CPU Upgrade, what to choose and what should I think about?

[Zorkel]

MY current hardware specs is as follows:

Motherboard: Asus sabertooth 990FX 1st gen or rev1.0
CPU: AMD Phenom II, x4 945 3.01Ghz
GPU: Nvidia GTX 680 2GB ram
UPS: XFX 750W
RAM:8GB misc vendors

I'm not very handy when it comes to overclocking so the cpu will more or less run at it's default values. So a lower set cpu with great overclocking abilities won't really do much for me compared to a factory set higher value cpu. If that makes any sense.

So please have that in mind when recomending a good viable upgrade.

This would also be an upgrade to last a few years.
I mainly use this computer for games and watching movies.
Games played, fallout 3; crysis 1, 2, 3; metro 2033, last light; Diablo III and so on.

My budget would be around 250USD

 

[alexoiu]

An FX 8320, for example
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113285
or 8350
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284
If installing it, update the BIOS firstly with the old CPU installed.
For more options regarding CPU upgrade:
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/SABERTOOTH_990FX/#support_CPU

 

[Zorkel]

I asume FX is the latest and only version worth it's name?
Made a quick search on 3 computer part vendors in my region (Sweden) and am3+ sockets only showed FX more or less barely saw any other model, like Phenom, Athlon or Sempron.

And I asume FX 8xx, 6xx names the amount of cores available?

I believe I will go out and grab http://www.komplett.se/k/ki.aspx?sku=766047
Will only have to confirm I can afford it, but it looks like I will grab it in a few days.

 

[alexoiu]

It's OK. What's the memory model? Using 2 kits?

 

[Zorkel]

If you mean my RAM I have 2 different crap sets.

Data taken from cpu-z SPD tab.

Slot1: Kingston, PC3-10700; 2048MB; (667Mhz)
Slot2: Kingston, PC3-10700; 2048MB; (667Mhz)
Slot3: Micron Technology, PC3-8500F; 2048MB; (533MHz)
Slot4: Micron Technology, PC3-8500F; 2048MB; (533MHz)

Could probably pick up some new Ram as well.

 

[alexoiu]

Then you might take the FX 8320 and upgrade the memory too with a 1600 MHZ 2x4GB compatible kit. I suggest Kingston, Corsair, Crucial or GSkill. You can use manufacturer configurators for finding guaranteed compatible kits.
Ex:
http://www.kingston.com/us/memory/search/Default.aspx?DeviceType=7&Mfr=ASU&Line=SABERTOOTH%20Motherboard&Model=71926&Description=Kingston_ValueRam_Memory_Server_Premier_Memory_HyperX_Memory_for_ASUS/ASmobile_SABERTOOTH_Motherboard_990FX
or
http://www2.corsair.com/configurator/product_results.aspx?sc=us&id=2170273
or
http://www.gskill.com/en/configurator?manu=29&chip=42&model=216
or
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=SABERTOOTH%20990FX&Cat=RAM