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Older AM3 vs. Newer FM2+

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  • GPUs
  • CPUs
  • Gaming
  • New Build
Last response: in CPUs
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September 25, 2014 8:03:35 AM

Hi there!
After months spent reading your posts i finally dediced to signup to ask my first question.
In the past 2010, i built my first budget gaming pc, which configuration is as follow:


Case: Inter-Tech CK-35 Observer
Mobo: ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3-AMD 870 ATX
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1075T 3.0GHz (NO OC)
RAM: Corsair 1600MHz 8GB (2x4gb)
GPU: Sapphire Radeon 5770 DDR5 OC Ed.
PSU: Inter-Tech Energon EPS 750W
Disk: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB 3.5"

I've been using it for all this time and always did his duty.

Now i'm willing to build a new gaming pc, that will become a full feature XBMC media center in the living room (movies and, most of all, gaming console) attached to my (cooming soon) HD TV (i'm still researching for it, but i think i will go for a 50-55 inches Sony Bravia LED TV, which seems the best speaking of input lag).

So the new build must be:
* Compact and (possibly) silent: i found this 2 cases which are very nice
* Aerocool DS cube (microATX)
* Silverstone Raven rvz01 (this is my favorite) (miniITX)
* Powerfull : it shall allow me to play fullhd for the next years without problems.

The question is: can i recycle something from the old pc? I know that the 90% of it won't fit my needs (case, psu, gpu,mobo...), that's fine, but maybe the CPU can still be used. I don't find it too weak compared with nowadays FM2+ cpu (A10-7700K ).Also, i don't like very much having an APU and a discrete GPU. Different story the AM3+ socket, but it seems impossible to find a miniITX mobo of this family.

Will a (i.e.) R9 270x or 280 be bottlenecked by the CPU?

PS: anyhow, the target setup will be AMD + ATI, i can't afford an INTEL+NVIDIA combo.

Thanks!

More about : older am3 newer fm2

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a b 4 Gaming
September 25, 2014 8:20:21 AM

Going with an FM2+ cpu would be a downgrade. You could go with a micro atx AM3+ board and reuse your current CPU. What is your budget for CPU, Motherboard, and GPU?
September 25, 2014 8:29:59 AM

Thanks for your answer!

Ok, happy that my guess was correct!

I was considering the same thing, but i really like the silverstone case, which doesn't supports microatx, only mini-ITX.

The budget for CPU+GPU+MOBO would be around 400euros, but if i can avoid to buy a new CPU and spare some bucks it will be better.
Related resources
a c 902 à CPUs
a b 4 Gaming
September 25, 2014 8:44:53 AM

This is a little over the 400 mark, but would be a great setup for gaming, and definitely an upgrade. The coolermaster elite 130 is a nice, and fairly inexpensive Mini-ITX case as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (€154.24 @ Home of Hardware DE)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard (€92.89 @ Home of Hardware DE)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270X 2GB TurboDuo Video Card (€164.89 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Total: €412.02
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-25 17:44 CEST+0200
September 25, 2014 8:54:13 AM

Is that CPU way better than my X6? I mean, does it really worth the bill?
a c 902 à CPUs
a b 4 Gaming
September 25, 2014 8:58:41 AM

Yes it is definitely much better than your old X6. No worries about bottlenecks either. It is also more power efficient, which equals less heat. Something you want in a mini-itx rig.
September 25, 2014 9:10:33 AM

Ok, and there's a solution if i want to keep my CPU? eventually going to a microATX form factor?
I don't like to toss my CPU if it still good, but i surely don't want to build a system that's CPU limited
September 25, 2014 9:14:56 AM

If I were you, I would upgrade the graphic card and possibly add an SSD. your system is still ok, unless you want to do a whole rebuild, then you might wanna change everything. Intel is not that much more expensive for an entry level i5.
Try to sell your PC, use the money on your new build. Thats what I did.
a c 902 à CPUs
a b 4 Gaming
September 25, 2014 9:22:29 AM

attax89 said:
Ok, and there's a solution if i want to keep my CPU? eventually going to a microATX form factor?
I don't like to toss my CPU if it still good, but i surely don't want to build a system that's CPU limited


The PhII chips were awesome chips, but they are starting to show their age.
September 25, 2014 9:43:46 AM

@zxt827 to sell the old pc is a good option.

Noob question: is my CPU compatible with a AM3+ Mobo?in that case i can do a 2 stage process.. buy now a new AM3+ Mobo and a new GPU (along with a smaller case) and then change the CPU within 2 years.
a c 902 à CPUs
a b 4 Gaming
September 25, 2014 9:50:36 AM

AM3+ boards are compatible, but it is a dead end. No new AM3+ chips will be coming out, other than refreshes of current FX chips. Also, your CPU would start bottlenecking at about the R9 265-270 mark. No mini-itx option for AM3+ either.
September 25, 2014 11:49:02 AM

Oh, bad news.
So AMD will release only APU CPUs? Not good IMHO.

So, i'm starting to seriously consider to sell the old machine and build a new one based on intel; it seems to have more options speaking of mobo and form factor.

Many thanks guys, you were very helpful.
a b à CPUs
a b 4 Gaming
September 25, 2014 11:54:38 AM

yeah, the best choice would probably be to sell your current pc and use the money to help you do a new haswell i5 mini itx build, they don't produce that much heat and are efficient. I still wouldn't mind doing a mini itx build myself, I could just never come up with the right case. That cheap cooler master elite one seems intriguing, I believe I also looked at the much more expensive Fractal Node 3 or 4
a c 902 à CPUs
a b 4 Gaming
September 25, 2014 12:04:55 PM

I want a mini-itx build with a Xeon 1231v3. :lol: 
!