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Started by Dus | | 12 answers
Any budget CPU to go with a GTX 970?
My CPU is an Intel i3 2100 3,1 Ghz. I manage to get 60+ fps with my GTX 970 in a vast majority of tests but minimum FPS does hit 20-30 fps on certain occasions. Obviously my CPU is suspect.

Are the only CPUs that can make an appreciable difference here the 4th generaiton i5s and i7s? I ask because my current motherboard is an Intel DH61WW and only supports 2nd generation and 3rd generation CPUs (LGA1155 socket). With only a budget of around $200 an Intel Core i5 3470 is what is within my reach now.

My question specifically is this - would an incremental upgrade to a CPU like the i5 3470 make any difference at all or is going for a new motherboard + 4th gen processor the only way out? (in which case I'm better off just saving the $200 for now)

PS: My primary usage is game development (Unreal Engine 4), 3D painting (eg: Substance Painter) and of course gaming :)  A beefy CPU will also help me build lightmaps for levels faster and run Visual Studio better but for now I'll be happy with just a budget CPU to avoid bottlenecking the 970.
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October 14, 2014 1:38:16 PM

@k1114 - good catch! Apparently I fail at googling.

That said, discounts make the i7 cheaper than the e3 1245 right now.
October 14, 2014 1:28:38 PM

I'll sleep over it and pick a solution tomorrow :)  thanks everyone for your great replies again, I'm continually in awe of how quick and helpful this forum is!
October 14, 2014 1:15:08 PM

Nice- grab it!! It is a great CPU.
October 14, 2014 1:13:10 PM

India. Looking at another thread on this site (3rd gen v/s 4th gen) it seems 4th gen o.nly offers improved integrated graphics with a marginal perf boost - this realization is suddenly making the i7 3770 an attractive proposition. It's about $329.99 of course but there's a festival sale going on over here that I may be able to leverage.
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October 14, 2014 1:02:20 PM

What country? Take passmark with a grain of salt though. It's much better to look at real world software benchmarks than synthetics.
October 14, 2014 12:58:26 PM

Looks like that CPU ranks 188th.
October 14, 2014 12:55:41 PM

Thanks all for the great replies, this forum sure is fast :) 


@cowboydude99 - I'm looking at the cpubenchmark data now to get a sense of the cost-benefit payoff.

@k1114 - e3-1230v2 is not available in my part of the world unfortunately.

@boosted1g - agreed, A Gigabyte B85M-D3H with a 4th gen i5-4460 may also be within my reach if I push my budget a bit.

Best solution chosen by Dus

October 14, 2014 12:45:07 PM

Take a look here.
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

Sort it based on 'rank' and then go down to #1. Take a look at the best ranked CPUs.

I'd go for the i7 3770 if I were you. Yes you could upgrade to a new MB and CPU (4th gen) but the increase will not be so great.
Rank is 69 overall.

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