Solved Which New Processor Should I Get:

[Danielzxzx]

I'm planning on upgrading my processor but I don't know which one to get. I asked 2 of my friends who have a good processor.

Friend 1: Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.80GHz
Friend 2: AMD Phenom X4 II 955 BE 3.2GHz

They both are getting good fps in a game that requires a good processor while i'm only getting around 20 fps.


Here is the summary of my computer that Speccy gave me:

Operating System
. MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU
. AMD Athlon II X3 425 51 °C
. Rana 45nm Technology
RAM
. 7.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 399MHz (6-6-6-18)
Motherboard
. Acer RS780HVF (AM2) 55 °C
Graphics
. W2343 (1920x1080@60Hz)
. ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics (Acer Incorporated [ALI])
. ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series (Sapphire/PCPartner) 47 °C
. CrossFire Disabled
Hard Drives
. 977GB Western Digital WDC WD10EARS-00Y5B1 SCSI Disk Device (RAID)
Optical Drives
. ATAPI DVD A DH16AASH ATA Device
. ELBY CLONEDRIVE SCSI CdRom Device
Audio
. USB PnP Sound Device


So which would be the better processor to buy?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You want to change the processor only, nothing else?

If so, that eliminates the Intel. I did not check to see if the AMD Phenom X4 II 955 BE is compatible with your existing motherboard.

 

[Danielzxzx]

I have already upgraded my graphics card and got more RAM. Now I want to upgrade the processor.

EDIT: So are you saying that the intel won't work on my motherboard?

 

[bobkn]

Neither one, if you hope to use it in your current motherboard.

The Phenom X4 II 955 BE is an AM3 CPU, and it may not be compatible.

The I7-860 is a Socket 1156 chip. Completely incompatible. (No pins on the CPU, even; its an LGA socket. It's also out-of-date; mostly Socket 1155 CPUs are available from Intel now.)

If you want a new CPU, you probably want a new motherboard and DDR3 memory as well.

At that rate, you may as well start from scratch. The power supply in the Acer may be weak in the context of a good gaming system.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You asked "which would be the better processor to buy?"

From a list of 2.

The Intel will not work.

Leaving you with the AMD. It may or may not work, depending on compatibility.

 

[Anthony]

I agree, don't waste your money doing that!!

Get new motherboard, CPU, Memory & probably a new power supply.

Good Luck!!

 

[Danielzxzx]

So I need a new Motherboard as well? I don't even know where to start in upgrading the motherboard. Can anyone help?

 

[Anthony]

Whats your budget?

 

[Danielzxzx]

Well my Dad is going to be the one buying it and I don't know how much he is willing to pay. He is also not home right now so I can't ask.

From what I already know the processor seems to be around $300 and he seems to be fine in paying for that. I also have $200 of my own money that I'm willing to pay. So if I add that up I would say around $500. Maybe $600

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Generally---you can get a strong CPU/motherboard/RAM combination for maybe 450 US $.

You'll need new RAM for sure.

Decide if you want Intel or AMD CPU.

 

[Danielzxzx]

I don't even know which type to get. AMD or Intel. I guess which ever one would give more fps in the game I play that requires a processor upgrade.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

With your budget of 500 to 600 for CPU, motherboard, and RAM, most would tell you Intel.

Here is a typical possibility in US dollars

8 GB of DDR 3 RAM: 50

Motherboard: midrange socket 1155 from Asus, Intel, Gigabyte, or Asrock: 140 to 200.

CPU: Intel; at the low end maybe an i5-2500 for 210; or an i7-3770k for 340 at the upper end.

You may or may not need a new case.

I assume your PSU is adequate.

 

[Danielzxzx]

If you look at my system specs you will notice that I don't know what both a case and a PSU is. How do i find out what they are so I update my system specs and let you know so you can tell me if I need a new one of those as well?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

PSU is the Power Supply Unit; generally called a power supply.

Case is that black or beige colored thing that everything is in, probably 16 or 18 inches high.

You have an Acer motherboard, so I assume it is an Acer case and Acer power supply.

