Advice - would a mobo swap allow my system to run my GTX 1060?

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CauseandEffect

Prominent
Apr 7, 2017
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Yesterday I learned that my system will not run my brand-new GTX 1060 because of a motherboard incompatibility due to version 7 BIOS not recognizing the GTX 1060 in legacy mode. I have this problem because my system is an HP pre-built system and is a few years old - there are no new BIOS revisions available. From what I am gathering a new mobo running version 8 BIOS SHOULD allow me to run the 1060 in legacy mode, and if a UEFI motherboard is available for my processor I should have no issue at all. Is that correct? Anyone have any suggestions for a motherboard?

I found a few that SHOULD work...

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/m2qdnQ/msi-motherboard-970gaming

The AM3+ socket is still in use and there are plenty of boards available. But that leads me to my next question - even if I find a replacement mobo that would support the GTX 1060, is my CPU still going to bottleneck the GPU too much? I could potentially swap it for an FX-8350 when I swap the mobo too, but that is about $130 more for the CPU...

Current system specs:

AMD FX-8150 8 core @ 3.2 GHz
M3970AM-HP (Angelica) Motherboard with newest revision v7.16 BIOS ***
Radeon HD 7750 (currently)
Windows 7 (64 bit)
10 GB DDR3 RAM
600 W PSU
 
Solution
RaDiKaL_
The mobo swap will enable you to use your GTX 1060.

Yes, your CPU will bottleneck here and there your video card, depending on the game engine.

No, going to a FX-8350 won't help that much since it will still bottleneck your GPU.

Bear in mind that a mobo change could result in the need of a new OS license.
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RaDiKaL_

RaDiKaL_

Splendid
Apr 17, 2006
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The mobo swap will enable you to use your GTX 1060.

Yes, your CPU will bottleneck here and there your video card, depending on the game engine.

No, going to a FX-8350 won't help that much since it will still bottleneck your GPU.

Bear in mind that a mobo change could result in the need of a new OS license.
 
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Solution
C

CauseandEffect

Prominent
Apr 7, 2017
10
0
510
Thanks for the reminder on the OS license - I didn't think about that.

I am really trying to weigh this option vs. a budget build around the GTX 1060 utilizing the new Pentium G4560, but the most bare-bones budget build from scratch would still set me back about $300 more. Closer to $400 if I include an SSD and more RAM... I was just looking for a GPU upgrade and I didn't expect the BIOS incompatibility. Now I am sitting here considering gutting my system vs. building a new one ughhhh...
 
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D

dontlistentome

Glorious
Sep 5, 2016
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Leaving aside the OS thing, if I were you and the only thing holding you back was the motherboard, I'd just upgrade that. Your CPU will still give you great performance in most cases with a 1060.

I would not switch over from what you have to a Pentium G4560. Not because there's anything wrong with it, but because the two systems are too much alike in performance. I think it's smarter that when the day comes you leave that FX system behind, it's for a step UP. This is assuming the motherboard will fit right in to your HP case without further expense.
 
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