Motherboard compatibility questions

Regarding
Call of Duty 1024 x 768 - Medium Graphics

What on earth is that poet trying to say?
Movies are shot at 24 fps because that’s roughly what the human eye perceives; I recently saw someone playing Crysis at 30 fps wondering why it felt so smooth...
I don't see any mention here of which GPU was used for this test.

The real issue is that some people simply lack reading comprehension. Try reading my entire post from start to finish before deciding to comment...

David Sanders4 said:In StarCraft.
Call of Duty 1024 x 768 - Medium Graphics
Call of Duty 1024 x 768 - Medium Graphics,
What exactly was the poet trying to get at?
Movies run at 24 fps because that's basically how the human eye perceives motion. I remember someone playing Crysis at 30 fps recently and they were actually surprised by how smooth it felt...
I don't see which GPU was used for this testing?

The problem is that some people simply don't know how to read. You should try reading everything I've written from start to finish before you even think about commenting.

The CPU requirements for these heavy-hitting games are becoming undeniable, especially with what's coming down the pipeline. I’m done arguing about it or trying to prove a point without hard data, but seriously—just look up some benchmarks or reviews for Call of Duty 1024 x 768 - Medium Graphics, Crysis 1, or Natural Selection 2. It'll show you exactly what I mean.

http://www.ocaholic.ch/xoops/html/mo...mid=816&page=8
http://www.ocaholic.ch/xoops/html/mo...mid=816&page=7
http://www.ocaholic.ch/xoops/html/mo...mid=816&page=5
http://www.techspot.com/review/615-f...nce/page6.html

I’m not looking for an argument, nor am I trying to offend anyone—none of that is happening here.

Look, let’s keep this civil—everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. I’m planning to touch base with an IT specialist to get some clarity on the specifics, but here’s my take: the CPU and motherboard are relics from 2007. When I originally picked up this PC, it cost me about $600—it served its purpose, certainly—but I’m no expert on hardware. My goal is simply to build something that will last me the next four or five years without needing another upgrade... that seems like the most logical way to approach this.

EDIT: If anyone feels like helping out—aside from the person who already suggested those Intel builds under $500—please post some quality combinations. To reiterate: I already have a 500GB hard drive and the rest; I just need a new power supply, graphics card, motherboard, and processor.

1 x LG GH24NS DVD burner, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R, 8x DL, 40x CD-R
1 x MSI R7770, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm, DVI + HDMI x1
1 x AMD Trinity Athlon ii x4 750 processor, 3.40GHz 4 cores
1 x Thermaltake Contac 21, fits 775, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, 1155, 1156
1 x 8GB DDR3 Kit (2x4GB) Kingmax, 1600MHz, CL9.0, 128Mx8, FLGF
1 x CORSAIR 430W Power Supply, CX Series 80+ Bronze, EPS12V v2.3, 80+
1 x MSI FM2-A75MA-E35, FM2, micro ATX, AMD A75 chipset, 2xDDR3

$1008
newegg.com

1 x AMD Trinity Athlon ii x4 740 processor, 3.20GHz 4 cores
1 x 4GB DDR3 (1x4GB) Kingston, 1333MHz, CL9, Value
1 x Asrock FM2A75M-DGS - AMD A75 Hudson D2, micro ATX, Solid Capacitor
1 x CORSAIR 430W Power Supply, CX Series 80+ Bronze, EPS12V v2.3, 80+
1 x LG GH24NS DVD burner, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R, 8x DL, 40x CD-R
1 x Sapphire HD 7850 + DiRT Showdown, 1GB GDDR5 256bit, 28nm, DVI

$1002

David Sanders4 said:The thing is, some people just don't know how to read. Maybe try reading everything I wrote from start to finish before jumping in with a comment...

