Old PC rehab : what is the best CPU for this FM2 based system?

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gwc.plus

Feb 17, 2018
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TLDR - if you were looking to pick a DDR3 FM2 CPU on the cheap, what would you get?

Specs :
CPU - AMD A8-6500 APU with Radeon Graphics. 2 cores. ~3.5GHz
Motherboard - MS7778 (JasmineR),uATX, Chipset AMD A75 FCH, Socket FM2
RAM - 6G DDR3
GPU - AMD Radeon R7 200. Core Clock 1.175GHz. vRAM 2G(GDDR5). Bandwidth 104GB/s.
Storage - 1TB hard drive
Case - Micro ATX.

Long version :
I picked up my current PC a good few years ago, and it was a budget choice even then. its an HP Pavilion 500-141ea (https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c03936079). At the time I picked up a graphics card for it, and a new PSU to power the hardware (I think its a Corsair 500W model, this is something i'll check before getting anything.). It serves as both a computer for playing games on at low settings, and also for writing and doing other work on.

After quite a few years of faithful service, it is on its last legs. I really don't have the money to build/buy a new PC right now, and I know i'm likely to have more disposable income in a couple of years.

Main issues i'm getting other than generic old-behind-benchmark-ness of the system are :
1. periodic power cuts. I think is related to CPU heat as i've had an error message during boot for some time about the CPU fan being shot. Yes, i did nothing about this, DON'T JUDGE ME! hahaha :p.
2. Crash to desktop during RAM intensive tasks, often playing games. Pretty sure this is mostly down to just not having enough/fast enough RAM. However with DDR5 around the corner, and knowing i'll have more money in the medium future i'm not interested in making a DDR4 ready system just at the moment.

So i'd like to squeeze 18-24months out of this system. I have zero illusions about running any new games in that time (and lately i've been drawn more to the older titles in my library anyway). I'd like to preserve the level of function I have now, and make any small improvements that are economical due to old hardware being cheap. Also, so far this is making a good learning project for one day building my own PC.

Figure a RAM upgrade, and a new CPU, would spruce things up a little, keep the PC running, and maybe grab me an extra frame or two on the games I do play. RAM I've done in the past, but I've actually never picked out and installed a CPU before. Google tells me I need to make sure i pick something with the right socket (makes sense!), and also stay within my motherboards RAM type (ie DDR3).

So, if you were looking to pick a DDR3 FM2 CPU on the cheap, what would you get?
 
Solution
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Taking the possible thermal issue into account and the potential need for a new cooler... getting an A10-5800k wouldn't be a bad consideration. The one thing to consider is whether it is an a thermal issue caused by the current fan. Should be adequate for cooling, just not exceptional levels of cooling. And for £35, not too expensive as well.

Kaby Lake is in an odd position. Not an old platform but end of life; it's already peaked and been surpassed. The other Coffee Lake chipset motherboards still aren't available (making an entry build more expensive), and there's the Ryzen alternative. But you've kept your expectations in check with games so you know broadly what you're getting into.

I read that R7 200 as the integrated graphics of...
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Obakasama

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Apr 30, 2014
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That's a tough one. Beyond a certain point there's very little to justify upgrading an FM2(+) CPU - the margin of improvement is so small it's barely worth considering. This is ignoring things like it being an old platform and financially difficult to recommend.

Faster RAM does help with those APUs though, still true with the current AMD processors. So if you do upgrade RAM then it's worth looking to do that if a reasonable option.

Normally a graphics card would help performance but with the current market as it is... also difficult. Though a GT 1030 may be an option of sorts if inclined.

For completionist sake though: https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c03343058
The fastest processor the motherboard officially supports is the A10-5800k. I will repeat that it's really difficult to justify upgrading due to the marginal improvement in performance you'll likely experience.

It does sound like you have issues with your current PC though. If it is thermally related it would be prudent to sort that out for stability.
 
