Looking for gaming Mobo/CPU combo! $300 Budget

[Galaxy15]

I bought a gaming laptop about 15 months back, and I'm now beginning to regret it. I wasted $700 on that laptop when what I really should have been doing was upgrading my desktop.

As it stands I have an old'ish PC computer tucked away in my cupboard that I would like to spend a little money on to get it gaming worthy. What I need to know is if there are any good gaming motherboard and cpu combo's out there for around $300. (That's how much I intend on selling that laptop for...)

I already have a good enough graphics card to tie me over for now, but the rig bottlenecks when it comes to the cpu and motherboard. This is what I'm using at the moment. (I only have 1gb of RAM as well, I intend on going up to 4gb.)


Processor:

Intel Pentium D

- Socket 775 LGA
- Duel Core

Motherboard:

P5GZ-MX

- Intel 945GZ chipset
- Intel LGA775 Pentium CPU
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Ready
- Dual-Core CPU Support
- Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator
950 Graphics
- Dual channel DDR2


Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!

 

[getbacktosrinu]

an asrock z77 extreme 4 = $125
intel 3570K = $220

which will be above your budget

but the same mobo with an intel 3450( = $195) will be $320... but u won't be able to overclock

if u really have to stay within $300 then
asrock z77 extreme 4 = $125 (if u plan on upgrading your CPU to a K series in the future)
intel i3 3220 = $130
gskill ripjawsx 8GB 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 CAS = $ 30

total = $285

(saving u $15...

 

[Devastater6194]

an asrock z77 extreme 4 = $125
intel 3570K = $220

which will be above your budget

but the same mobo with an intel 3450( = $195) will be $320... but u won't be able to overclock

if u really have to stay within $300 then
asrock z77 extreme 4 = $125 (if u plan on upgrading your CPU to a K series in the future)
intel i3 3220 = $130
gskill ripjawsx 8GB 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 CAS = $ 30

total = $285

(saving u $15...

I've heard that tigerdirect have got the 3570k for $150 today.

OP Which would leave you with $150 for your motherboard.

 

[getbacktosrinu]

Just checked tigerdirect...

I didn't find the 3570K for $150...

But I did find it for $190... which in itself is a good deal... I suggest searching around today to get the best deals

 

[Galaxy15]

Best answer selected by Galaxy15.

 

[shivam88]

i would say this config if u got a budget of 300$ & no more than this
u can look at the AMD fx 8350 4.0 GHz@160$ to 180$(amazon) intel's i5 3570K is more than 200$
the mobo will b gigabyte GA 970A D3 AM3 or ASUS M5A97 R2.0 for 100$(amazon) by this amd combo u can save u r 20$
u can run nice SLI or CROSSFIRE on 970A unless have to extend u r budget the 990FX which costs more than 135$ total 280$
the intel cpu+mobo combo pricing total 320$
intel core i5 3570K 210$ n 4th gen haswell core i5 4670K 220$
gigabyte Z77 mobo costs 110$(Amazon)