Okay, look—it’s pretty obvious you haven't really played fast-paced FPS games before, so you probably don't get the massive difference between playing at 30 fps versus 60 fps. It's night and day, honestly, regardless of whether the human eye "notices" it or not...
One more thing, though—all those benchmarks everyone cites are usually for single-player modes, but Battlefield 3 multiplayer is actually twice as demanding on the CPU compared to the single-player campaign! You won't really get that until you actually sit down and play it. For me, my old Q6600 held steady over 60 fps in single-player, but in multiplayer, it would hit 90 sometimes but then suddenly tank down to 25 fps. And let me tell you, having sudden drops to 25 is way worse than just having a constant 25. The worst part is when the frame rate jumps around like crazy... it just feels different, you know? Just try it.
When I swapped in an i5 3570k using the exact same settings and the same graphics card, my fps didn't dip below 60 once!
You can't just skim through a couple of reviews or look at some graphs and say, "Well, that's just how it is." Because it isn't always like that until you actually experience it firsthand.
I mean, sure, in some other game that isn't super CPU-heavy, an older processor will work just fine without any issues...
But this guy wants something that's going to last him 4 or 5 years, and we've already got some incredibly demanding games coming out this year alone...

Robert Rodriguez2 said:1 x LG GH24NS DVD writer, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R, 8x DL, 40x CD-R
1 x MSI R7770, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm, DVI + HDMI x1
1 x AMD Trinity Athlon ii x4 750 3.40GHz quad Core
1 x Thermaltake Contac 21, 775,AM2,AM2+,AM3,AM3+,FM1,1155,1156
1 x DDR3 8GB (2x4GB) Kingmax, 1600MHz, CL9.0, 128Mx8, FLGF
1 x CORSAIR 430W Power Supply, CX Series 80+ Bronze, EPS12V v2.3, 80+
1 x MSI FM2-A75MA-E35, FM2, micro ATX, AMD A75 chipset, 2xDDR3

$1008
us.tech

1 x AMD Trinity Athlon ii x4 740 3.20GHz quad Core
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1333MHz, CL9, Value
1 x Asrock FM2A75M-DGS - AMD A75 Hudson D2, micro ATX, Solid Capacitor
1 x CORSAIR 430W Power Supply, CX Series 80+ Bronze, EPS12V v2.3, 80+
1 x LG GH24NS DVD writer, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R, 8x DL, 40x CD-R
1 x Sapphire ATI 7850 + DiRT Showdown, 1GB GDDR5 256bit, 28nm, DVI

$1002

Maybe something a bit cheaper—slightly lower quality, too.

EDIT: Like I mentioned before, I just need the GPU, motherboard, RAM, and processor 😉—I already have everything else.

I definitely agree, though an HD7770 will probably only manage low FPS for another year or two. Honestly, most people won't even notice the difference between 30 and 60 FPS—it’s hard to tell unless you're dealing with massive drops, but if the frame rate is locked, it's a different story. That’s exactly why Nvidia's adaptive VSync exists. It's also worth looking at both minimum and average FPS in reviews, rather than just focusing on one number. On the flip side, if he’s set on Intel, I’d suggest aiming for a 3770k or maybe a 3470k. That CPU could actually keep up with at least 4 or 5 decent GPUs, though he'd likely need to swap out his graphics card every single year just to maintain a steady 60 FPS. Of course, that assumes he's playing at 1920x1080, because in my book, playing shooters without widescreen is practically a crime these days. If budget is tight, I’d still say grabbing a 7850 is a much better move than sticking with a 7700; he can just push through on 1280x1024 for another couple of years. That was my advice: either go for the better GPU now, or look for a used Q6600 or Q9550 at a reasonable price—not something priced like it's made of solid gold.

David Sanders4 said:I definitely agree, but that HD7770 is going to be hitting low FPS in a year or two. It’s obvious you won't notice much difference between 30 and 60 FPS; you might feel the drops, but if it's locked, it's hard to tell... that's why Nvidia Adaptive VSync exists. Some reviews list both minimum and average FPS, which is something people should actually pay attention to. On the other hand, I'd recommend a 3770k or 3470k if he wants Intel, because that CPU can handle at least 4 or 5 cards, though he'll need a beastly GPU and will probably have to swap it out every year if he wants to stay at 60 FPS... assuming he plays at 1920*1080, since widescreen is basically the standard for shooters now. If his budget is tight, getting an ATI 7850 is better than a 7700, and he can just push through on 1280*1024 for another few years—that was my advice. Or just grab a used Q6600 or Q9550 at a decent price, not some overpriced nonsense.

