R9 290x or 780, For $700 780ti.
For less, the 760 ...etc. :)
 
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Vacka

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Aug 10, 2013
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There is no reason you shouldn't go with a fx 8350. amd always favors budgets. Get the 8350 better overclocking than intel higher core clocks and double the cores of intels competition to the 8350. 8350 is better for multithreaded games which is pretty much all next gen games also u can edit like a boss and stream easily.
 
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Jake Wenta

Jake Wenta

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Mar 13, 2013
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Well, they compete to a point, price wise yes, but if he'd like to keep his motherboard he can get the i7-3770k. the 3770k and 4770k perform about the same.

http--www.gamegpu.ru-images-stories-Test_GPU-Action-Battlefield_4-test-bf4_proz_2.jpg

 
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Vacka

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u raise strong points but he is comparing the a10 6800k to the 8320 here is a benchmark that prooves so : http://cpuboss.com/cpus/AMD-FX-8320-vs-AMD-A10-6800K
 
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Vacka

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I think you are confusing this with another thread, because no one even mentioned the A10-6800k.[/quotemsg]

Oh c*** lol! Thought this was another thread I was on. Anyways the 8350 at 200$ is unbeatable in my opinion and since this is the budget of the asker he should definitely go with it
 
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Jake Wenta

Jake Wenta

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But you have to take into account a new motherboard-and for the 8350 to shine, he'd need a 990fx chipset and an aftermarket cooler is also a must as the FX series get hot.
And with a new motherboard, you need a new windows license if OEM since the motherboard counts as a new PC-and the license is non-transferable.
 
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Royal_King

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Apr 4, 2012
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I would very much like to future-proof my PC if I can. I'd rather just buy one thing and then come back when gaming passes me up again instead of upgrading-as-we-go. I want to use my current graphics card for a while longer (budgets and all that). So I know my next upgrade in the future will be the graphics card.

With that in mind, would you recommend the AMD FX-8350? If so, then I'll need a new motherboard. RAM doesn't seem to be that big a deal at the moment (BF4 is just now requiring 8gb) but I want to leave myself an option to go to 16 or higher when I need to. My current case is a mid-tower, so I have the physical room. I also want to leave myself open to upgrade the GPU easily. So what do you recommend for the motherboard?

Part-picker comes up with Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard for $30. That seems really cheap and I'm wondering what pitfall I'm missing here.

On the other hand, more expensive boards like MSI 970A-G46 ATX AM3+ Motherboard would let me run two video cards later.

What should I do? What board do you recommend?

Edit: I also have the full Win 7 license. Go me.
 
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Embra

Embra

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Get an i5 3570k, it will play games just as well as an i7. Save your money for a GPU upgrade later if you like.
Do not over pay for a cpu when you can upgrade your gpu. Games are much more gpu these days.
 
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Vacka

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I think that Jake Wenta is right. U shoudlnt go with the amd side, And if you save all the money on upgrading the motherboard and windows, You can easily afford the i7 and that is more futureproof than the amd side since it is hypertheaded and it blows the 8350 away
 
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Jake Wenta

Jake Wenta

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Mar 13, 2013
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Don't take a sentence out of context :)
The i7 3770k is a better choice, for the 8350 to compete, you'd need a good motherboard with a 990fx chipset running for 150+ and an aftermarket cooler.
But with those costs, you can just go for the i7 which will be compatible with your MoBo after a BIOS update.
And don't get an i5 simply because in newer games, the hyper threading really is a benefit and future proofing. i5 falls behind 8350 in newer games, anyone saying otherwise are just fanboys. (I go for facts and performance :) )
 
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