How can I improve my PC for the smallest amount of money

Rappa_ · Apr 19, 2017

I'm very sorry for flooding the forums with my posts, but I want to know how I can improve my systems performance while playing my games (ETS2, DiRT Rally, R6:S, Stronghold Crusader 2)

I have a FX4100, KFA2 750TI, 8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600, Asus M5A87 (basic version) and a beQuiet Straight Power10 400W.

Now when playing the games I usually get stable around 60 fps, but often enough they drop to 20-40 and that makes it very unplayable (especially Rainbow Six Siege).

Now my question is: What should I swap/which CPU should I get? (I'm thinking the CPU is my main issue here). I don't have much money to spend, I'd say 250€ is the absolute maximum. I'd love to get a 6600 and a Z170 but that's way to expensive...

Any help and tips are appreciated.

elbert · Apr 19, 2017

You could get a a Ryzen upgrade for 310 but you may be better off getting an 8 core 8300 with another 8GB RAM. The Ryzen with the wraith cooler should OC to 3.7Ghz which should outperform the 6600.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1400 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (€179.95 @ Amazon Italia)
Motherboard: ASRock AB350M-HDV Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard (€77.74 @ Amazon Italia)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory (€52.99 @ Amazon Italia)
Total: €310.68
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-19 18:26 CEST+0200

or

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8300 3.3GHz 8-Core Processor (€96.47 @ Amazon Italia)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (€62.33 @ Amazon Italia)
Total: €158.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-19 18:29 CEST+0200

dark_lord69 · Apr 19, 2017

FX 6300
FX 8350 - $139.99 USD (with the new wrath cooler) $119.99 USD (with the original cooler)

I'd pick the 8350 if I was you. Since it's a black edition you can change the multiplier in the BIOS to overclock it if you want.

LucoTF · Apr 19, 2017

I would switch to a g4560 rather than invest any more in am3+

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor (€59.00 @ Amazon Espana)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B250M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard (€69.36 @ Amazon Espana)
Memory: Kingston ValueRAM 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory (€45.00 @ Amazon Espana)
Total: €173.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-19 18:39 CEST+0200

dark_lord69 · Apr 19, 2017

https://es.pcpartpicker.com/list/jJQGd6

elbert · Apr 19, 2017

Here is an example of how the Ryzne 5 1400 compares against the I5 7400. I would only suggest 3.7Ghz overclock as the cooler at full speed to cool at 3.8Ghz is a bit to much noise.
[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcdmeGOsnss&feature=youtu.be"][/video]

Rappa_ · Apr 19, 2017

dark_lord69 :

but its 125w isn't it?

elbert · Apr 19, 2017

That would be correct. The FX-8300 is the only 8 core thats only 95W. The 8300 is cheaper and can be overclocked to match the others with an aftermarket CPU cooler.

Rappa_ · Apr 19, 2017

I'm just asking because some people from here told me that my "stock" A87 can run into VRM overheat issues, causing the cpu to throttle down

elbert · Apr 19, 2017

Yup my Asrock extreme3 970 is the same and the 8300 would be the only option. You could overclock it a bit to while still keeping below 125W. Possibly 3.8Ghz would work and with a good aftermarket cooler could keep your VRM cooler with a down blowing fan.

Rappa_ · Apr 19, 2017

Well I never did anything with overclocking, and I have no idea what aftermarket fan I should use, I'm still using the stopck boxed fan on my fx4100; I installed 2 more case fansm one sucking air in and one pushing it out.

elbert · Apr 19, 2017

The Cryorig M9a is good and an equal to Cooler Masters 212 evo. You could use your in take fan to cool the VRM's. The Fx-8300 can easily be overclocked by just increasing the CPU multiplyer. Here is AMD's overdrive that can be used instead of using bios for overclocking.
http://www.amd.com/en-us/innovations/software-technologies/technologies-gaming/over-drive

[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q0GaZRbD4s"][/video]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU Cooler: CRYORIG M9a 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $19.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-19 16:06 EDT-0400

LucoTF · Apr 19, 2017

Dont invest €140 on a dead socket by buying an 8320e and cooler.

Sell your fx, mobo and ram and buy the g4560 combo i linked earlier for €173

G4560 vs 8 core fx 8350: https://youtu.be/zrKFPTgs32I

Rappa_ · Apr 19, 2017

I just don't know. I don't have much experience with PC's I would say. I know a bit, but it's not much. Intel is so expensive. AMD is cheap but only good if you OC (I guess?). Any other intel that would be good for my needs?

LucoTF · Apr 19, 2017

No. There are no decent intel chips that are cheaper than the €60 g4560

If thats too expensive then just get the €120 fx-8320e

Rappa_ · Apr 19, 2017

I was just asking. And which i5 is the best for the least money? I'm definetly going to switch to Intel, but maybe there is a good i5? Doesn't have to be the newest obviously. But you're right, the Pentium is a beast for its price

LucoTF · Apr 19, 2017

In the current gen the i5-6500 / 7500 / 7600 are all great, and theyre all over 200 euros lol

LucoTF · Apr 19, 2017

But if you can pick up a cheap i5-4xxx it would be almost as good

Rappa_ · Apr 19, 2017

Hmm.... And if I buy a 1151 mainboard NOW, save one month to buy a 1151 i5?

I guess after 7 years of using this pc I can wait another month or two.

How can I improve my PC for the smallest amount of money

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