Future proof socket, Intel or AMD

Laura_39 · Nov 15, 2016

Hello guys,
I'm looking to build a new PC after the holidays, my current one has lasted me a good five years, and I decided not to invest anymore money into it, since AM3 is a dead socket, and it struggles to play today's titles. I also have a PlayStation 4 now, and have no need for a gaming PC. However I still play Diablo 3, The Sims 3/4, Portal 2, Borderlands 2, Saints Row 4, and like to watch movies in HD.

Here are my current specs:
AMD Phenom II x6 1035t
GA-MA785GM-US2H
8 gigs of DDR2
1TB hard drive, Windows 10 Home Premium.
GTX 550ti (1gb)

I'm on a $300 budget, and can't put a whole lot of money into upgrading constantly. I just want something that will last me another 5 years. Does anyone have suggestions for this?

Slumy__57 · Nov 15, 2016

At the current time, the most future proof system you can build off of is the LGA 1151 socket. Is the $300 for just the processor? Or the entire pc? If it is for the processor, get a Skylake i7 6700. If it is for the entire pc, you're going to run into some issues budget wise.

captaincharisma · Nov 15, 2016

yes right now AMD is a dead end but if you get an intel skylake mobo now it will be good for at least one more generation of Intel CPU's

uguv · Nov 15, 2016

I'd think this is about the best you can get for $300:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/c82YLD
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/c82YLD/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($190.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus H110M-E/M.2 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($37.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $298.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-15 14:17 EST-0500

If you have a retail version of Windows you can transfer it. If you have an OEM version you probably can't and would need to get a new license.

BadAsAl · Nov 15, 2016

uguv :

If OP has the Windows 10 Anniversary Update and registers his/her copy of Windows 10 with his/her Microsoft Account, or uses a Microsoft Account to login to the PC, they can change all the hardware they want and it will still activate. The best feature of the update IMO.

uguv · Nov 15, 2016

Awesome, I didn't know that!

g-unit1111 · Nov 15, 2016

BadAsAl :

Actually that feature has been around since Windows 8 which did away with the OEM requirement that was a complaint of system builders since XP and 7. What the Anniversary Update does is it replaces the traditional methods of activation (call / MS activation) with account based activation so all your systems can be tied to the same account and you can streamline settings across multiple systems. It also ensures you have Windows 10 if you were a user during the mass update of Windows 7 or 8 that in the event of a reformat and reinstall you will continue to be able to get legit product keys and ISOs to continue running Windows 10.

I personally would go with Intel and the i5-6500 like everyone's been suggesting. AMD FX is a dead end right now and there's no reason to buy. Since you're not running an LMT motherboard then you couldn't just update the BIOS and slap in an FX-6300 or FX-8320/50 in there. You would have to replace the motherboard anyways.

Laura_39 · Nov 15, 2016

uguv :

What about this setup? I'm not too familiar with Socket 1151
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.2149274

Ecky · Nov 15, 2016

Intel 4xxx CPUs are socket 1150, which had its last CPU released in 2015. Socket 1151 currently accepts 6xxx CPUs (e.g. i5 6500) and will be receiving at least 2 more generations of CPUs before it's discontinued. All current AMD sockets have already received their last CPU, but AM4 should be out with "Zen" CPUs before summer of next year.

Laura_39 · Nov 15, 2016

Ecky :

It looks like HP is already shipping desktops with the new AM4 socket. HP Pavilion Desktop - 510-p127c.

http://www.costco.com/HP-Pavilion-510-p127c-Desktop---AMD-A12---2GB-Graphics.product.100310933.html

g-unit1111 · Nov 15, 2016

Laura_39 :

Your link doesn't work.

It looks like HP is already shipping desktops with the new AM4 socket. HP Pavilion Desktop - 510-p127c.

http://www.costco.com/HP-Pavilion-510-p127c-Desktop---A...

That's not Zen or AM4. That's an APU which uses the FM2 socket and are rather on the low end of AMD's spectrum.

Ecky · Nov 15, 2016

It may well be Steamroller on AM4, OEMs have it, but chances are not good of its BIOS ever getting updated or supporting Zen and future CPUs.

captaincharisma · Nov 15, 2016

Laura_39 :

Prebuilt systems (especially HP) rarely get updates like that. if you are looking to get a futureproof PC never go prebuilt

Ecky :

g-unit1111 · Nov 15, 2016

Ecky :

I wouldn't expect a big box PC from Costco at that price point to be state of the art and have the latest hardware.

Laura_39 · Nov 15, 2016

g-unit1111 :

I'm eying this combo for $300,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.2149274

1x Intel Core i5-4440 Haswell Quad-Core 3.1 GHz (3.3 GHz Turbo) LGA 1150 84W BX80646I54440 Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Model:BX80646I54440)

$202.99
1x ASUS B85M-G R2.0 LGA 1150 Intel B85 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard (Model:B85M-G R2.0)

$69.99
1x Rosewill Micro ATX Computer Case - R363-M-BK - Ultra High Gloss Finish Black, 400W ATX 2.2 12V PSU (Model:R363-M-BK)

$44.99
Combined Total: $317.97
Combo Discounts: - $18.99
Combo Price: $298.98

g-unit1111 · Nov 15, 2016

Laura_39 :

You can definitely get better than that for that price point. I wouldn't get anything less than an i5-6500.

Try this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($200.29 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H170A-X1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $299.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-15 17:43 EST-0500

That will be a much better use of $300.

Laura_39 · Nov 15, 2016

g-unit1111 :

Laura_39 :

You can definitely get better than that for that price point. That motherboard used to cost $50 and now it costs over $200 because it's an end of the line model.

Try this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($200.29 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H170A-X1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $299.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-15 17:43 EST-0500

That will be a much better use of $300.

Ok, thanks!

Future proof socket, Intel or AMD

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