Advice: Long-Term Budget PC Upgrade

[Solidad]

First time poster here. I have a core2Duo Desktop that has served me since 2007 and I feel it's time to have her retire.

My requirements are not that hard to meet. I would like it to play Fallout New Vegas on high settings at least 720p (Ultra on 720p would be nice). It would be good if it can play 1080p on High settings. I could also use it to develop web apps and run Android and Windows Phone 8 emulator (Except WP8 that I haven't tested the former runs fine on my machine). Do light editing for uploading to youtube (480p - 720p) using Adobe Premier.

Right now, my Core2Duo and R4770 can run FO:NV fine on 720p on High, though it stutters sometimes on high-detail levels. I have 4GB of RAM there and I don't really plan on booting it to 8GB so I don't run Mobile development stuff. I haven't tried editing, but I doubt it can do much with little RAM.

My Desired Spec

CPU: A10-6800K
Mobo: (MSI FM2-A85XA-GD65 / MSI FM2-A75MA-E35)*
HDD: Intel SSD 120GB
RAM: Kingston Hyper-X 8GB 1600**

* My current unit is an MSI, it has lasted me this long and I also have an Old laptop by MSI that is also operational. I am confident on the longevity of the MSI brand, so I prefer their products than anything else.

** I wish I could get more than 1600 but all the major stores in my country doesn't have the higher end. And also, pardon for my ignorance but is AMD chip also has that pairing scheme as with core Iseries CPUS (RAM in pairs of 3 etc...)?

Along the the way, I will be buying a MSI R7770 1GB DDR5 POWER EDITION OC video card just to let it out there.

Thanks.

 

[noobuilder1]

If you are going to get a dedicated video card there is no reason to go with an APU, change the CPU to a FX 6300, its about $40 bucks cheaper then the A10 6800, and you can add that savings in to your GPU to bump it to atleast a 7790 or 7850..

 

[Solidad]

DO FX series processors have some sort of Integrated Graphics that I can use? They aren't as powerful as the APUs?

Update: Nevermind. I will do my research on that question.

Here is an update.

CPU : AMD FX-6300
Mobo : MSI 880GMS-E41 FX
SSD : Intel 120GB
RAM : Kingston Hyper-X 8GB

 

[noobuilder1]

DO FX series processors have some sort of Integrated Graphics that I can use? They aren't as powerful as the APUs?

The FX do not have integrated graphics. If you are getting a video card integrated graphics are redundant and you will not need it. And if you dont need the Integrated graphics why would you pay extra for it? The FX are more powerful cpus then the A 10s because they are dedicated cpus. The 6300 is a 6 core cpu compared to the quad core A10.

 

[Solidad]

DO FX series processors have some sort of Integrated Graphics that I can use? They aren't as powerful as the APUs?

The FX do not have integrated graphics. If you are getting a video card integrated graphics are redundant and you will not need it. And if you dont need the Integrated graphics why would you pay extra for it? The FX are more powerful cpus then the A 10s because they are dedicated cpus. The 6300 is a 6 core cpu compared to the quad core A10.

Sorry my reply was a bit late. I agree on your statement. I adjusted the build I am planning above. By computation I did save a bit on your suggestion, though it doesn't have a video card right now.

 

[noobuilder1]

DO FX series processors have some sort of Integrated Graphics that I can use? They aren't as powerful as the APUs?

The FX do not have integrated graphics. If you are getting a video card integrated graphics are redundant and you will not need it. And if you dont need the Integrated graphics why would you pay extra for it? The FX are more powerful cpus then the A 10s because they are dedicated cpus. The 6300 is a 6 core cpu compared to the quad core A10.

Sorry my reply was a bit late. I agree on your statement. I adjusted the build I am planning above. By computation I did save a bit on your suggestion, though it doesn't have a video card right now.

If its a budget issue there are parts you can reuse from your current computer to hold you over for now. Wait on the ssd and reuse your harddrive... theres enough to get a 7770 or a 650 ti boost video card.. or save up a little more and get a 7850 or 7870 either of those are a much better choice. Then save a bit more and get your ssd. Or reuse your 4770 until you can get a better video card.. there are lots of options for you at this point.

Also look for a mother board that has a 9 series chipset in that price range look at the asus m5a97 le. Or an msi 9 series board. They are more in li e with the fx cpus.

 

[Solidad]

DO FX series processors have some sort of Integrated Graphics that I can use? They aren't as powerful as the APUs?

The FX do not have integrated graphics. If you are getting a video card integrated graphics are redundant and you will not need it. And if you dont need the Integrated graphics why would you pay extra for it? The FX are more powerful cpus then the A 10s because they are dedicated cpus. The 6300 is a 6 core cpu compared to the quad core A10.

Sorry my reply was a bit late. I agree on your statement. I adjusted the build I am planning above. By computation I did save a bit on your suggestion, though it doesn't have a video card right now.

If its a budget issue there are parts you can reuse from your current computer to hold you over for now. Wait on the ssd and reuse your harddrive... theres enough to get a 7770 or a 650 ti boost video card.. or save up a little more and get a 7850 or 7870 either of those are a much better choice. Then save a bit more and get your ssd. Or reuse your 4770 until you can get a better video card.. there are lots of options for you at this point.

Also look for a mother board that has a 9 series chipset in that price range look at the asus m5a97 le. Or an msi 9 series board. They are more in li e with the fx cpus.

I was thinking for reusing my 4770 for now. I can't reuse my HD because it's an IDE type. My SATA is a WD Green and I used that solely for storage, can't use that as well. I also found this board MSI 970A-G43, that is reasonably priced, so I will just settle on this one.