The case may be OK and may be a problem. Sometimes manufacturer's like Acer have oddball cases that make it difficult to use replacement parts, such as a new power supply.

Your current power supply is probably modestly powered, maybe 250 watts, and maybe only fair quality.

I'd probably budget 60 to 80 US for a new power supply with a bit more power and of good quality.

The case is another story. It SHOULD be OK, but it's difficult to be sure unless you can find someone with that Acer model who had put a new motherboard and power supply into it.

 

[Danielzxzx]

Acaully I remember getting a new power supply when I upgraded my graphics card so should be fine for power supply. Is there a way for me to get you information on my Power supply and Case? Can I get it using Speccy?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yeah, try Speccy.

But I'm not sure it will identify the PSU or case.

Instead, I'd open the case up and read the info directly off that new power supply you say you replaced. What brand? What model number? What wattage? What ampere ratings?

Your specs say you have a Acer RS780HVF motherboard. How did you get that info?

 

[Danielzxzx]

I got the motherboard information from speccy. I am going to find out the PSU and case information.

EDIT: I can't open the computer up right now so I'll find out what my PSU and Case is later.

For now lets say the power supply and case are fine. What would be a good motherboard and processor to get?

 

[Solarstarshines]

I know everyone is saying Intel but AMD is alot cheaper and you can get a 4100 fx 109 bucks

Newegg.com - AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX for 20 bucks more get this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106009 They are already clocked high and you don't need to do any overclocking

Ram 47 bucks Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B

MotherBoard 59 bucks Newegg.com - BIOSTAR A880GZ AM3+ AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Psu 89 bucks Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom

Os http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
About 400.00 dollars alltogether

you already have a gpu I gave a higher Psu in case of a future Gpu upgrade

500.00 dollars could get you better but if you want to work with a budget and for future you can build around go this route then later you can do more beefing

 

[Danielzxzx]

With your budget of 500 to 600 for CPU, motherboard, and RAM, most would tell you Intel.

Here is a typical possibility in US dollars

8 GB of DDR 3 RAM: 50

Motherboard: midrange socket 1155 from Asus, Intel, Gigabyte, or Asrock: 140 to 200.

CPU: Intel; at the low end maybe an i5-2500 for 210; or an i7-3770k for 340 at the upper end.

You may or may not need a new case.

I assume your PSU is adequate.

So would this be the higher end and more expensive option?

I know everyone is saying Intel but AMD is alot cheaper and you can get a 4100 fx 109 bucks

Newegg.com - AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX for 20 bucks more get this one Newegg.com - AMD FX-4170 Zambezi 4.2GHz (4.3GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4170FRGUBOX They are already clocked high and you don't need to do any overclocking

Ram 47 bucks Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B

MotherBoard 59 bucks Newegg.com - BIOSTAR A880GZ AM3+ AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Psu 89 bucks Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom

Os Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems
About 400.00 dollars alltogether

you already have a gpu I gave a higher Psu in case of a future Gpu upgrade

500.00 dollars could get you better but if you want to work with a budget and for future you can build around go this route then later you can do more beefing

And would this be the lower end and cheaper option?


So right now now I have 3 options.
1. the higher end option that is in the first quote.
2. The lower end option that is in the second quote.
3. Buy a new computer.

I want to go for the higher end option so I don't have to go and upgrade again and I can be certain that the games will run at a good speed with it but maybe the lower end will work fine. I don't know. And since I'm upgrading so much maybe just getting a new computer would be the better option.

So which option should I go for?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So which option should I go for?

The low end Intel option would be as I stated, using the i5-2500 CPU

The high end Intel option would be the i7-3770K.

They differ in price by about 130 dollars (210 versus 340)

Plus RAM, motherboard and possibly case and power supply.

That effectively is a "new computer".

You can look here to get a rough idea of raw CPU horsepower:

PassMark Intel vs AMD CPU Benchmarks - High End

If you wanted, you could get an even lower end Intel for less money, but your budget says you don't need to do that.

Most of your gaming performance is related to your graphics card anyway.