Upgrading my CPU

[MadJackxD]

* Please note that im not living in the USA/Europe. So the prices given in this post correspond to the prices in my country which are 20% 30% do to import taxes. *

Hi, this is my current spec:

CPU: AMD FX-6100 Zambezi BE
MB: ASUS M5A87
GPU: ASUS 560ti DirectCU I 1gb -------> Upgraded from PowerColor HD 6790
RAM: Patriot 4GB PC3-12800 (PSD34G16002H) 1600mhz dual channel
PSU: CoolerMaster GX 650w
CASE: CoolerMaster Elite 330

So well, i bought my PC and i wasnt happy with the gaming performance, so i was told to buy a better card, so I did. And its great, games look much pretty, very eye candy. However, this was not my main goal, as performance itself (FPS) did not improve.

Some reference prices for my country

my current budged is: $350

FX-8150 = $290
i3 2100 = $139
i5 2400 = $ 235 i5 2500 = $249 i5 3450 = $242
ASRock H61M-VS = $47 ASUS P8H61-M LX DRR3 = $70 INTEL DH67 BL3 = $112
INTEL DH67 CL = $114 INTEL DP67 DE = $122 INTEL DP67 BA = $128


So these are some components im evaluating.

1) Buy a FX-8150
2) Buy i3 2100 + H61 mobo for $190 and have a nice amount left over, for games and stuff
3) Buy i5 2400/2500/3450 + H61/H67 mobo.
4) Buy i5 2400/2500/3450 + H67/P67 mobo and blow all my money and prolly borrow some xD

What would you recomend for me to do? My main goal is a noticeable improvement over my current specs in gaming performance, nothing else while obviously spending the least. I do video rendering too, but thats not a problem since i can just let it work while I sleep. So just gaming improvement, performance wise, mainly FPS in various diff games, like SC2, WoW, D3, HoN, Dota2, etc, first person shooters i dont play much (if at all).

Also will prefer not to change my RAM. Not a fan of overclocking, but if an FX, its a must, but if i pick intel i would just leave it at stock. Mostlilkely favoring the switch to intel for that factor, overclocking reduces the lifespan of cpu and i dont want that. Plus gotta buy a new

To note, i currently have the fx6100 clocked to 3.8ghz @ 1.28v with no CE1 and CnQ (same freq as fx6200), and I got a noticeable improvement on minimum FPS, but its just not enough.

 

[rolli59]

Buy a good after market CPU cooler and overclock that FX6100 to 4GHz that is the cheapest upgrade you can do. Other than that option 3 and 4 is the only upgrades somewhat worthwhile.

 

[MadJackxD]

Buy a good after market CPU cooler and overclock that FX6100 to 4GHz that is the cheapest upgrade you can do. Other than that option 3 and 4 is the only upgrades somewhat worthwhile.

looks liek u didnt read last i posted, i have it already running in 3.8 doubt 4ghz its gonna make a diff, and im def looking to change the cpu

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been moved from the section CPU & Components to section Systems by Mousemonkey

 

[MadJackxD]

any one?

 

[capt_taco]

I agree with rolli, the only worthwhile upgrade is going to be switching to an Intel CPU/mobo. I'd say the 2500k or 3570k to make it worth the trouble.

You should not really worry about overclocking the Intel CPUs - yes, it will reduce the lifespan, but we're talking maybe 10% off a lifespan of 10 years or more. It will be obsolete long before any extra wear from overclocking becomes a factor. And if you're that worried, Intel has an insurance program that costs $20 and they'll send you a replacement processor free of charge if you ever burn it out.

I mean, you don't HAVE to overclock it if you get the performance you want at stock. But it's not such a big roll of the dice these days.

 

[Outlander_04]

The FX 6100 is roughly equivalent to the i5 2400 in a fairly broad range of tasks , so unless you are getting a better processor than that then changing to intel is pointless and costly . You'd also need to change your copy of windows [ unless you have an expensive retail version ]

Overclock the FX . Add a good cpu cooler like the Scythe Mugen , and then you should easily hit clocks in the 4.5 + Ghz range
I assume you have an M5A97 mb? You will do that easily .

The worst case scenario is that if it ever burned out you get to buy another one .... which is what you are planning anyway

 

[Guest]

i3 2100 = $139 + ASRock H61M-VS = $47
however if you switch to intel you will have to switch RAM, that 1.7 volt will be out of specs. IF and i mean IF you can post with it and change it to 1.5 then your gold. but i wouldn't count on it.

 

[MadJackxD]

i3 2100 = $139 + ASRock H61M-VS = $47
however if you switch to intel you will have to switch RAM, that 1.7 volt will be out of specs. IF and i mean IF you can post with it and change it to 1.5 then your gold. but i wouldn't count on it.

Will this i3 + asrock cheap combo give me a noticeable boost from the fx6100?

Also whats the problem with the ram, what about 1.7v and 1.5v, sorry im noob

 

[Guest]

the memory controller in the cpu is spec'd for 1.5 volts. anything above that will void the warranty from intel.

if you really want a noticeable boost in performance that would be a i5 2400.

 

[MadJackxD]

the memory controller in the cpu is spec'd for 1.5 volts. anything above that will void the warranty from intel.

if you really want a noticeable boost in performance that would be a i5 2400.
http://media.bestofmicro.com/X/N/323915/original/Skyrim.png

Ok i guess i agree with that, so..

How about a i5 2400 and the asrock $47 mobo ? or a i5 3450 since they are same priced

 

[Guest]

the asrock and most any H61/7 board will support and ivy bridge cpu. however unless it has the updated bios to support the cpu you need to go update it which will need a sandy bridge cpu to boot up.
http://www.asrock.com/MB/download.asp?Model=H61M-VS&o=All
which is a shame because an ivy does has better performance and lower heat @ stock speeds.
it was a budget board for tom's system builder marathon awhile back . .
http://www.asrock.com/news/index.asp?cat=News&ID=213

 

[MadJackxD]

the asrock and most any H61/7 board will support and ivy bridge cpu. however unless it has the updated bios to support the cpu you need to go update it which will need a sandy bridge cpu to boot up.
http://www.asrock.com/MB/download.asp?Model=H61M-VS&o=All
which is a shame because an ivy does has better performance and lower heat @ stock speeds.
it was a budget board for tom's system builder marathon awhile back . .
http://www.asrock.com/news/index.asp?cat=News&ID=213

I think i can get the seller to update the bios for me so i dont think that would be much trouble, i guess ill be getting the i5 3450 plus the asrock mobo, unless anybody can give me a reason not to