Some good cheap CPUs for gtx 960 4gb

Clutch_Noob · Jul 12, 2016

I was wondering if the i3 540 would be good enough to not bottleneck it? Also can you guys tell me so good CPUs for the gtx 960 4gb under $80

Trafalgar747 · Jul 12, 2016

A G3258 setup would be nice. What is your budget for the build?

WildCard999 · Jul 12, 2016

You won't be able to get a better CPU for that socket for $80. As far as bottlenecking the 960 it will but I doubt it will hold it back enough to warrant getting a new CPU.

http://ark.intel.com/products/46473/Intel-Core-i3-540-Processor-4M-Cache-3_06-GHz

If your running 4gb of RAM that will be worth upgrading to 8gb for gaming. If you want a much better CPU then the i7-870 would be a better choice but it goes for around $182.

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/vX7wrH/intel-cpu-bv80605001905ai

Clutch_Noob · Jul 12, 2016

Trafalgar747 :

I already have everything. I just need a cpu.

WildCard999 · Jul 12, 2016

Which parts do you currently have?

Hlsgsz · Jul 12, 2016

Clutch_Noob :

What's your motherboard or system name if prebuilt?

Clutch_Noob · Jul 12, 2016

WildCard999 :

Gold Seasonic 650w psu
GTX 960 4gb
12 gb RAM
i need a new motherboard
i need a new cpu

Clutch_Noob · Jul 12, 2016

Hlsgsz :

Clutch_Noob :

What's your motherboard or system name if prebuilt?

i need a mobo

WildCard999 · Jul 12, 2016

This combo will work with your current DDR3 RAM but its more expensive then your budget of $80 (I wouldn't go from a older i3 to a Pentium). If you currently have the i3-540 then I would just use that now until you can afford a i5.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B150M-D3H DDR3 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($83.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $194.98

Preferably this...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ B&H)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B150M-D3H DDR3 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($83.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $283.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-12 14:19 EDT-0400

Hlsgsz · Jul 12, 2016

This would eb your best bet if you are that much on teh cheap: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-inspiron-620-Desktop-I3-3240-3-40GHz-8-0-GB-ram-500-GB-hard-drive-Windows-8-/162090806385?hash=item25bd5d6c71:g:fwMAAOSwJhNXUD8s

If you can afford better, assumin you own DDR3 RAM:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($114.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $154.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-12 14:19 EDT-0400

Clutch_Noob · Jul 12, 2016

From what I see is that the G3258 is around the same as the i3 4170. And i can get the G3258 for $30 right now.

boosted1g · Jul 12, 2016

Wow, we are half through 2016 and still drinking the G3258 koolaid.

A G3258 would ONLY be better then a 1st gen i3 at single threaded tasks. For gaming your current i3 is better then any $80 CPU.

Best advice is to save up until you can do a worthwhile upgrade which would be a skylake i5 and supporting motherboard/ddr4 memory.

Hlsgsz · Jul 12, 2016

Clutch_Noob :

The i3 4170 far superiour CPU to the G3258 because the latter it's pure dual core. Some games don;t even start with those.

If you can afford to spend teh cash, the i3 4170 build i linked is your best option because Intel does not recommend running Skylake with DDR3 RAM, so no i3 6100 without also getting new RAM.

boosted1g · Jul 12, 2016

At this point it is just silly to switch into an already dated platform.
If you are going to replace motherboard and cpu then make it worthwhile. No reason to buy 4xxx series haswell cpus when the newer 6xxx skylake CPUs are only slightly more expensive.

PSZero · Jul 12, 2016

I think the best you can do for that video card is get the 6th gen of intel, still is compatible with ddr3, so the best bang for buck is that you get an I3 6100, maybe is a bit more than $80, but the effort is worth, and that videocard is not so demanding, so will work nice in pair with it..

WildCard999 · Jul 12, 2016

There's a few 1151 (skylake) motherboards that do support regular ddr3, others are ddr3l and ddr4. Using one of the motherboards that supports ddr3l with ddr3 memory will ruin the CPU. The motherboard I listed above does support standard ddr3. Either way your better off saving up at least $200 for a worthwhile upgrade.

Dane_MM · Jul 13, 2016

At frys electronics, I just picked up an i5 6600 for 169.99, it wont even bottleneck a 1070 if you ever want to upgrade, or go on ebay or craigs list and loook for unlocked 4th gen i7's. good luck.

Some good cheap CPUs for gtx 960 4gb

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