Need advice on Motherboard+CPU combo

[PaulStan]

Hey guys, I recently picked up a Radeon HD 7850 IceQ and I'm ready for my next upgrade. I'm looking for a motherboard and CPU to help complement my new GPU. I plan on running Crossfire in the future so I am hoping to find a motherboard with 2x PCIe running at full speeds (16x 16x). Now, I have a budget of $300 for both the CPU and the MoBo. What do you guys think it the best route for me to go? After looking at many of the AM3+ motherboard reviews on NewEgg I am somewhat disappointed at all the DOA and boards that needed to be RMA. Also, what do you guys think of the APUs from AMD? How well does the "dual video" work? Would a APU with a HD7760D built in work as efficiently as crossfire with my 7850? I am somewhat new to AMD products so any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[realchaos]

Getting an APU won't work with a 7850. You choose either the 7850 or the integrated graphics to use. APU is out of the question. Are you planning to overclock?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $219.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-09 03:00 EST-0500)

This is if you don't want to overclock.

 

[stickmansam]

You can't CFX with an APU and a mid range card like the 7850, only with low end cards like 6670.

With $300 I would look to Intel

3570k with z75 mb
Similar to h77 but you can OC

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($76.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $296.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-09 03:24 EST-0500)

Since you want ability to CFX/SLI (at least pcie 3.0x8 [equiv of pcie 2.0 x16]), you'll have to ditch the 3570k for lower end 3470
You can even OC the 3470 to 4ghz on z77 boards

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($183.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $303.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-09 03:30 EST-0500)

 

[TheBigTroll]

real chaos's suggestion is good. id only change the CPu to a i5 3330 to save a couple of bucks. the performance difference is negilgble

 

[PaulStan]

Best answer selected by PaulStan.

 

[PaulStan]

What do you guys think of this combo?


MSI 990FXA-GD80V2 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $159.99
and a
AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5GHz Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6300WMHKBOX $139.99

 

[realchaos]

The i5 will perform better than the 6300 for now. Once games start using more cores, which happens to be soon, the fx6300 should be on par with the i5. I don't really trust msi boards. I would rather go with this gigabyte board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128510&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
It's cheaper too, but it's out of stock right now.