$250-$300 CPU/Mobo Upgrade from AMD x3 720

mountie

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Feb 25, 2009
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Hi All,

My 2008 rig keeps locking up and restrating during normal usage even after reformat, so I think I have hardware problems. I have never liked my mobo (got a "good" deal on it, so I want to look at upgrading just the CPU/MoBo.

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: January 2013

Budget Range: $250-$300 (if GPU needed, add $130)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Starcraft II, Netflix, surfing, word processing

Are you buying a monitor: NO

Parts to Upgrade: CPU/MOBO and maybe GPU.... need input

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg

Parts Preferences: Don't care...

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 2 - 23" monitors @ 1920x1080

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Computer won't go into hibernte mode and keeps freezing up and automatically restarting while just browsing web. Reformat didn't work...Think it's hardware issue

Current Build:
CPU - AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor
MOBO - BIOSTAR TFORCE TA790GX 128M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
GPU - SAPPHIRE 100259L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (no HDMI ports...)
RAM - G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-
PSU - CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Compatible ...
HHD - 80GB SSD (For O/S) and WD Black 640GB (for storage)
Case - Antec 900

Looking forward to suggestions.....
 
Solution
Big thing I didn't like on the msi board above and that's why I returned it, look at the power phasing.

I never hooked the board up, but things I read about some msi boards scared me enough. I ended up getting a gigabyte 970a-ud3 and fx8120. I know what ppl say about bulldozer but at 4 ghz it's quick IMO. Windows experience is 7.9 on windows 8.

But the msi board I think had the 4+1 power phasing where the gigabyte had 8+2. Better for overclocking etc. I can probably push more juice out of my CPU but prefer to upgrade my power supply first.

OP, do you live near a microcenter? If so go there. At least with amd CPUs you get like 40 bucks off of boards. That would help your budget.
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xuZW
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xuZW/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xuZW/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($169.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G46 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.57 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: VisionTek Radeon HD 6770 1GB Video Card ($74.15 @ Amazon)
Total: $384.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-13 22:53 EST-0500)


my revised pc upgrades with the sli compatible mobo for later and its crossfire compatible as well.

 

mountie

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Feb 25, 2009
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Thanks iceclock!

I'm actually kind of depressed that a $75 GPU can destroy the current one I paid $180 for 4 years ago....

Do I need to upgrade my memory? I think my current 4gb DDR2 800 is compatible... Can I use that money instead to get a better GPU?

I'm thinking it might also be worth the extra $30 to go for the AMD FX-8350 (4.2Ghz turbo) $199 newegg. Puts me at $275. With the ASRock 970.

Do the AMD's come with stock heatsinks? Do I need the separate one?

 

cmstormscouts

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Jan 12, 2013
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What are you doing ?

You are sooo far away from wrong!
Asrock standard memory DDR3 1333
 

cmstormscouts

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Jan 12, 2013
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What are you doing ?

You are sooo far away from wrong!
Asrock standard memory DDR3 1333 For all 970
Other motherboard up to 1866
Asrock 1 year warranty for all AMD Beside the Fata1ty

MSI 970A-G46 AM3+ AMD 970 $ 75
SLI & ATI SUPPORT
That's asrock doesnt support SLI

He doesnt need a fx 8 core
He be fine with a AMD phenom ii x4
This way you have more to spend on a video card
 
asrock has great warranty and is owned by asus, one of the leaders in motherboards today.

also in gaming if he gets the x4 he will still see a difference in gaming compared to the xfx, he mostly has money for a cpu.ram.mobo upgrade if u read correctly.

thank u sir and good day.

 

cmstormscouts

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Jan 12, 2013
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Lol?
Read that post i posted
That motherboard crappy
Msi board will destory it
That cant even do sli
16 , 4 speed asrock Standard memory 1333
16, 8 on msi does Sli & Crossfire 1866
1 year warranty = asrock
3 year warranty = msi
And you going to sit there and not admit your mistake?

Asrock move away from asus
 
yes so it seems, i dint see that must of step over it, anyways the asrock group makes great motherboard, it seems in this case u was able to find a decent sli board, but doesnt mean the one i chose with supports crossfire is any less good, the only difference is urs has sli and thats about it.

cheerios

 

mountie

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Feb 25, 2009
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Thanks for the heated discussion! I am very much against running and SLI or Crossfire, I think they take up too much room, cost too much, and make the whole PC hotter.

I'm going to throw a wrench in the gears here and ask why I shouldn't go with an intel offering like the Core i5 3470 (3.2ghz) for $179? From PCpartpicker, it looks better?
 
hmm alright than here.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xyA0
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xyA0/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xyA0/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.26 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: VisionTek Radeon HD 6770 1GB Video Card ($74.15 @ Amazon)
Total: $374.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-14 10:19 EST-0500)

i just talt having an octo ud like, but yeah the 3470 is a good deal also :)

for u to choose now :)

 

mountie

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Feb 25, 2009
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I think I a fixed on finding an i5 CPU and I am waiting to find a decent motherboard on sale, but I honestly don't know what to be on the lookout for. I blame my motherboard for all of my current problems and I want to make sure I get a good one this time around.

I may need to repost this in the Motherboard section, but can someone give me some pointers on finding a decent 1155 board?
 

ohiou_grad_06

Distinguished
Big thing I didn't like on the msi board above and that's why I returned it, look at the power phasing.

I never hooked the board up, but things I read about some msi boards scared me enough. I ended up getting a gigabyte 970a-ud3 and fx8120. I know what ppl say about bulldozer but at 4 ghz it's quick IMO. Windows experience is 7.9 on windows 8.

But the msi board I think had the 4+1 power phasing where the gigabyte had 8+2. Better for overclocking etc. I can probably push more juice out of my CPU but prefer to upgrade my power supply first.

OP, do you live near a microcenter? If so go there. At least with amd CPUs you get like 40 bucks off of boards. That would help your budget.
 
Solution

mountie

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New question... How do I compare onboard GPU versus my existing Radeon HD 4870 512MB?

I am thinking abou buying this combo for $325:
MOBO: ASUS P8Z77-V LK LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

CPU:Intel Core i5-3570 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500

And getting a separate GPU later on.

BUT if I go with the i5-3570K with the Intel HD Graphics 4000 instead...Is that going to be better than my current GPU?? And be worth the $30 upgrade?
 

mountie

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Feb 25, 2009
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Got a i5-3570k with the ASAS P8Z77-lk for $285 at the Microcenter! Killer deal. Saved $55 over newegg.

Still can't tell if my Radeon 4870 is going to be better than the integrated grapics though...........?