Give it a rest... enough with the quoting... not everyone is playing BF3 or those other shooter crap games on Ultra settings.😁
And you and everyone else... the guy didn't come here for your nonsense, he came to get a build that lets him play decently.

Do you even see what kind of budget this kid has? And he's still trying to cut it down...

Off-topic: below $1000 is how it looks, since he doesn't even need high-end optics... so, like this:

1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1333MHz, CL9, Value
1 x MSI R7770, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm, DVI + HDMI x1
1 x CORSAIR 430W Power Supply, CX Series 80+ Bronze, EPS12V v2.3, 80+
1 x AMD Trinity Athlon ii x4 750 3.40GHz quad Core
1 x MSI FM2-A75MA-E35, FM2, micro ATX, AMD A75 chipset, 2xDDR3

$847
I wouldn't go lower than this, everything comes with a 3-year warranty.
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1333MHz, CL9, Value
1 x MSI R7770, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm, DVI + HDMI x1
1 x AMD Trinity Athlon ii x4 740 3.20GHz quad Core
1 x Asrock FM2A75M-DGS - AMD A75 Hudson D2, M-ATX, Solid Capacitor
1 x FORTRON 400W Power Supply, HEXA 400, 12cm fan, Active PFC

$800

So, I'm leaning toward this build—but is it actually worth it once you crunch the numbers? Can I snag something better for this kind of cash, or am I doing okay here?

Build Specs $982

✎SAPPHIRE AMD RADEON HD 7770 GHz edition OC Graphics Card, 1GB DDR5, HDMI, DVI, 2xDP, HDTV

✎PC-12800 Memory, 4 GB, CORSAIR CMZ4GX3M2A1600C9 Vengeance, DDR3 1600MHz, 2x2GB kit

✎AMD Athlon ii x4 740 box Processor, FM2 socket, 3.2GHz, 4MB cache, quad Core

✎ASROCK FM2A75M-DGS Motherboard, AMD A75 FCH, DDR3, audio, S-ATA, RAID, VGA, G-LAN, PCI-E, DVI, D-SUB, micro ATX, FM2 socket

✎500W Power Supply, LC Power Pro Lin Series, ATX, v2.3, 135mm fan, black

Will all these parts play nice together—and is this GPU actually decent enough to handle newer titles like CoD or Battlefield?

If you shop at that link, you’re going to end up paying way more than everywhere else... a 7770 will probably cost $130+ in the future.

Whatever you do, don't go for a 2x2 GB RAM setup—your motherboard only has two slots total. That'll definitely bite you later on. You should grab at least a single 4GB or even an 8GB stick instead.
for example, this

As for the power supply (if you actually have one), grab this one or this first—both are solid choices, but those two are much more battle-tested by actual users.

EDIT—your graphics card is fine, especially if you aren't playing at Full HD or obsessing over maxed-out settings in the latest titles... If you can swing it, stepping up to an ATI 7850 would be the move.
Given what you'd be spending at that link, you really ought to check if this one performs better. Generally speaking, the 650Ti outperforms the 7770, but since yours is an OC and some kind of GHz edition, you'll need to find someone who tracks those specific special editions to see if the 650Ti still holds the edge.

Timothy Kim60 said:If you shop at that retailer, you're going to end up paying way more than everywhere else...

Whatever you do, don't grab a 2x2GB RAM kit—your motherboard only has two slots. That’ll bite you later. Go with at least a single 4GB or even an 8GB stick instead
for example, this one.

Regarding the power supply (assuming there is one), check out this option or this one first—they're solid enough, but those two have much better reputations among users

EDIT—your graphics card is fine, especially if you aren't pushing Full HD or obsessed with maxing out settings on the latest titles... A step up would be an ATI 7850 if the budget allows.
Given what you'd be paying at that specific store, it might be worth seeing if this model performs better. Generally, the 650Ti outperforms the 7770, but since yours is an OC and a GHz edition, you'd really need someone who tracks those special editions to confirm if the 650Ti still holds the edge.

