CPU GPU bottleneck question

[bailiak]

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong area, but I had a question relating to CPUs. I'm building a budget gaming computer for my cousin, and I'm trying to get a decent video card, but I don't want to bottleneck it.

Video card: HD 6770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121474

CPU a6 3650 APU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106004&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Processors%20-%20Desktops-_-AMD-_-19106004&AID=10440897&PID=3962334&SID=

His budget isn't super-high, so I was trying to find an alternate CPU which he might choose

alt CPU a4 3400 APU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103955&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=11ii7pwomhypm

For me, I wouldn't even think about the extra $30 for the 3650, but he's not as concerned about performance. How big of a difference do you think it might make? Any suggestions?

Thanks.

EDIT: I realize I said $30 difference, when you can see it's only $20, that's because the 3650 doesn't come with a fan, so that's the extra $10. Just wanted to clarify. lol

 

[WR2]

Hello bailiak;

What resolution is the monitor?
And do you have an idea what games, and what level of graphics, your cousin expects to be able to use?

 

[WR2]

For just $10 more Pentium G860 Sandy Bridge 3.0GHz has much nicer future upgrade path than the FM1 socket Llano A6/A8 APUs.

 

[bailiak]

Hi there!

Umm... I'm not sure, maybe like 1024 x 768. Perhaps a step or two higher in the 4:3 ratio. I'm pretty sure he just has an older CRT, and that's why I picked a card with VGA. Well, I guess I could have gotten a DVI/VGA adapter, but I've heard they are a little hokey, and most cards that don't have VGA are more powerful... which isn't needed anyway.

He would like to play some modern games... maybe at like mid settings. I don't think he's terribly picky. He mainly plays a lot of LoL (which will run on a toaster), but we wants a few more options.

 

[bailiak]

For just $10 more Pentium G860 Sandy Bridge 3.0GHz has much nicer future upgrade path than the FM1 socket Llano A6/A8 APUs.

I was actually exploring some of those options, but the thing is that he has an older ATA hard drive, so I need a PCI adapter, and unfortunately, the intel boards with another PCI slot cost more, not to mention the fan options are a little more expensive, and it all started to add up. He's on a pretty tight budget.

 

[WR2]

CPU cooler should be an included cost.

Did you find any FM1 motherboards with any PATA/IDE headers?

 

[WR2]

Do you have the PCI PATA/IDE card already? There are PCI-e cards to do the same thing.

 

[bailiak]

CPU cooler should be an included cost.

Did you find any FM1 motherboards with any PATA/IDE headers?

Ah, I actually didn't think of that. I just did a quick search, but I'm not coming up with anything. Do you think the LGA 1155 would boards would be more likely to have ATA? Because the PCI card that I found was like $36. There was a cheaper one, but it got poor reviews.

 

[WR2]

ASRock A55M-HVS FM1 AMD A55 $49It's a good price - but I think any dual wide video card will block that PCI slot

 

[bailiak]

Do you have the PCI PATA/IDE card already? There are PCI-e cards to do the same thing.

Oh, that's a good thought, and it opens up some options. I'm not sure that newegg carries one though. Not that I could find. I'm checking other places now, though.

 

[WR2]

Best rated PATA/IDE PCI-e card was this VANTEC 4+1 SATA II 300 & PATA PCI-E card $30 with shipping

 

[bailiak]

ASRock A55M-HVS FM1 AMD A55 $49It's a good price - but I think any dual wide video card will block that PCI slot

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/13-157-277-Z03?$S640$

That's actually the board that I had picked out.

 

[WR2]

Of course it would go in either the FM1 boards or H61 boards.

 

[bailiak]

Best rated PATA/IDE PCI-e card was this VANTEC 4+1 SATA II 300 & PATA PCI-E card $30 with shipping

Oh, derp. Thanks. With that, I can get a comparable LGA 1155 board. And you say that the G680 is a better choice than the 3650?

 

[bailiak]

You know what, I was checking the compatibility of the fan I picked out, and it looks like it would work for an 1155.

 

[WR2]

About $6 more: ASRock H61M-VS 1155 H61 Micro ATX Motherboard $55

CPU benchmark comparison:
AMD A6-3650 - 2.6GHz vs Pentium G850 - 2.9GHz G680 - 3.0Ghz was not in the database.

 

[WR2]

Did you need something other than the stock fan for the APU or CPU?

 

[bailiak]

Oh yeah, I remember the main reason why I was thinking of going with the 3650; it's because it's a quad-core. You think the G680 is better, despite it being a dual-core?

 

[bailiak]

Did you need something other than the stock fan for the APU or CPU?

Oops, my bad. There wasn't a picture, and I hadn't noticed that there was a fan included. Sorry.

 

[WR2]

Good - that would save you some change. They both have stock CPU fans which should be fine.

I would have suggested putting the cost of a CPU cooler to the next higher CPU instead of an aftermarket CPU cooler.

 

[bailiak]

Good - that would save you some change. They both have stock CPU fans which should be fine.

I would have suggested putting the cost of a CPU cooler to the next higher CPU instead of an aftermarket CPU cooler.

Yeah, thanks a lot. I'm sitting at about $300 now (I think he may need a power supply too, but I'm not sure). He was aiming for $250, but I'll talk to him to see if he can fudge a bit. Anyway, that's between us. Thanks a lot for all of your help.

 

[WR2]

Pentium G850 2.9Ghz CPU is $88

You can start looking at Combo Deals and see if there is anything you like.

Pentium G850 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz & ASRock H61M-VS 1155 $130 - that's about $12 off

 

[FinneousPJ]

Don't waste on your money in adapters, just get a new HDD... The cheapest HDDs are $60 I think ATM.

 

[bailiak]

Pentium G850 2.9Ghz CPU is $88

You can start looking at Combo Deals and see if there is anything you like.

Pentium G850 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz & ASRock H61M-VS 1155 $130 - that's about $12 off

Oh yeah, thanks. I forgot about the combo deals.

 

[bailiak]

Don't waste on your money in adapters, just get a new HDD... The cheapest HDDs are $60 I think ATM.

Yeah, I know. A SATA would be a lot better, but I'm already going over budget, so I'm not sure if $30-$40 is an option.