so i want to upgrade my CPU and GPU. i would like a GTX 980 and ive been told it will work with my motherboard (GA M68MT-2) but i am honestly not sure. as for the CPU, I would like to upgrade it from an FX-4100 to like a FX-9590. The sockets match but i think there's more too it than just that. Do you think i can do better or is this not going to work at all? I'm conflicted. ask if you need more info on specs of anything.
Wanting to Upgrade but not quite sure if what i want will work.
- Thread starter Itchyy
- Start date
Solution
Calculagator
Admirable
- Nov 18, 2014
- 2,508
- 1
- 8,960
The GTX 980 will be fine with your motherboard. It may not be fine with your PSU.
The best CPU your motherboard officially supports is the FX-8140. Any of the 81xx series should have very similar performance, especially if you overclock a little. Even if your board supported the 95xx series, you shouldn't get one. Those were terrible CPUs. They were basically factory overclocked, but they had a lot of problems.
Don't spend a lot of money upgrading your CPU. Unless you can pick up a used CPU for ~$50, you will be better off just getting the GPU and either upgrading to an Intel platform or waiting for AMD's new platform.
The best CPU your motherboard officially supports is the FX-8140. Any of the 81xx series should have very similar performance, especially if you overclock a little. Even if your board supported the 95xx series, you shouldn't get one. Those were terrible CPUs. They were basically factory overclocked, but they had a lot of problems.
Don't spend a lot of money upgrading your CPU. Unless you can pick up a used CPU for ~$50, you will be better off just getting the GPU and either upgrading to an Intel platform or waiting for AMD's new platform.
Calculagator
Admirable
- Nov 18, 2014
- 2,508
- 1
- 8,960
It's all a matter of cost and time. Here's the official CPU support list I found: http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3967
I don't think it's even possible to find 8140s. The best you can find are probably the 8120s.
For most apps, the single-threaded performance will be very similar. For the few programs that can really take advantage of the extra cores of an 8 series FX cpu, the performance will increase a lot but -- the benefit will only come to the most demanding programs and the most demanding programs still won't perform well with with an 8120.
Unless you can get a CPU for very little cost, I don't think the upgrade is worth the effort.
geofelt
Titan
- Oct 9, 2006
- 54,295
- 4,145
- 174,240
Run some tests, here is my stock approach to your issue:
Some games are graphics limited like fast action shooters.
Others are cpu core speed limited like strategy, sims, and mmo.
Multiplayer with many participants tend to like many threads.
You need to find out which.
------------------------------------------------------------
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.
You will need to reboot for the change to take effect. 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.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Some games are graphics limited like fast action shooters.
Others are cpu core speed limited like strategy, sims, and mmo.
Multiplayer with many participants tend to like many threads.
You need to find out which.
------------------------------------------------------------
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.
You will need to reboot for the change to take effect. 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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