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Is my GPU used to its full potential?

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  • GPUs
  • CPUs
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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December 12, 2013 10:33:49 AM

Hi, im building a budget gaming pc. The CPU ive been looking at is an A10 6800K which is £115 and the GPU im considering is the Radeon HD 7870 for £140.

What im wondering is; is my CPU good enough to get the most out of the 7870?

Also the motherboard im now looking at is the Asus F2A85-M, is this suitable? Or do I need a PCI express 3.0 ?

Thanks

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December 12, 2013 10:39:38 AM

Don't get that apu (it's not called a cpu). That isn't really designed to use a discrete gpu as a decent one is built onto it. For 115 pounds you should be able to get an FX-6300 or better. Newegg has an 8320 on sale for around $130 right now, but I have no idea what prices are like in your neck of the woods. Also, don't get a 7870. Get an R9-270x instead. They're pretty equal in terms of power, but the 270x is cheaper. Just so you know, the 6300 will need a different motherboard. If you pick a website you want to buy it from I can give you some ideas.
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December 12, 2013 11:23:52 AM

^Agree since you are using a discrete GPU get a FX-6300 or FX-8320 if you can afford it and a good AM3+ motherboard.
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December 12, 2013 2:10:04 PM

thanks a lot for your quick replies. Think i will look at the FX-6300.
Thanks again.
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December 12, 2013 3:13:27 PM

wanderer11 said:
Don't get that apu (it's not called a cpu). That isn't really designed to use a discrete gpu as a decent one is built onto it. For 115 pounds you should be able to get an FX-6300 or better. Newegg has an 8320 on sale for around $130 right now, but I have no idea what prices are like in your neck of the woods. Also, don't get a 7870. Get an R9-270x instead. They're pretty equal in terms of power, but the 270x is cheaper. Just so you know, the 6300 will need a different motherboard. If you pick a website you want to buy it from I can give you some ideas.


Hi, thanks for the reply, as you can probably tell im pretty new to this. So ive decided to go for the r9 270 (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Card...) and the FX-8320 (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-fx-8320-black-editio...).

Ive also been looking for motherboards, would something like this be ok? http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/...

and if not any suggestions would really be appreciated.

Thanks again.

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December 13, 2013 3:34:40 AM

Those all look fine. Could you afford to spent another 25-30 pounds and get a Coolermaster 212 Evo to cool that cpu?
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December 14, 2013 4:15:35 AM

Yeah, I could afford to get that. But why do I need it? Is the stock cooler not good enough?

And if its to do with overclocking; I am thinking about trying to overclock, but not straight away. Is it possible to stick with the standard cooler for now and upgrade later?
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December 14, 2013 4:22:53 AM

The standard cooler should do fine for a non-overclocked CPU, but not for an overclocked CPU.
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