I recently got a R7 370, and i do believe that my cpu, an A6-5400K, is bottlenecking the GPU severely. I am in need of a cpu within $150, and i have the choice of the A10-7870K, or the FX-6300 and motherboard. Which should i get, or maybe a 3rd option?
Help on cpu choice
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dudeman509
Dignified
- Jan 23, 2015
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If the A10-7870K will work in your motherboard, go that route. Some motherboards don't play nicely with it and will throttle almost instantly, so look for someone somewhere saying that it works well with your board (probably with a BIOS upgrade).
I would forego option 2 completely. 3rd option would be an i3-4170 or the like/cheap H97 board.
I would forego option 2 completely. 3rd option would be an i3-4170 or the like/cheap H97 board.
geofelt
Titan
- Oct 9, 2006
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You buy a APU for the excellent integrated graphics.
But, there are no real good upgrades, particularly for a gamer.
If you install a superior discrete graphics card, you will have thrown away the big advantage of the APU.
Then, you are left with a relatively weak cpu. Most games depend on only a few fast cores.
The possible upgrades are to more cores, but few games will use more thn 2-3 cores so 6+ cores are not very helpful.
Bottom line.....
What you get with a APU is what you will live with forever.
Your current A6-5400K is a dual core with a passmark rating of 2137/1324(total/single thread)
The A10-7870K is a quad core with a passmark of 5501/1462.
A nice upgrade if your games can use more than two threads, but the single thread capability is largely unchanged.
Single thread performance is important for games such as sims, strategy and mmo types which tend to be cpu limited and single threaded.
If you change the motherboard, a FX-6300 is not much better. 6341/1409.
Good for multi threaded apps, but not so much for gaming.
The i3-4170 has 4 threads and a rating of 5176/2142.
It is a very nice upgrade but you will need a lga1150 motherboard. Even the cheapest will do.
The nice thing about the lga1150 path is that you have upgrade options to i5 and i7.
But, there are no real good upgrades, particularly for a gamer.
If you install a superior discrete graphics card, you will have thrown away the big advantage of the APU.
Then, you are left with a relatively weak cpu. Most games depend on only a few fast cores.
The possible upgrades are to more cores, but few games will use more thn 2-3 cores so 6+ cores are not very helpful.
Bottom line.....
What you get with a APU is what you will live with forever.
Your current A6-5400K is a dual core with a passmark rating of 2137/1324(total/single thread)
The A10-7870K is a quad core with a passmark of 5501/1462.
A nice upgrade if your games can use more than two threads, but the single thread capability is largely unchanged.
Single thread performance is important for games such as sims, strategy and mmo types which tend to be cpu limited and single threaded.
If you change the motherboard, a FX-6300 is not much better. 6341/1409.
Good for multi threaded apps, but not so much for gaming.
The i3-4170 has 4 threads and a rating of 5176/2142.
It is a very nice upgrade but you will need a lga1150 motherboard. Even the cheapest will do.
The nice thing about the lga1150 path is that you have upgrade options to i5 and i7.
There is no chance of me being able to go with i3-4170 as doing a quick search on newegg shows the cpu and mobo going way beyond my budget. I also have been a little wary of upgrading my apu, as my motherboard is not very friendly with tampering of its settings. I just am afraid of a problem I have been having where the whole system used to lock up entirely, until it self rebooted. MSI a88x-g43 by the way.
EDIT: I also do some video work on my rig, not a whole lot, and it has been super slow rendering footage, and I think the 6 core FX will help
EDIT: I also do some video work on my rig, not a whole lot, and it has been super slow rendering footage, and I think the 6 core FX will help
Redneck5439
Honorable
- Aug 21, 2015
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6 core FX is probably your best option. You can always get an after market cooler later and overclock it for better gaming performance. I know several people who have gotten at or near 5Ghz overclocks with FX 6300. For video editing FX 6 and 8 core processors are great. You should be happy with that upgrade.
dudeman509
Dignified
- Jan 23, 2015
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Keep in mind that to OC a 6-8 core FX chip, you'll need to spend some $$$ on a good motherboard with a 8+2 power phase. The cheaper 970 motherboards have 4+1 VRMs that will run a FX-6300 fine at stock speeds, but overheat much beyond 4 GHz. And I highly suggest running a FX beyond 4 GHz - they really open up.
dudeman509
Dignified
- Jan 23, 2015
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You don't have a Microcenter anywhere close to you, do you? They have the i3-4170 for $99.
If not,
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=109208&vpn=BX80646I34170&manufacture=Intel&promoid=1413
And one of these boards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128693
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128822
Would be my choice for a build in that price range. I love the AMD octo-core chips, especially for editing of any kind at a good price, but you really need a decent motherboard to run them, or they are nothing but problems.
Otherwise, here is a good deal on a very good AMD 970 motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128651
If not,
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=109208&vpn=BX80646I34170&manufacture=Intel&promoid=1413
And one of these boards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128693
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128822
Would be my choice for a build in that price range. I love the AMD octo-core chips, especially for editing of any kind at a good price, but you really need a decent motherboard to run them, or they are nothing but problems.
Otherwise, here is a good deal on a very good AMD 970 motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128651
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