Which CPU is best for me?

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 15, 2014

I am a gamer and i want to upgrade my CPU. Right now my processor is an AMD FX 8320. It has served me well but i think it's now the bottleneck of my rig. Before i go picking out the best CPU i can get, i want to know if it can be supported by my motherboard, the gigabyte 970A-DS3. my budget is about £200 however i could go over by about £100 (maybe). what is the best CPU i can buy.

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

How do you say there is a bottleneck?

Eduello · Jul 15, 2014

You'll need a new board (and a new Windows license) if you really want an upgrade. What are the specs of your current PC?

Artur96 · Jul 15, 2014

How powerful is your power supply? Because you could pay a bit over 200 pounds and get the FX 9590

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

Eduello :

I don't think OP needs an upgrade for his PC. But how come a motherboard upgrade would be helpful?

Scremin34Egl · Jul 15, 2014

An fx 8320 should not be bottlenecking any card

What are your specs ?

Eduello · Jul 15, 2014

MostWantedSoulRider :

I meant CPU-wise. The OP was asking for a more powerful CPU, and there's really no point in getting the FX-8350, so getting an LGA1150 board and an Intel CPU would be the only choice. I'm not saying that the OP needs to upgrade his/her CPU, but a new motherboard would be the only way of doing that if it turns out that the CPU is indeed the bottleneck.

@Artur96: Not with that motherboard.

Artur96 · Jul 15, 2014

Eduello :

MostWantedSoulRider :

I meant CPU-wise. The OP was asking for a more powerful CPU, and there's really no point in getting the FX-8350, so getting an LGA1150 board and an Intel CPU would be the only choice. I'm not saying that the OP needs to upgrade his/her CPU, but a new motherboard would be the only way of doing that if it turns out that the CPU is indeed the bottleneck.

@Artur96: Not with that motherboard.

You're right, didn't look at the CPU support list of that motherboard.
OP, you need to upgrade your motherboard if you want to have access to higher end CPUs then.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 15, 2014

Ok my specs:
CPU: AMD FX 8320
GPU: XFX Radeon 7870
RAM: 8GB Corsair vengence
PSU: 600W Cooler master
Motherboard: Gigabyte 970a-ds3
I think thats it!

Artur96 · Jul 15, 2014

19_BlackOut_455 :

What do you mean by bottleneck? Do you game or something?

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

Eduello :

MostWantedSoulRider :

I meant CPU-wise. The OP was asking for a more powerful CPU, and there's really no point in getting the FX-8350, so getting an LGA1150 board and an Intel CPU would be the only choice. I'm not saying that the OP needs to upgrade his/her CPU, but a new motherboard would be the only way of doing that if it turns out that the CPU is indeed the bottleneck.

@Artur96: Not with that motherboard.

Sorry, Eduello. I didn't get you. How does a CPU becomes a bottleneck with the motherboard?

Eduello · Jul 15, 2014

Yeah, if this is gaming we're talking about, your bottleneck in most games is the GPU.

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

If gaming, there is a pretty easy way to determine a bottleneck between CPU and GPU -

> Just run the game with the native resolution and concentrate on your game's FPS. (Use Fraps http://www.fraps.com)

> After awhile, reduce the resolution and observe the boost in the number of frames.

> Should you say yes, there is no room for the word 'Bottleneck'.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 15, 2014

I game so on some more spec demanding games, i think my cpu is the thing i need to upgrade. i say bottleneck because i think my cpu is the weakspot

Eduello · Jul 15, 2014

MostWantedSoulRider :

Eduello :

Sorry, Eduello. I didn't get you. How does a CPU becomes a bottleneck with the motherboard?

I didn't mean that the CPU becomes the bottleneck with that motherboard, I meant that this particular motherboard doesn't support almost anything more powerful than the OP already has.

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

19_BlackOut_455 :

If you feel your processor is weak, then afford a least expensive H87 Chipset board with i5 4570/4670.

Gaming needs a better single core performance. AMD is weak in it. Intel is a better option. Also AMD FX processors are almost dead, no future proof at all.

Eduello · Jul 15, 2014

19_BlackOut_455 :

Try playing your games on the lowest possible settings while monitoring CPU usage with task manager. If the games are still laggy and the CPU usage is 100% (or close to it), you can be sure that the CPU is the bottleneck.

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

Eduello :

MostWantedSoulRider :

I didn't mean that the CPU becomes the bottleneck with that motherboard, I meant that this particular motherboard doesn't support almost anything more powerful than the OP already has.

Oh ok, I got it.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 15, 2014

its not that the games are lagging. they run fine on high settings. i just want to future proof my system for upcoming games!

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

19_BlackOut_455 :

For future proof, please read the following -

If you feel your processor is weak, then afford a least expensive H87 Chipset board with i5 4570/4670.

Gaming needs a better single core performance. AMD is weak in it. Intel is a better option. Also AMD FX processors are almost dead, no future proof at all.

Scremin34Egl · Jul 15, 2014

19_BlackOut_455 :

What games ?, what settings ?, what fps ?, some aren't optimized well and perform bad. I don't see anything wrong with that cpu

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

Scremin34Egl :

There are few differences while gaming in ultra settings. I had AMD before and I had lot of frame drops in fx 6300 in which a cheap intel processor beats the FX by rendering a butter-smooth gaming performance.

As said, Intel's per core performance is the key.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 15, 2014

if i wanted to buy an intel i7 4770k do i have to upgrade my motherboard. if so to what?

MostWantedSoulRider · Jul 15, 2014

19_BlackOut_455 :

A motherboard doesn't play a role in giving performance in games. It's just like a basement for building up with a good quality of bricks. So, you can afford a cheap H87/B85 Chipset board in which Gigabyte is considered to be a better brand.

LookItsRain · Jul 15, 2014

The 8320 is fine, what are the rest of the specs. NVM see post above
I dont see a bottleneck in your system specs. Unless something is broken.

Which CPU is best for me?

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