PC Upgrade Ideas

rapidpuma59 said:We have officially decided to go with Intel, but I have just one more question.
Looking through the Best Buy website, I noticed they have about fifteen different models priced around the $100 mark. It's the same story with motherboards. Could someone explain this to a layman? What is the actual difference, and does picking a model that is, say, $100 more expensive actually mean a significant jump in quality?
Don't think I'm trying to play hardball here; I just don't know enough about this stuff and I'm genuinely curious.

There is no difference in build quality; it's purely a matter of raw power.
By tier:
You've got Celerons (2 cores)—perfect for basic office PCs (web surfing and such). Then there's Pentium (slightly better with 2 cores), and the i3 (2 cores and 4 threads), which is decent for casual gaming. However, because of next-gen titles, you're better off going with an Intel Core i5 (4 cores), or an i7 (4 cores, 8 threads) if you're doing professional work.

To clarify—why is a 4-core i5 better than an FX-6300 with 6 cores? Simply put, the individual cores are much more efficient.

Regarding the Phenom II X4, my thought process is more or less this: ever since Call of Duty: Black Ops hit the shelves, I’ve been feeling this constant pressure to upgrade the rig just so my "heir apparent" can actually run his games without a meltdown. Honestly, for what my wife and I needed back in the day, that initial setup was perfectly adequate, but since we never quite had the extra cash lying around for a major overhaul, we fall into this predictable, weary cycle where technical headaches start surfacing every November right when the big, demanding titles drop. I have this nagging suspicion that because I didn't know much better, I was essentially a walking ATM for my local computer shop guy, who always had a way of looking me in the eye and insisting everything was perfectly fine when it clearly wasn't. If I were to just grab this processor, I feel like I'd be making the exact same mistake all over again. This time, I genuinely want to shell out a bit more, do it properly, and actually resolve the issue once and for all. I am well aware that in the realm of technology, everything is relative and hardware becomes obsolete before you can even blink, but still.
On a purely technical note—and I hope this isn't too granular—is it absolutely necessary to swap out every single component at once (meaning, dropping all the cash right now), or could I perhaps pull a move like upgrading the power supply today and then tackling the motherboard and processor down the road?

rapidpuma59 said:Just some technical whining here: do I really have to swap out every single component all at once—like, drop all the cash right this second—or could I, say, grab the power supply now and deal with the motherboard and CPU down the road?

Of course you can play it that way... Just grab the power supply, get that headache out of the way, and then worry about the upgrade later...

And when the time comes, if you want my two cents, just go with an Intel Core i5...

If I were in your shoes, I’d just pick up a used Phenom II X4. For something like Far Cry 3, you aren't really going to see a massive difference by dropping in an FX chip or an Intel Core i5. The real question is whether your current processor would even hit 100% utilization anyway. And even if it doesn't max out, that doesn't necessarily mean you're dealing with a bottleneck.

I’m on the same page as Taylor Gray8—it makes sense to prep the ground first by sorting out the power supply. Once you move on to the CPU, motherboard, and RAM, you'll finally see what your graphics card is actually capable of. From there, you can decide if you're happy with the performance; if not, just sell it and put some extra cash toward a more powerful card.

Hey, quick question here,
which would you guys prioritize for an upgrade: picking up a new GPU or just grabbing some more RAM?

It really depends on the specific situation. If I'm currently struggling with just 2GB of RAM, then upgrading is a no-brainer. But if everything is running smoothly? I wouldn't bother—it would just be throwing money down the drain.

Yeah, I'm currently sitting at 2GB of RAM and I’ll probably grab another 2GB soon—quick question though, when I go to pick up that extra stick, does it have to be an exact match to what I've already got? Right now I'm running a 2GB Samsung DDR3 400MHz stick. Does the manufacturer, capacity, and frequency all need to line up? Thanks!

As for dual channel, I can't say for certain. To be safe, you really want sticks from the same manufacturer with matching frequencies and latencies. It might work if they aren't from the same brand as long as the timings align, but honestly, why gamble? You're better off just grabbing two identical sticks or a matched kit so you don't have to worry about stability later on.

thanks, appreciate it

I suppose it is time to breathe some life back into this thread.
At eDigital, they’ve slashed the price on the Intel Core i5-4430 3.00GHz CPU down to just $416, though one really ought to get the order in immediately before it vanishes. Sadly, they don't even have the MSI Motherboard that Timothy60 suggested earlier. Does anyone have a recommendation for a suitable alternative?
I find myself circling the drain here, hesitating, but seeing as eDigital has dropped their prices so significantly—and given that the gap between Intel and AMD is now a mere $67—everything in my gut is pulling me toward Intel.
My only lingering hesitation stems from certain reports I've read suggesting they can be quite unreliable when it comes to shipping times for ordered goods. Furthermore, everyone here has been insisting that Intel is the superior choice for gaming. I am also wondering which processor would serve me better for video editing; I'm talking very amateur stuff in Movie Maker, you know, converting formats or prepping clips to upload to YouTube and that sort of nonsense.
I realize how absolutely absurd this might sound, but right now, looking at the specs, this i5 feels like a total underdog compared to the AMD, so I am genuinely curious to hear your thoughts.

