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What to get FM1 or AM3(+)

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Hello..

My motherboard just died and I'm not sure where to go from here..

My CPU is a Phenom ii X4 965, and I was using the IGP in my late mobo as I'm not a hardcore gamer..

Now I'm not sure what to do.. I lost $200 in the dead mobo, and I just want to get buy with equal system or a little better.. I don't want to spend much specially for high end GPU, but at the same time, I'd like a decent GPU.

After checking the local market, I have two choices now..
-Buying a new mobo with a 970 chipset, and buying a low cost graphic card.
-Selling my am3 CPU, and buying an FM1 system which (as I understood) has an Radeon HD 6000 IGP.

I'll spend almost the same on both choices, but I'm hesitated since I'm not familiar with the concept of the FM1 APU..

What do you thing guys?

More about : fm1 am3

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If you go with the 970 + GPU I could suggest this:
ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157280

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5450 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Don't go with the FM1. The FM1 chipset is on the way out, to be replaced by FM2. You would have more upgrade options later on with an AM3+ board.

What is your budget?
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apache_lives said:
stick with ASUS or Gigabyte seriously


I would add ASRock/Biostar/MSi to that list... just I would steer away from Zotac/Foxconn/Jetway.

But if a Gigabyte board is only a few bucks more get that. Usually they come with nice features to prevent accidental borking, like a secondary bios

Guys, my budget is limited since I bought this system two years ago was the top AMD with IGP system at the time and paid to the nose.. but just 10 days after the two years (Damn MSI board has 2 year warranty) the mobo died. so I really don't wanna spend alot.
As i mentioned, I dont wanna spend on a GPU.. I'm thinking about FM1 mainly because the its IGP (radeon 6000) performance should top any $50 GPU.. $50 is what I'm willing to pay for a GPU since I'm not really a gamer.

Basically, my budget is the coast of a mediocre AM3(+) motherboard, plus a low GPU. or a fair FM1 processor and board (exchanging my AM3 cpu for an MF1, and getting a board with a radeon 6000 IGP)..

Well your CPU is already pretty nice, and going from a mediocre mobo + gpu to selling your CPU and getting an APU + mobo would most likely increase the cost.

Plus later on down the line IF you decide oh hey that game looks fun you will most likely have to upgrade the MOBO + APU but with the just new mobo + gpu all you would need to do is purchase a better GPU.

(the board doesn't have the better GPU its integrated into the cpu btw.)

thank you mouse24.. I was confused about the concept of FM1 hardware.. that really helped clearing it for me.

I did the math and I believe that the coast is going to be the same, maybe FM1 will cost me about $50 higher, but It should be worth it if the performance is better..

I believe the question now is does the fact that the APU is actually a CPU and a GPU affect the performance of the CPU?

Also, do you see a downside for FM1 other than the un-upgradeability?
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