My CPU is bottlenecking my build. Suggested upgrades ? (budget)

Tatles · Nov 20, 2014

My specs are :
My PC specs are :
AMD Processor - AMD A10-5800K (Quad Core)
AMD Motherboard - MSI FM2-A55M-E33 {2 DDR3 Slots}
Memory - 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz
Primary Hard Drive - 500GB 7200RPM
1st Optical Drive - DVD Writer
Graphics Card - GTX 660 SC
Power Supply - Antec 550Watt
Operating System - Windows 7 Professional
Networking - Standard Onboard Ethernet
On a 1920x1080p Moniter.
Case - RAIDMAX Blade ATX-298WR

Would overclocking be cheaper/more effective or just buying a new processor. I know that since my mobo is a bit bad my upgrades are limited.. therefore I would have to buy another mobo and a processor and another Windows copy, however I'd like to avoid that if possible. Would overclocking be a solution ? Or would that make no difference at all. What should I do ?
P.S. I'm not a rich man

Thanks

Novuake · Nov 20, 2014

Your motherboard is not overclocking friendly...

Let me ask you like this, what games are you playing at what settings that you are unhappy with?

Tatles · Nov 20, 2014

Novuake :

Battlefield 4. Other than that I'll probably only play that and GTA V when it's released

Novuake · Nov 20, 2014

Settings? FPS results?

You do not have a very high end graphics card, so i am trying to determine what FPS you are getting and if there really is a bottleneck.

Tatles · Nov 20, 2014

Novuake :

Playing at Low settings getting below 50 frames on conquest large etc. Can only play TDM with frames above 50

-HH- · Nov 20, 2014

Okay so this is an idea. Changing your gfx card for an R7 series AMD card means you can crossfire it with your APU, no?

Novuake · Nov 20, 2014

Those seem about right for your resolution and multiplayer.

I do not think upgrading your CPU would give you a significant improvement, it will help for sure, but not much.

Tatles · Nov 20, 2014

-HH- :

Which R7 would you suggest?

Tatles · Nov 20, 2014

Novuake :

Would Overclocking be better than upgrading CPU ?

-HH- · Nov 20, 2014

best you can get, a 260X of sorts but that's only if you want to run the kharavi crossfire anyway, it's a bit out of my grasp to explain and maybe novuake can explain it a little better than I can but it should in theory mean you can play games a little better..

Another thing I'd suggest doing is cleaning your hard drive! Use Malware Bytes to do so! https://www.malwarebytes.org/

Novuake · Nov 20, 2014

Tatles :

As mentioned before, your motherboard is not designed to overclock at all.

Novuake · Nov 20, 2014

-HH- :

That would not help either.
In 99% of cases you get better and more consistant performance from a single more powerful card than adding a R7 that is capable of Xfire.

So the GTX660 would be better than xfire with an R7.

Tatles · Nov 20, 2014

Novuake :

So how should I go about this problem of mine ?

Novuake · Nov 20, 2014

Start by upgrading components.

Just do not expect massive improvements from a CPU upgrade.

I would start by getting a good graphics card. Something like an R9 280x or GTX970, it will give you the most performance increase.
But this will definitely bottleneck, so you will need to upgrade the CPU and motherboard at some stage too, so save up.

-HH- · Nov 20, 2014

if worse comes worse I'd upgrade the CPU as I'm currently running a 660 on a 3770K and I can play alot of games at very high settings though I think it's becoming weak with later realeases (Crysis games as per obvious, BL2 and more) but it's your choice on what you want to do!

Tatles · Nov 20, 2014

Novuake :

Since my GTX 660 is bottlenecked would getting a 970 really help ? Wouldn't I be seeing very little improvements if anything ?

Novuake · Nov 20, 2014

Tatles :

I am pretty sure its not a bottleneck. You are getting the frames you should.

As for a GTX970, it will definitely give you major improvement, but not what it SHOULD give you until you upgrade the CPU and motherboard as well.

Tatles · Nov 20, 2014

Novuake :

Tatles :

I am pretty sure its not a bottleneck. You are getting the frames you should.

As for a GTX970, it will definitely give you major improvement, but not what it SHOULD give you until you upgrade the CPU and motherboard as well.

Alright thanks a lot for the help

My CPU is bottlenecking my build. Suggested upgrades ? (budget)

Honorable

Champion

Honorable

Champion

Honorable

Dignified

Champion

Honorable

Honorable

Dignified

Champion

Champion

Honorable

Champion

Dignified

Honorable

Champion

Honorable

Share this page