Look, that i5 isn't exactly a premium steal; it’s basically the same architecture as the i5-3350p. Honestly, for just a few bucks more at the same retailer, you could probably snag an FX-8350 instead. As for whether you can trust Best Buy, if luck is on your side, your order might show up pretty quickly—but if not, you could be sitting around waiting for a month.

rapidpuma59 said:Bringing this thread back to life.
At eDigital, the price for an Intel Core i5-4430 - 3.00GHz CPU dropped to just $416, but you have to order it. Unfortunately, they don't even have the MSI Motherboard that New Guy suggested. Any ideas for a replacement?
I'm circling the drain here, but since eDigital slashed their prices and the gap between Intel and AMD is only $67, I'm leaning toward Intel.
My only worry is hearing that they're unreliable when it comes to shipping orders. Also, everyone said Intel is better for gaming. Which chip would be better for video editing—the i5 or the AMD 6300? I'm talking amateur stuff in Movie Maker (converting formats, prepping clips for YouTube, that kind of junk).
I know it sounds crazy, but right now the i5 looks like a total underdog compared to the AMD, so I want your take.

If it's just amateur work, it doesn't matter if you wait 10 or 15 minutes (kidding).

Stay away from eDigital. A buddy from work ordered parts there and waited a month and a half... plus, he got faulty RAM, and even after filing a claim, he waited almost 2 months for a fix. He didn't get his RAM in two days until he threatened to call the Better Business Bureau.

Fine, I'm staying far away from those guys.
Honestly, I have to wonder if there is actually a meaningful difference when comparing the FX-6300 to the FX-8320, or even looking at the jump from an Asus M5A97 R2 to the Asus M5A97 R2 EVO. I find myself constantly weighing these options, wondering if the performance boost will be palpable when I'm trying to run Ghost or getting ready for the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto V and other similar titles. Or am I just overthinking things, and this lower-end setup is perfectly adequate for what I need?

http://www.hardwarepal.com/call-duty...performance/6/
I ran some tests using a GTX 770, and if you're building specifically for gaming, all these components are worth considering. Some models here offer better voltage regulation, which makes them a superior choice if you plan on overclocking. However, when it comes down to actual gaming performance, your GPU is really the star of the show. You could probably save about $40 by opting for a cheaper CPU and maybe another $50 on the motherboard, leaving you with an extra $133 to put toward a much better graphics card. That price difference between a GTX 760 and a GTX 770 pretty much covers that entire saving. Honestly, no other combination is going to give you better gaming value than this.

David Sanders4, I really appreciate the help. I’ve decided to pull the trigger on the FX-6300 paired with an Asuaic motherboard for now. Currently, I'm still limping along with an Nvidia GTX 650, so upgrading the graphics card will have to wait until my next big leap.

David Sanders4 said:When it comes to gaming, the graphics card is the absolute priority. You can easily save about $40 on the CPU and maybe $50 on the motherboard, leaving you with more $133 to put toward a superior GPU.

Look at this

THIS is a better board (superior voltage regulation)—meaning it should be more stable for serious overclocking, though if I'm not mistaken, that isn't really your concern, so it doesn't matter much.

You won't notice any difference in code performance because the game itself isn't particularly demanding; the 8320 might stay relevant for a while longer (think next-gen titles, simulations, etc.), but the area where you would actually feel a massive impact is the graphics card.

I find myself wondering, purely out of an insatiable sense of curiosity, which specific Intel Core i5 would truly hit that sweet spot for me. You know, Timothy Kim60, you were just suggesting the Intel Core i5-4440 paired with an MSI Motherboard, and honestly, that idea took hold of me; I was actually considering pulling the trigger on them, especially since eDigital is running some decent discounts right now. But then, of course, everyone else seems to be shouting from the rooftops that I should steer clear of those components entirely, which makes them feel once again frustratingly out of reach. It feels like my only real option is to sit here, wait, and slowly scrape together enough cash, though I can't shake this persistent, nagging feeling that I am constantly missing the mark somehow. $167Well, as things stand right now, I don't actually have them on hand—it’s all just theoretical at this point. If I were forced to make a move today, I suppose I'd be looking at cutting back on the RAM just to afford an Intel Core i5 instead.

http://www.amazon.com/details/product-link-placeholder

Alternatively, any budget H81 motherboard will get the job done.

http://www.amazon.com/details/product-link-placeholder

You’re overthinking the CPU situation; even an FX 6300 holds its own and will stay relevant for upcoming titles. Think of it like this: the GPU is the engine driving the gaming experience, while the CPU just needs enough horsepower to keep up. Right now, your graphics card is being bottlenecked, meaning it's sitting there underutilized. Upgrading the processor should help you squeeze more performance out of the card you already own. It’s hard to predict the exact jump because every game handles hardware differently, but you can expect higher minimum FPS and fewer sudden stutters.

Later on, if you decide to tackle next-gen titles at higher settings, that's when you should look into swapping out the graphics card.

They'll probably feel a massive boost just by swapping out that pathetic Ryzen for a Core i5.