APU dual graphics or r7 250 + g3258?

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

Title really. I've done some research and although originally I had just released the possibility of an APU, this looks kind of promising with it offering 60 fps on med/high settings compared to 30 on low with the pentium.

Thoughts? Anyone got a cpu + mobo + ram for $150 for an apu?

Saif Uv · Feb 16, 2015

Definitely the G3258(50$ at microcenter) + R7 250X (70$ on amazon). what is the APU you are talking about ?? If you overclock (even on stock cooling) G3258 Then it will surely outmatch any APU in that budget.

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

Forgot to mention I already have the r7 250. I was looking at an a10-770k/7850k.

I saw a 7700k somewhere for $75, seems like a good deal to me tbh

Calculagator · Feb 16, 2015

I've never used dual graphics with an APU, but I've read quite a bit because I find the idea fascinating. Unfortunately, from what I've read it seems that "dual graphics" is just marketing hype. It may provide a small boost for laptop use, but for desktops, dual graphics is limited to R7 250 performance in all but a few edge cases. The Gddr5 version of the R7 250 with an intel CPU actually outperforms a dual graphics system.

DonkeyOatie · Feb 16, 2015

Research dual graphics thoroughly. It is an interesting idea that tends to deliver less than it promises.

This is the sort of configuration you need PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M-HD+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: GeIL EVO Veloce Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($68.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $213.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-16 10:10 EST-0500

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($68.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Team Xtreem Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $173.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-16 10:15 EST-0500

The APU is superior, but when you add a GPU, the extra $40 will tell in favor of the Pentium.

Saif Uv · Feb 16, 2015

Yeah the 7700k is better than the G3258 but only 16% its a quad core while G3258 is dual core . Imo 2 stronger cores are better than 4 weak cores. Also the socket of 7700k is obsolete. If you`d like to upgrade later to a stronger processor (i5/i7) without having to change the motherboard. Go for the G3258
Also it may just outmatch the 7700k if you overclock it to 4.0+ on stock cooling.
I would personally go with G3258.

DonkeyOatie · Feb 16, 2015

We need to know what you are trying to do before we can give the best advice. What do you have, what do you want to keep, what do you want to run, and how much money do you want to spend?

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

I've done quite a bit of research and the benchmarks I've seen it does provide a boost in performance but I can't seem to find a comparison between r7 250 solo w/ pentium or something similar to that. I'll do some more research and report back

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

I want to do gaming and office work/streaming etc. I don't have a huge budget and just wanna get the most performance I can possibly get out of the parts I already have.

Edit: I already have a psu, case, os, hdd, and an r7 250

DonkeyOatie · Feb 16, 2015

We know that, but it's too indefinite. What specific games do you play now. Remind me, apart from the 250, what else do you have?

EDIT: Thanks for the edit.

Calculagator · Feb 16, 2015

Here's a helpful article comparing the best possible dual graphics performance with a standalone card:
http://www.techspot.com/review/781-amd-a10-7850k-graphics-performance/page5.html

DonkeyOatie · Feb 16, 2015

Calculagator :

Thanks. I was looking for that. I could not remember where it was.

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

Ok. I have a CXM 750 psu, 1tb wd black hdd, windows 8.1, a shitty atx case, and a 1280x1024 monitor. keyboard/mouse and all of the non essential peripherals I have aswell. I currently play lol, wow, csgo, bf4, gta v when it comes out, bfh same story. Most modern AAA games I play or would like to play.

@calculagator, thanks I couldn't find an article that compared the 2. Appears like there is a boost but probably not enough to spend the extra money.

DonkeyOatie · Feb 16, 2015

From the games you want to play, neither an APU nor a Pentium is really a good choice. You need a lot more, especially the GPU, which will be the limiting factor in your system in most titles.

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

I know that neither are a great choice but I'm not looking to play high or ultra. Low is fine for me since this is just a secondary computer.

DonkeyOatie · Feb 16, 2015

So, what we really need then is a system that makes the best possible use of what you have, and the GPU you have is a r7 250 (GDDR3 or GDDR5?)

The dual graphics article suggests that the APU dual graphics solution is marginal for what you want. For some games, that's going to be the limiting factor no matter what powers it, for others you need as much grunt as you can get.

This is a hypothetical APU config. We can correct the GPU when we know what it is.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7700K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($124.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M-HD+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: GeIL EVO Veloce Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($68.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 250 2GB Video Card ($77.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $326.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

An i5 is a bit much.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 250 2GB Video Card ($77.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $361.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-16 10:58 EST-0500
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-16 10:54 EST-0500

and here's a possible Pentium config.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($68.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 250 2GB Video Card ($77.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $250.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-16 10:57 EST-0500

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

I have the Asus 1gb GDDR5.

Would it be more cost effective to drop to 4gb ram and get a mobo that can oc better for the a10? Or would it be more cost effective to not worry about ocing at all on the apu?

Pentium seems like the way to go at this point with the price/performance and how good of an ocer it is

logainofhades · Feb 16, 2015

A better question, would be what is your budget, and what CPU, Motherboard, and ram are you currently using?

DonkeyOatie · Feb 16, 2015

Itsbranden97 :

I don't think so. The APU is using memory for both the system and graphics. 4Gb is about as low as you should be going (lower really) and taking another Gb or more for the iGPU is too much.

I would be OCing the APU for more CPU performance.

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

I won't be using anything I have from my current PC. I just have some older spare parts laying around and want to put em to use.

Ahh ok I forgot the apu shares ram. My budget is $150 for cpu, ram, mobo. I know its tight..

DonkeyOatie · Feb 16, 2015

You can't do it with an APU

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($86.55 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M-HD+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $206.52
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-16 12:35 EST-0500

Still too high and I can't cut down much else.

Even this is too high.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($58.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $154.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-16 12:40 EST-0500

logainofhades · Feb 16, 2015

About as low as I can go.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($53.89 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Team Elite Plus 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $155.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-16 12:38 EST-0500

Itsbranden97 · Feb 16, 2015

I suppose I'll save some more money and go with the g3258. Thanks guys

APU dual graphics or r7 250 + g3258?

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