 

[noobuilder1]

DO FX series processors have some sort of Integrated Graphics that I can use? They aren't as powerful as the APUs?

The FX do not have integrated graphics. If you are getting a video card integrated graphics are redundant and you will not need it. And if you dont need the Integrated graphics why would you pay extra for it? The FX are more powerful cpus then the A 10s because they are dedicated cpus. The 6300 is a 6 core cpu compared to the quad core A10.

Sorry my reply was a bit late. I agree on your statement. I adjusted the build I am planning above. By computation I did save a bit on your suggestion, though it doesn't have a video card right now.

If its a budget issue there are parts you can reuse from your current computer to hold you over for now. Wait on the ssd and reuse your harddrive... theres enough to get a 7770 or a 650 ti boost video card.. or save up a little more and get a 7850 or 7870 either of those are a much better choice. Then save a bit more and get your ssd. Or reuse your 4770 until you can get a better video card.. there are lots of options for you at this point.

Also look for a mother board that has a 9 series chipset in that price range look at the asus m5a97 le. Or an msi 9 series board. They are more in li e with the fx cpus.

I was thinking for reusing my 4770 for now. I also found this board MSI 970A-G43, that is reasonably priced, so I will just settle on this one.

Look at this... its not a complete build you still need a case and maybe an optical drive bu again things you can reuse for now....

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd6300wmhkbox) | $119.99 @ Newegg
**Motherboard** | [MSI 970A-G43 ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-970ag43) | $75.91 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/patriot-memory-pv38g160c9krd) | $54.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7td120bw) | $94.99 @ NCIX US
**Video Card** | [MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r7850twinfrozr2gd5oc) | $139.65 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500m) | $39.99 @ Newegg
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $514.52
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-07 06:21 EDT-0400 |


Go to pcpartpicker.com and look up my name noobuilder1 and look at my completed builds pretty much what your looking for.

 

[Solidad]

DO FX series processors have some sort of Integrated Graphics that I can use? They aren't as powerful as the APUs?

The FX do not have integrated graphics. If you are getting a video card integrated graphics are redundant and you will not need it. And if you dont need the Integrated graphics why would you pay extra for it? The FX are more powerful cpus then the A 10s because they are dedicated cpus. The 6300 is a 6 core cpu compared to the quad core A10.

Sorry my reply was a bit late. I agree on your statement. I adjusted the build I am planning above. By computation I did save a bit on your suggestion, though it doesn't have a video card right now.

If its a budget issue there are parts you can reuse from your current computer to hold you over for now. Wait on the ssd and reuse your harddrive... theres enough to get a 7770 or a 650 ti boost video card.. or save up a little more and get a 7850 or 7870 either of those are a much better choice. Then save a bit more and get your ssd. Or reuse your 4770 until you can get a better video card.. there are lots of options for you at this point.

Also look for a mother board that has a 9 series chipset in that price range look at the asus m5a97 le. Or an msi 9 series board. They are more in li e with the fx cpus.

I was thinking for reusing my 4770 for now. I also found this board MSI 970A-G43, that is reasonably priced, so I will just settle on this one.

Look at this... its not a complete build you still need a case and maybe an optical drive bu again things you can reuse for now....

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd6300wmhkbox) | $119.99 @ Newegg
**Motherboard** | [MSI 970A-G43 ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-970ag43) | $75.91 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/patriot-memory-pv38g160c9krd) | $54.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7td120bw) | $94.99 @ NCIX US
**Video Card** | [MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r7850twinfrozr2gd5oc) | $139.65 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500m) | $39.99 @ Newegg
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $514.52
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-07 06:21 EDT-0400 |

By any chance you think the Motherboard is good enough to do CrossFire? The other PCI-E is just 4x?

 

[noobuilder1]

DO FX series processors have some sort of Integrated Graphics that I can use? They aren't as powerful as the APUs?

The FX do not have integrated graphics. If you are getting a video card integrated graphics are redundant and you will not need it. And if you dont need the Integrated graphics why would you pay extra for it? The FX are more powerful cpus then the A 10s because they are dedicated cpus. The 6300 is a 6 core cpu compared to the quad core A10.

Sorry my reply was a bit late. I agree on your statement. I adjusted the build I am planning above. By computation I did save a bit on your suggestion, though it doesn't have a video card right now.

If its a budget issue there are parts you can reuse from your current computer to hold you over for now. Wait on the ssd and reuse your harddrive... theres enough to get a 7770 or a 650 ti boost video card.. or save up a little more and get a 7850 or 7870 either of those are a much better choice. Then save a bit more and get your ssd. Or reuse your 4770 until you can get a better video card.. there are lots of options for you at this point.

Also look for a mother board that has a 9 series chipset in that price range look at the asus m5a97 le. Or an msi 9 series board. They are more in li e with the fx cpus.

I was thinking for reusing my 4770 for now. I also found this board MSI 970A-G43, that is reasonably priced, so I will just settle on this one.

Look at this... its not a complete build you still need a case and maybe an optical drive bu again things you can reuse for now....

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1petT/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd6300wmhkbox) | $119.99 @ Newegg
**Motherboard** | [MSI 970A-G43 ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-970ag43) | $75.91 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/patriot-memory-pv38g160c9krd) | $54.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7td120bw) | $94.99 @ NCIX US
**Video Card** | [MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r7850twinfrozr2gd5oc) | $139.65 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500m) | $39.99 @ Newegg
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $514.52
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-07 06:21 EDT-0400 |

By any chance you think the Motherboard is good enough to do CrossFire? The other PCI-E is just 4x?

It will, just not very well. If you want to do crossfire you need 8x for the second pcie slot. Crossfire minimum is 4x but SLI is minimum of 8x and I would reccomend 8x minimum for either.