What kind of thermal headroom are you aiming for at 2500K? Looking back at your old thread, I see you're running a Mugen—what kind of overclocking results are you getting with that setup? Personally, I don't think there's any real need to swap out the heatsink.
The 1155 socket is an older platform, but you won't notice a massive difference in raw CPU performance. The main advantage of the 1150 setup is actually the better integrated graphics. You can still slap some beefier processors like an i5 or an i7 onto an 1155 board—just keep in mind that if you want to upgrade in a few years, you'll likely be hunting through eBay for used parts.
Adam Moore3 said:No, there isn't a bottleneck here, at least not with my G3220 (which has a lower stock clock and obviously can't be overclocked) paired with an AMD Radeon RX series card. I checked this using EVGA Precision X1. Playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Grand Theft Auto V, Dragon Age, or Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor... the GPU usage stays consistently above 95%...
Those Pentium chips are actually quite solid for single-player games. As long as the title isn't heavily CPU-bound—like that recent Hitman game—they pair perfectly with a GTX 770:
I even talked to someone running a G3220 with a GTX 770; they mentioned everything ran great in most single-player titles, though they did run into a bottleneck in CPU-heavy games like Metro: Last Light.
To get an 1155 setup running, you’re looking at a G1610 or a G1620 paired with something like an H61 motherboard. Just keep in mind that the integrated graphics are pretty weak, and you'll miss out on USB 3.0 and SATA 3 support—unless you step up to a B75 board instead.
Don't even bother with those pre-built configurations; they're a total rip-off once you look at the actual price.
crimsonorca172 said:Yeah, I realized I totally misread the specs for the CPUs and the GPU, but only after I already bought them. 😁
So, we're looking at a Celeron paired with something like this motherboard, right?
Exactly, it needs to be an LGA 1150 socket. If you don't mind my input, this one might actually be the better call since it features a DVI output for integrated graphics—assuming your monitor even supports DVI—which is a nice little safety net for the future.
crimsonorca172 said:I’m not looking to play heavy games here. This is basically a family PC for the kids to play their little games and watch movies. Since they're young, we aren't talking about hardcore gaming. 🙂 My wife and I will mostly just be using it for web browsing and general stuff. So, does Intel have the better integrated graphics (within this budget range where both the CPU and motherboard stay under $100)? That actually matters more to me than raw processing power.
If I end up going with AMD for some reason, which of these should I pick: - AMD Sempron x4 3850, AM1 - $96 - AMD Athlon x4 5150, AM1 - $126 - AMD CPU Richland A4-Series X2, FM2 4000 - $76
The FM2 motherboards cost more, which pretty much cancels out the savings from picking a cheaper dual-core chip.
I know anything I pick will handle our basic needs. However, my goal is for this machine to remain functional for the same purpose five years from now.
You misunderstood—the AMD A4 5300 actually has the superior integrated graphics compared to the Celeron. The Celeron is the stronger processor in terms of pure CPU performance.
For Facebook and browser-based Flash games, both options are plenty. Regarding the AM1 platform, Tiki explained it well: you can upgrade to more powerful quad-cores on an FM2 or FM2+ board. On the Intel side (using the LGA 1150 socket), you have the option to upgrade to significantly beefier processors later on, like an i5 4440...
Look, even by today's standards, these processors aren't exactly powerhouse machines (they are $80, after all), so don't expect them to still be relevant in five years. Realistically, whatever you buy today will feel outdated in five years anyway.
Not in this particular case; that Celeron from $80 is an absolute steal. If you look at AMD options in this same tier, you might end up with a weaker CPU, but you'll get much better integrated graphics—something like the A4 5300 paired with an FM2 motherboard would be a superior choice if gaming is your priority. However, if you don't plan on playing games, I'd personally stick with the Celeron
It might provide a minor boost, but you're still looking at a bad deal because that single-core CPU is a massive bottleneck—honestly, it’s barely enough for basic web browsing these days. It just isn't worth the money; you're better off ditching that ancient platform altogether.
