New CPU

[Zbiba1]

Hi,
I want to buy a new budget cpu, I have a q8200 for now and I want to switch to something newer, and better.

I have 2 main questions:

Is a dual core still enough (for let's say 3-4 years) even though the new consoles are coming with quad or octa cores (wich means games should be optimzed for quad/octa cores)?

what socket is the most future proof?

I can't pay more then 200$ for the CPU and the MB, so don't tell me to go for a 3570k I would love to but I can't.

I was thinking about a fx4300 or a i3 3220 (quad core and dual core), but I can wait for amd new cpus wich shoud come out in april or may (what about intel?)

thank you

 

[compgenie]

The amd apu's are gonna come out in late 2013. Can you afford the fx 6300? The i3 is not very future safe. And what games do you want to play?
For light gaming get the amd a10 5800k and a fm2 mobo, then you don't even need to buy a gpu. It has a good inbuilt gpu.

 

[stickmansam]

AM3+ has the most unknown potential with Steamroller at end of the year
FM2 has potential with Richland now and GCN+Steamroller near the end of the year
1155 is a dead socket but he 3570/3770k are among the best cpu's now
1150 is coming out in June with Haswell but only for 1 generation. Unlikely, from rumors to change much from 1155 performance except in graphics, likely match current Trinity and Richland APU's but not the GCN ones

I would get something like this, FX6300 is better than i3 overall

I am assuming you're going to get an discrete gpu otherwise get an APU

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $194.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 23:05 EST-0500)

APU style

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4 ATX FM2 Motherboard ($85.97 @ Newegg)
Total: $200.96
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 23:08 EST-0500)

 

[Zbiba1]

AM3+ has the most unknown potential with Steamroller at end of the year
FM2 has potential with Richland now and GCN+Steamroller near the end of the year
1155 is a dead socket but he 3570/3770k are among the best cpu's now
1150 is coming out in June with Haswell but only for 1 generation. Unlikely, from rumors to change much from 1155 performance except in graphics, likely match current Trinity and Richland APU's but not the GCN ones

I would get something like this, FX6300 is better than i3 overall

I am assuming you're going to get an discrete gpu otherwise get an APU

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $194.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 23:05 EST-0500)

APU style

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4 ATX FM2 Motherboard ($85.97 @ Newegg)
Total: $200.96
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 23:08 EST-0500)

Thank you for your really complete answer

I will take a look at the fx 6300, I don't need an apu since I have a 6850 wich should be ok for the next year or so,

one last question, what's the difference between a 150$ motherboard and a 75$ motherboard?

 

[Zbiba1]

Best answer selected by Zbiba1.