What should I upgrade next?

MaskedFrenchman

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Apr 21, 2015
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Howdy all. Just curious on some feedback from y'all. Should I upgrade my FX-6300 black series or my GTX 750? as a replacement for the CPU, I was thinking at least an FX-8000's series. For the GPU, I have my heart set on an GTX 960. Thanks in advance!
 
Solution
A perennial question, here is my stock approach:
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To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a...

TomGle

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Nov 5, 2015
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6 core 3.5GHz is pretty good, I'd go for the graphics card. There is however a large difference in performance between the 960 and 970, so I'd save up a bit more and get one of those. But make sure your PSU can handle the upgrade.
 

lodders

Admirable
Definitely upgrade the GPU first. BTW, the GTX 950 is almost as good as the 960, and is better value for money. AMD GPU are also very good value for money

Once your CPU starts to slow you down, I suggest you upgrade to an Intel i5 processor and motherboard. AMD FX8000 CPU is not really going to help for gaming.
 
A perennial question, here is my stock approach:
------------------------------------------------------------
To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You should also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option. set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.
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For gaming, I suspect you will find a graphics upgrade the most beneficial.

If you think a cpu upgrade is in order, more slow cores of a FX-8xxx is not going to help.
And, you need a better than average motherboard for a FX-8.

If overclocking your FX-6300 does not do the job, you are looking at intel skylake and a motherboard/ram change.
 
Solution

MaskedFrenchman

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Apr 21, 2015
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4,510


Thank you very much for your very in depth help on this topic! I will definitely start looking in to that and see what my results are. Again, thank you!
 
Stick it out with the 6300 for now. If you haven't already, get a decent aftermarket cooler and overclock.

For gpu, the gtx 960 is supposed to be good. Spring for the 4gb though. However, take a look at a 4gb r9 380. Should be faster than the 960 and a little cheaper. Plus has a wider bus, so I think that it may hold up better as time goes on.
 

MaskedFrenchman

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Apr 21, 2015
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I was thinking of overclocking, any suggestions on what cooler I should get and if you know of any good videos showing how to overclock?
 
Depends what you want to spend. I personally like the cooler master hyper 212 evo. I've got the v6 gt right now and have mine overclocked to 4.3ghz. I'll have to look them up but there are s couple on YouTube that aren't bad. Turn off all the power saving features and start turning up the multiplier is what I did and run Intel cpu burn.
 

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