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gwc.plus

Feb 17, 2018
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Thanks for the thought out response obakasama. What originally got me thinking about a (marginal) CPU upgrade was looking at the price of new fans VS getting a dated CPU + stock fan together.

I was actually looking at an A10-5800K with fan for £35 an hour ago. I doubt I'd find a cheaper way to solve the CPU issues anyway (right?)

I did some hypothetical price adding for doing a kaby lake based ddr4 system, and a couple of other hypotheticals getting a new motherboard to expand my CPU options. Cheapest I could figure for anything worth doing in that vein was around the £300 mark. I *might* be able to flash that much cash on a PC later this year but even then I'd still be buying into what is aging tech.

What I have in my head is spend the minimum to keep the PC running, and keep my eyes peeled on a good deal on some RAM (probs preowned). Then hold out for that 1-2 years after which I anticipate a better income. Hopefully that's sensible haha

Re the GT1030... It looks fairly similar to what I already have in the GPU department? Though that might be my own tech illiteracy that makes me think so?
 
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Obakasama

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Taking the possible thermal issue into account and the potential need for a new cooler... getting an A10-5800k wouldn't be a bad consideration. The one thing to consider is whether it is an a thermal issue caused by the current fan. Should be adequate for cooling, just not exceptional levels of cooling. And for £35, not too expensive as well.

Kaby Lake is in an odd position. Not an old platform but end of life; it's already peaked and been surpassed. The other Coffee Lake chipset motherboards still aren't available (making an entry build more expensive), and there's the Ryzen alternative. But you've kept your expectations in check with games so you know broadly what you're getting into.

I read that R7 200 as the integrated graphics of the A8-6500. Now I think about it, my old HD 4830 would just show as 4000-series or similar. Whether the GT 1030 would be worth considering would depend on which R7 graphics card you currently have. If very low end then it might be worth considering upgrading it. Certainly if to be considered knowing which graphics card you have will aid an informed decision.
 
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dontlistentome

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Sep 5, 2016
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Speccy should tell you everything you need to know.

Assuming you are running a 64 bit Windows, I'd want 8gb in dual channel, DDR3-1866 memory would be ideal. I'd want one of the quad core options, I'd probably price each one and just pick the least costly. From personal experience upgrading older computers, an SSD as a boot drive and with maybe a few key programs is one of the best things you can add to extend the usable life of this computer. A 120gb SanDisk or similar would do the trick.

You can use a program like MSI Afterburner to monitor CPU temperatures. Who knows, maybe you just need to reapply the thermal paste. That stuff doesn't last forever. Also, the CMOS needs to be replaced after a few years. You can get weird glitches in computer operation if the CMOS battery is dying and you don't realize it.

 
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gwc.plus

Feb 17, 2018
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Thanks for your input dontlistentome, im keeping my eyes on ebay for a cheap deal on some RAM. 8gb is the minimum i had in mind, any reason you wouldn't go 16? would it just not be worth it in DDR3-1866? Re an SSD, its something i've considered on and off. Its probs worth doing since its something i'd end up reusing in any future builds, right?
 
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Obakasama

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8GB of RAM should be fine for the sort of gaming you seem to be doing. Newer titles would benefit from more RAM, but you'd likely run into other performance issues. I managed acceptable levels of performance with an x4 760k, GTX 750ti and 8GB RAM on Dragon Age: Inquisition on 1080p; usually got a solid 40fps for it.

An SSD would certainly decrease loading times. If using as a boot drive it will speed things up a lot. Same for software installed on it. The SSD can be reused (whether Windows can be on a new PC will depend on the licence).
 
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gwc.plus

Feb 17, 2018
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Makes sense obakasama, I'll expand the search for cheap ram to 8gb options. Yeah I've played through Inquisition myself and had no issues on my current system (which surprised me).

Then again I really don't care too much about a lot of graphics settings lol.

Thanks again both of you =)
 
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