Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

$300-$350 System Upgrade - CPU and Mobo *or* GPU

Tags:
  • GPUs
  • Cooling
  • CPUs
  • Motherboards
Last response: in Systems
Share
September 15, 2014 6:18:39 PM

Hi guys, long time visitor, first time poster here.

I’m about to upgrade my system, this coming weekend. My current specs are:

CPU: AMD FX-4170
http://www.frys.com/product/7018861?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
Motherboard: GIGABYTE 970A-DS3 rev 3 – Bios updated to FD version
http://www.frys.com/product/7259643?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
GPU: Diamond Viper HD 7770 1 GB GDDR5 (R7 250X)
http://www.frys.com/product/7144692?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
RAM: Corsair DDR3-1600 / PC3-12800 8 GB (4 GB x 2)
http://www.frys.com/product/6410762?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
SSD: Samsung SSD 840 120 GB
http://www.frys.com/product/7395054?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
HDD: WD Green WD10EZRX 1Tb
http://www.frys.com/product/7186652?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
Optic Drive: LG DVD-RW
http://www.frys.com/product/8169695?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
PSU: Antec Earthwatts EA-750 (purchased more recently than rest of components from Newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
CPU Cooler: SilenX EFZ-100HA2 100mm
http://www.frys.com/product/6998437?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
Case: Enermax Ostrog
http://www.frys.com/product/7363704?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
Case Fans: Antec True Quiet Pro 120mm (x5, 2 Side, 2 top, 1 rear)
http://www.frys.com/product/7003311?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
Monitor: HP 2709m (3 years old but still working great)
http://www.amazon.com/HP-2709m-27-Inch-Diagonal-Monitor...

Approximate Purchase Date: This weekend (09/20/14)

Budget Range: $300-$350 before any rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Casual Gaming, Movies/Streaming Video, Web Surfing

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: CPU, Motherboard, if needed, GPU, if motherboard is not needed, CPU cooling, if needed

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: frys.com (Intent is to physically go to our local store)
http://www.frys.com

Location: Portland, OR USA

Parts Preferences: AMD and ATI for type, I prefer Gigabyte or Asus for brand when applicable, but am open to other brands as well, if highly recommended

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: My current system is extremely quiet and maintains temperatures well within safe ranges, I’d like to keep it that way. I primarily play Minecraft and random MMOs (currently Elder Scrolls Online, Planetside 2, and Everquest Landmark Beta,) as well as various other games less frequently (Rust, Thief)

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I am experiencing a considerable amount of lag while playing Landmark even on low settings (primarily due to it being un-optimized probably) and I’d prefer to run what other games I do play on higher graphic settings.


I have plans on going with an AMD 8350.
http://www.frys.com/product/7355914?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...

The first question I pose to you all would be, will the 8350 work with the 970A-DS3 rev. 3, or would it be advisable to purchase a different motherboard. I’ve read a couple prior posts here concerning the 970A-DS3, but they seem to have outdated or conflicting information. I don’t want to risk frying anything, with the CPU requiring 125w. Kind of a “Just because I *can* put the CPU in the motherboard, doesn’t necessarily mean I should” type situation. So does the rev. 3 version of this motherboard safely support 125w CPUs?

My second question is; if I can continue using my current mobo that allows me to instead upgrade my video card, if my budget justifies it. Meaning, if I am only going to be able to afford a minimal upgrade, I may as well hold off until I can afford a larger more meaningful upgrade. With my budget I can probably do a 260X 2 GB GPU. Will the performance increase be enough to justify the upgrade, or should l just stick with the current 7770/250X 1 GB.

Lastly, my current SilenX CPU cooler has done just fine with the FX-4170 but I worry that the upgraded FX-8350 may be to much for it. Does anyone have any insight on the performance of my cooler when used on a 125w CPU? Should I upgrade this as well?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and advice.

More about : 300 350 system upgrade cpu mobo gpu

Best solution

September 15, 2014 6:41:10 PM

you could grab a gigabyte r9 270x https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvr92... and an fx 6300 https://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd6300wmhkbox and come in at 260, just make sure the socket on your mobo will accept the 6300.
or you can get the r9 280x https://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-10036... and still be in budget at $350 or $355 dollars
Share
September 16, 2014 2:09:17 AM

Thanks for the reply Jdogz427. Based on yours comments, I have actually done some additional research and now I'm fully unsure which route to pursue... lol

The clock speed of my current 4170 is 4.2 while the clock speed on the 8350 is only 4.0 (recall I have no intentions to OC.) I know that the majority of current games are not programmed to utilize multiple cores, so is having an 8 core processor really just a waste when I already have a solid 4 core, in a stable system? Will I garnish a justifiable improvement over the 4 core processor? Then there's also the question of, if I decide to stay with a quad core, should I switch to the 4350 to benefit from vishera over bulldozer architecture?

And if I stayed with my 4170 and just used my full budget to upgrade to a good R9 280x, will the GPU then be bottlenecked at all by the processor?

I'm so confused now, haha..
m
0
l
Related resources
September 16, 2014 4:01:57 AM

I'm not sure why you would even try to upgrade the MoBo, it still accepts all AM3+ cpus.

Have you tried getting another 7770 for a crossfire rig? With another 7770 you can get an FX-9590 cpu.

EDIT: Ok, so I missed it when you said that you didn't want a crossfire config. In that case, I suggest going ahead with the 280x. The 280x is not that powerful, you should worry about bottlenecks if you decide to get a 295.

EDIT2: You can even get a 290x if you want. Bottlenecks starts to appear on Phenom X6 cpus.
http://www.techspot.com/review/734-battlefield-4-benchm...
m
0
l
a b à CPUs
a b V Motherboard
September 16, 2014 10:37:31 AM

my suggestion is to go ahead and get the 6300 for $110 or so, then get a R9 280 or R9 285
m
0
l
September 16, 2014 6:23:48 PM

So I have decided on the suggested 6300 and 280.. my next concern would be, with the afore mentioned CPU cooler be sufficient for the 6300 still? I've never had a stitch of trouble from it

CPU Cooler: SilenX EFZ-100HA2 100mm
http://www.frys.com/product/6998437?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN...
m
0
l
a b à CPUs
a b V Motherboard
September 17, 2014 3:16:09 AM

should be fine.
m
0
l
September 17, 2014 10:28:09 AM

thanks guys I appreciate all the help
m
0
l
!