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Please help with best overall CPU & GPU combo for the next 5 years

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  • GPUs
  • Configuration
  • CPUs
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
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May 3, 2014 4:55:05 PM

Hey guys, I'm trying to configure a PC which i will use for the next 5 years. I'm not a massive gamer, or designer so i never buy top spec, but i do play games, some of them are very demanding so i definitely need performance. To give you an idea, about 5 years ago i got a PC configured around an AMD Athlon II X3 435 cpu and a MSI GTS 250 Twin Frozr 1GB OC gpu which has been absolutely amazing and can still handle 99% of games as long as i dont go max res. I'm looking to configure the same type of "best buy" type of performant midranger in todays era and i'd love some help from you guys choosing from the following cpu & gpu combos, knowing that some games make better use of the video card than the processor, but also keeping in mind what might "age better" in the next few years performance wise.

PS: Budget is very tight so i'm grabbing at every last euro here; therefor please give me clear cut winners and losers:

a) AMD FX 8320 + GeForce GTX 660
b) AMD FX 6300 + Radeon R9 270X OC
c) Intel i5 4440 + GeForce GTX 750 Ti
d) Intel i3 4130 + GeForce GTX 660 OC

Thanks alot! I really appreciate it!

More about : cpu gpu combo years

a b à CPUs
May 3, 2014 4:58:34 PM

What resolution.
a b à CPUs
May 3, 2014 4:58:56 PM

also you probably know you need a new motherboard
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May 3, 2014 5:04:45 PM

Obviously, but first i need to figure out if i should spend more on the CPU or on the GPU. The motherboard comes afterwards.
a b à CPUs
May 3, 2014 5:08:52 PM

Well said. If the resolution is around 1080p or less I recommend the i5 as the best. The 6300 as the best overclocking value, and the i3 as a great gamer now but not later. I would save for a gpu until after you get the motherboard and other parts since that is the best thing to wait for since the market is going to change with more used amd cards for nice prices.
May 3, 2014 5:27:22 PM

The motherboards i can afford are:

MSI 760GA-P43 (FX) AM3+
ASUS H81-PLUS 1150

With this in mind, what cpu+gpu combo do u recommend from those?
May 3, 2014 5:53:44 PM

Skimp on the GPU now, but don't skimp on the mobo/CPU. CPUs have a MUCH longer liftetime than GPUs do. An obvious example is how a Core 2 Quad is still an entirely valid chip today, while a video card from that era is unusable.

I'd go with an 8320 unless you can swing an 8350 (only $30 more in the U.S., I'm not sure about overseas prices). Eight cores does you little good now, but there's a clear trend to more cores in the future. Similarly, overclocking isn't necessary now, but as the CPU is nearing the end of it's useful life overclocking can extend it. Sometimes spending a little bit extra now for an unlocked chip saves you replacing it entirely later on. Plus, AM3+ is generally cheaper to build with than an intel platform.
a b à CPUs
May 4, 2014 5:08:16 PM

I say 6300 or i5. The 8350 is not cost effective against intels i5 if you consider the costs of overclocking. I think the 4430 is just fine.
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