Upgrading from Phenom II X4 965 for Video Recording/Editing/Streaming

amfm93

Commendable
Nov 14, 2016
1
0
1,510
Hello,

I have a machine that I built quite a few years ago and it isn't meeting my needs at the moment. It's a machine for all around usage but I've been running into trouble with recording gameplay and editing said gameplay footage. If I record in 1080P either through capture card (Elgato HD) or by recording a game on my computer using OBS in 1080P the recording tends to stutter making the footage unwatchable (OBS tends to point out the encoder is overloaded). My video editor tends to struggle to preview recordings with the preview normally going at points with a frame every few seconds. I would also like to get into streaming which is more demanding. It is worth pointing out I don't play any really demanding games.

My budget for upgrades is around $500CDN (with some wiggle room, but preferably not). I'm aware that Intel has the best performance in their CPU's but considering my budget getting a good motherboard, CPU, and new RAM would be difficult with the budget. I'm not sure if that money will get me something with that much more performance. My board does not appear to be compatible with any FX-9*** chips. I've heard of the 'Zen' chips coming out in 2017, but it falls into the same problem of needing new motherboard/ram as well at that point I might as well go with Intel rather than waiting.

My main questions is:

Would upgrading to like, a i5-6600 be worth it performance wise even with the cost of an additional two components or with my needs I could get around with just like an FX-8350 and save the money and just build a better computer in a year or two.

Current Specs:

Motherboard: ASUS M5A87
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965
RAM: 8GB DDR3 (800Mhz?)
GPU: AMD Radeon 6850
Powersupply: 520 watts (? - need to double check if relevant)

Thanks in advance,





 
Solution
Yes getting an i5-6600 or even a i5-6500 is worth it. You should also upgrade your 4 year old mid-range card, it's slower than a GTX 750 Ti by almost half in some games and about 25% overall in all games. In the US i5-6500 is under $200 on Newegg, another $75 for a motherboard, $50 on RAM, $150-200 on a card (1050 Ti is good but if you are recording and doing other things you may want to get the RX 470 or 1060), you have a new computer.

Your current mobo/CPU/RAM/video card should sell for maybe $200 (Canadian) total to get you some extra money for the upgrade. If you don't have a solid state drive that can help with recording.

Yes getting an i5-6600 or even a i5-6500 is worth it. You should also upgrade your 4 year old mid-range card, it's slower than a GTX 750 Ti by almost half in some games and about 25% overall in all games. In the US i5-6500 is under $200 on Newegg, another $75 for a motherboard, $50 on RAM, $150-200 on a card (1050 Ti is good but if you are recording and doing other things you may want to get the RX 470 or 1060), you have a new computer.

Your current mobo/CPU/RAM/video card should sell for maybe $200 (Canadian) total to get you some extra money for the upgrade. If you don't have a solid state drive that can help with recording.

 
Solution