EDIT
Grab something like this instead:
You'll get integrated graphics along with a much more powerful CPU all in one package. Games will run significantly smoother than they do on your current setup, and if you want more power later, you can always slap in a dedicated graphics card down the road. As for a hard drive, if it's SATA you don't necessarily need to buy one, but if your current drive is as old as the rest of this rig—I'm guessing it's some tiny 80 or 160GB unit that's painfully slow—then it's a different story.
crimsonorca172 said:Thanks! 🙂 In theory, I don't really need a drive that massive, but the price jump from a 500GB model is probably negligible anyway.
the difference is usually only about $27 - you're essentially doubling your capacity for a small premium since the extra storage space itself isn't the main driver of the cost, it's just the mechanism inside.
If you're deciding between the FX 6300 Gigabyte 970 A-DS3P or the ASUS M5A97 R2, you'll also need an aftermarket cooler. You could go with something budget-friendly like a Spire Kepler or an LC-CC-95, or step it up to something more premium if you plan on overclocking.
Regarding the Intel Core i5-4440, it really comes down to how many features you want in a motherboard. You can't just pick any board—it absolutely has to be an LGA 1150 socket. Look for chipsets like H81, B85, H87, or H97.
For instance, if you want a board with four RAM slots without breaking the bank, I’d suggest looking at the Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H, the ASRock B85M Pro3, or even the Pro4.
Your APU isn't actually any more powerful than a Phenom X6 ii x4 9 xx
If you’re looking for a real upgrade, aim for an Intel Core i5-4440 or go the AMD route with an AMD FX-Series X6 6300 or an FX 8320. Anything else is just a lateral move, not a step up.
Honestly, that's not exactly a steal for that card. That R7 260 is performing about the same as a GTX 650, yet there's a newer option available with a full 3-year warranty that's even cheaper (around $210 +). If you want to stick with NVIDIA to take advantage of CUDA, look at a GTX 750 for roughly $267 +/-; it'll actually outperform the GTX 650.
rowdydrifter15, what's the deal with your Phenom X6? Is it actually dragging you down during processing, even with that SSD? Based on how you described your needs being pretty basic, that rig should technically be cutting it... You might just need an extra 4GB of RAM or a new GPU if yours finally kicked the bucket.
By the way, what kind of games are we talking about here? What counts as "old school" to you—something from 1999 or maybe 2010? It’s such a subjective thing. If you're looking at titles from the 90s up through roughly 2006, you could probably max those out even on integrated graphics from something like an Intel Core i5-4440, and maybe even some newer stuff.
Also, quick heads-up guys: right now, the R7 250 and 250X aren't worth the money at all. You can find the R7 260 (non-X) in most shops for the same price, or sometimes even less.
If it fits any Intel socket, it’ll work on an AM3+ one too—the exterior looks identical and hasn't changed in years. The only real difference between various sockets is the pin layout for the processors themselves, which doesn't matter at all when you're mounting a cooler. They probably didn't list it on the website because they assume everyone already knows, or they just haven't updated the page yet.
Keep in mind that the last two options are much more heavy-duty than the first two because they feature more heatpipes, larger fans, and stay well under 2000rpm.
Melissa Castillo31 said:I'm checking out Micro Center because it's basically my only decent local option within driving distance of 31 miles, unless I order from Newegg, but their shipping costs are killer...
🤔
If I recall correctly, Micro Center only has physical stores in major hubs like New York City, where, thank goodness, you actually have several budget-friendly alternatives nearby... Plus, you've got those overpriced delivery services to deal with.
You still haven't mentioned what you're planning to use the PC for, right?
I honestly can't recall; I stumbled upon that link ages ago on one of their threads over on the PC hardware forums.
BTW, looking at it right now—it’s still inconsistent. For instance, they aren't listing warranties for things like CPU coolers or power supplies... But hey, I guess it's still a work in progress.
