Which CPU recommended for Upgrade?

[diplomat]

Primarily for gaming and Web/Graphic design using Adobe Photoshop/Autodesk 3d Studio Max

Upgrading CPU/MOBO/RAM and buying everything from Microcenter.

CPU:
AMD Phenom II X4 960T Black Edition
or
AMD FX 4100 Black Edition

Both CPU's $109

MOBO:
Asus Sabertooth Socket AM3+ 990FX MOBO is on sale for $139 although website currently says $179

RAM:
Corsair XMS3 8GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) CL9 Desktop Memory Kit (Two 4GB Memory Modules)

or

Corsair Vengeance Series 8GB DDR3-1866 (PC3-15000) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit (Two 4GB Memory Modules)

Case:
CM Storm Sniper

PSU:
PC Power & Cooling 760 Watt Silencer

Heat Sink:
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus

HD:
Seagate Baracuda 1TB SATA

Optical Drive:
Sony 22x DVD±RW Dual Layer

GPU:
EVGA 01G-P3-1373-TR GTX460 Superclocked 1024MB GDDR5

Monitor:
Dell UltraSharp U2711 27" Widescreen LCD Monitor

 

[g-unit1111]

The 960T is a far safer bet than the FX-4100 is. Even with 990FX most motherboards won't recognize the FX out of the box. You have to have an older CPU to flash the BIOS to the new version.

For the RAM choice the Vengeance would be better but two things. One is don't get 1866 RAM. I don't know if AMD has the same policies Intel does but with Intel's RMA department they're ultra strict about what memory speeds you run and if you run a speed that hasn't been tested with your motherboard or overclock your RAM, they will void your warranty.

Also the tall heat sinks will make installing your cooler incredibly difficult, get the low profile version.

Most AMD CPUs also have a hard time processing RAM speeds over 1600 anyways, it's much safer to go with a 1333MHz or 1600MHz setup. This would be a better choice as this company has a solid reputation as one of the best RAM makers on the market: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364399

 

[canyoudigit489]

if you're buying at microcenter, i'd go for the core i5 2500k. it's $179 at microcenter, and when you combo with a 1155 mobo there you get $50 bundle savings. $179 + ~$125 - $50 = $254, whereas your amd combo = $248. for practically the same price you get the 2500k which is a much better processor than both of those, and can easily be overclocked to the 4.5ghz range. for the ram, definitely go for the cheaper first option.

 

[buzznut]

Well, the FX CPUs run great with DDr3 1866 memory. But I agree that the 960T is a better option right now. And that CPU has a 1333Mhz controller, so even if you ran at 1600 speeds (which I do) that is an overclock setting.

I'd consider the i5 option if you have no AMD allegiance.

 

[azeem40]

What is your budget?

 

[diplomat]

Well, the FX CPUs run great with DDr3 1866 memory. But I agree that the 960T is a better option right now. And that CPU has a 1333Mhz controller, so even if you ran at 1600 speeds (which I do) that is an overclock setting.

I'd consider the i5 option if you have no AMD allegiance.

I do prefer AMD.

 

[diplomat]

What is your budget?

I'm not really trying to spend more than $350 for the CPU/MOBO/RAM.

 

[diplomat]

if you're buying at microcenter, i'd go for the core i5 2500k. it's $179 at microcenter, and when you combo with a 1155 mobo there you get $50 bundle savings. $179 + ~$125 - $50 = $254, whereas your amd combo = $248. for practically the same price you get the 2500k which is a much better processor than both of those, and can easily be overclocked to the 4.5ghz range. for the ram, definitely go for the cheaper first option.

I prefer to use AMD, but I did consider the i7 just didn't wanna spend that much for a cpu and if I was going with intel it would be the i72600k.

 

[azeem40]

I would stick with the phenom then.

 

[diplomat]

The 960T is a far safer bet than the FX-4100 is. Even with 990FX most motherboards won't recognize the FX out of the box. You have to have an older CPU to flash the BIOS to the new version.

For the RAM choice the Vengeance would be better but two things. One is don't get 1866 RAM. I don't know if AMD has the same policies Intel does but with Intel's RMA department they're ultra strict about what memory speeds you run and if you run a speed that hasn't been tested with your motherboard or overclock your RAM, they will void your warranty.

Also the tall heat sinks will make installing your cooler incredibly difficult, get the low profile version.

Most AMD CPUs also have a hard time processing RAM speeds over 1600 anyways, it's much safer to go with a 1333MHz or 1600MHz setup. This would be a better choice as this company has a solid reputation as one of the best RAM makers on the market: http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364399

I'm actually already using the hyper 212 with my current cpu and didn't really have a prob installing.

 

[thesnappyfingers]

why i7?

 

[azeem40]

To add on to what I suggested earlier, the reason I said Phenom over 4100 is because the performance per core is better and cheaper.