Upgrading CPU/Mobo Help

GodReignz · Oct 16, 2014

Hi guys,

Haven't been in touch with the hardware world for quite some time now. About 2 months ago my gfx card decided to say good bye and I got myself the Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Tri-X. It cost me a lot of money.

Anyways, for some interest sake I loaded a couple of graphics intensive games (Metro 2033, Crysis, Rome 2 etc.) and noticed some terrible frame rates. Think the average on Metro was like 17 fps...

Now my first thought was that it could not possibly be the gfx card, so now I'm looking for help from the experts (you guys)

I still have the Core i5 750 cpu and some average motherboard (msi something) with 1 pci slot and 2 dual channel memory slots running 8gb corsair vengeance 1600mhz

Now unless I am wrong, do you also think the cpu and motherboard are the reason for my bottleneck? If so, at what upgrade options can I look? Not looking to spend more than $400

Thanks guys

Ghost24 · Oct 16, 2014

Hi there,

With that gpu you should get more fps that is certain. And yeah, actually the cpu and motherboard can bottleneck your rig. That cpu at 2.66 doesn't really cut it to be honest. For $400 you can easily get an i5-4690 for example complete with a very good z97 mobo. That would be my recommendation.

niko24 · Oct 16, 2014

Hi there,

What PSU do you have?
Also this i5 is not good nowadays, even if that problem is about PSU thing I would suggest you to upgrade CPU.

CPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54590 , for OC: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k
Mobo: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-h87pro4 , for OC: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z87g45gaming

Have a nice day

prit87 · Oct 16, 2014

Its the CPU which is holding back the GPU or bottlenecking it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $388.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-16 06:33 EDT-0400

prit87 · Oct 16, 2014

niko24 :

Z87 is not compatible with i5 4690k you have to update the BIOS to make that work.
(Z87 boards are fopr haswel processor and 4690k is a haswel refresh processor.)

bsod1 · Oct 16, 2014

are you gonna overclock? I am assuming not.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($76.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $296.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-16 06:36 EDT-0400

niko24 · Oct 16, 2014

prit87 :

Is that a problem to update BIOS? And btw latest model could be already with updated BIOS so I see now problem, Z87 is an option too (very affordable option I would say)

GodReignz · Oct 16, 2014

Thanks gentlemen!! Will definitely have a look at that CPU. So I take it AMD fell out of the market completely? (For gaming at least)

bsod1 · Oct 16, 2014

GodReignz :

in a way, yes unless you're going budget + want to do streaming and make use of the extra cores.

prit87 · Oct 16, 2014

niko24 :

prit87 :

Is that a problem to update BIOS? And btw latest model could be already with updated BIOS so I see now problem, Z87 is an option too (very affordable option I would say)

No any z87 you get comes with the same BIOS you have to manually update the BIOS which is a hassle for no reason when you can get the z97 for the same price as z87 board.

prit87 · Oct 16, 2014

GodReignz :

Yes intel is lot better than AMD when it comes to gaming but you should go with the unlocked processor so that after few years when the processor gets slower you can OC it to 4.5-6 and avoid the bottlenecks.

Ghost24 · Oct 16, 2014

GodReignz :

Actually I always hear they are fine, but the thing is you can't go wrong with intel, and these newer devil's canyon cpus are well priced for their performance.

So yeah, an i5-4690 or 4690K for just gaming (K for overclocking) or
an i7-4790 or 4790K for heavy multitasking or video editing besides gaming.

And of couse a z97 mobo, at wich you really can't go wrong either you buy asrock,asus,gigabyte etc..

niko24 · Oct 16, 2014

prit87 :

niko24 :

No any z87 you get comes with the same BIOS you have to manually update the BIOS which is a hassle for no reason when you can get the z97 for the same price as z87 board.

I dont think so. If this a new revison that could possibly be already updated to the latest BIOS.

prit87 · Oct 16, 2014

niko24 :

prit87 :

I dont think so. If this a new revison that could possibly be already updated to the latest BIOS.

there is no reason to buy the z87 over the z97 when they are equally priced plus i know what i am saying z87 needs a BIOS update for haswel refresh processor.

GodReignz · Oct 16, 2014

Ghost24 :

Are there any standout z97 mobo's? What's the key difference between z97 and h97?

I am currently looking at:

http://www.wootware.co.za/asrock-fatal1ty-h97-performance-intel-h97-chipset-lga1150-atx-desktop-motherboard.html

http://www.wootware.co.za/asrock-fatal1ty-z97-killer-intel-z97-chipset-socket-1150-atx-desktop-motherboard.html

http://www.wootware.co.za/gigabyte-ga-z97x-gaming-3-intel-z97-chipset-lga1150-haswell-atx-desktop-motherboard.html

http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z97-gaming-3-intel-z97-chipset-socket-1150-atx-desktop-motherboard.html

bsod1 · Oct 16, 2014

the main difference is that in z97, you can overclock. you use the 'k' series unlcoked processors with z97 and overclock

Ghost24 · Oct 16, 2014

bsod1 :

Yep, that's basically it

GodReignz · Oct 16, 2014

I see. Thanks gents, z97 it is..

So there's no way I can get an i7 with that money

GodReignz · Oct 16, 2014

If anyone has any more suggestions on the mobo (as in which z97) it would be appreciated.

prit87 · Oct 16, 2014

GodReignz :

If this upgrade is for gaming only then going for an I7 is a waste of money i5 4690k will match the i7 when it comes to gaming.

And for z97 board go for what i have suggested earlier gigabyte gaming 5 its a excellent board SLI capable at reasonable price.

GodReignz · Oct 16, 2014

prit87 :

Thanks man!

Seems I might have some extra cash, you think this one will be worth it?- or will I not really benefit that much compared to the gigabyte?

http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-maximus-vii-hero-intel-z97-chipset-socket-1150-atx-desktop-motherboard.html

prit87 · Oct 16, 2014

GodReignz :

Thats a good board but i will say dont spend so much on a motherboard high end motherboard doesn't gives you more performance in anything just they have good thermals and few extra features so i will say spent the extra cash on something more useful like getting a SSD or some more fans or fan controller for your case.

Upgrading CPU/Mobo Help

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