Right, so since prices are higher there, maybe I could just piece together similar high-quality parts from different shops to save some cash? I'm not sure if it'll actually be cheaper though—that store is in Pula, and while other places like Futura exist, once you factor in all the shipping costs, the difference might just disappear.

Links
is probably only worth it if you're buying with gift cards, I guess.

fadedorca66 said:The only way those Links actually save you money is if you're paying with gift cards.

That’s what I was planning to do—but why would it even be cheaper in the first place?

I mean, just check out Amazon or something. You'll see the price gaps between those specific links and the other big retailers pretty quickly...

Larry Bailey94 said:That’s what I was thinking about paying, but why would it even be cheaper in the first place?

At Best Buy, the prices are identical whether you're using cash or a credit card—but most other shops will give you a discount for paying cash. I mean, whatever, it's just business policy. They get the cash right then and there, instead of having to sit around waiting two or three months for the credit card processor to actually release the funds. It's just how they run things.

fadedorca66 said:Just check out PriceGrabber or something—you'll see the price gaps between those specific links and the other big-box retailers immediately...

I LOVE YOU MAN hahahaha you're a lifesaver 😍 now I actually have room in here for a slightly beefier build😉

So, an IT guy put this build together for me—claimed it would be perfectly fine and run without a hitch. He suggested I grab the GIGABYTE AMD RADEON HD 7770 OC with 1GB of VRAM for about $1, $43, but then I stumbled upon this Gigabyte GF GTX650 Ti OC, featuring 2GB GDDR5, DVI, and DP, for roughly $1, $100. Now, I'm just not sure if it'll actually play nice with this motherboard!

Motherboard: ASROCK FM2A75M-DGS, AMD A75 FCH, DDR3, audio, S-ATA, RAID, VGA, G-LAN, PCI-E, DVI, D-SUB, micro ATX, socket FM2

Graphics Card: Gigabyte GF GTX650 Ti OC, 2GB GDDR5, DVI, DP

Power Supply: 600W, LC Power super Silent Series, ATX2, v2.2, 120mm fan, black, PFC

CPU: AMD PHEANOM II X4 955 BOX black edition, socket AM3, 3.2GHz, 8MB cache, quad Core

And finally, 4GB of RAM—he insists that for my needs, anything more would be overkill. Totally sufficient, apparently.

What’s the verdict? Like I mentioned, he originally wanted to go with the GIGABYTE AMD RADEON HD 7770 OC, 1GB DDR5, HDMI... but I ended up picking up this GIGABYTE GF GTX650 Ti OC, 2GB GDDR5, DVI, DP

Larry Bailey94 said:So, an IT guy put this build together for me. He assured me the whole setup would be solid and run without any hiccups. His specific recommendation was to grab the GIGABYTE AMD RADEON HD 7770 OC with 1GB of VRAM, which is sitting right around $100.$43Oh, look what I stumbled upon! Gigabyte GF GTX650 Ti OC, 2GB GDDR5, featuring DVI and DP ports, available for $1.$100I honestly can't say for sure if this will actually work with the motherboard I have!

Motherboard: ASROCK FM2A75M-DGS, featuring an AMD A75 FCH chipset, DDR3 support, high-quality audio, SATA, RAID, VGA, Gigabit LAN, PCI-E, DVI, and D-SUB ports. This is a standard micro ATX board utilizing the FM2 socket.

Graphics Card: Gigabyte GF GTX650 Ti OC, 2GB GDDR5, featuring DVI and DP outputs.

600W power supply, LC Power super Silent Series, ATX2, v2.2, featuring a 120mm fan, black finish, with Active PFC.

Check out this AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition. It’s an AM3 socket processor running at 3.2GHz, featuring 8MB of cache and a solid quad Core architecture.

And finally, I went with 4 GB of RAM. He insisted that for my specific needs, anything more would be overkill—and honestly, it should be plenty.

What are your thoughts? Like I mentioned before, he was planning on going with that GIGABYTE AMD RADEON HD 7770 OC with 1GB of DDR5 and an HDMI port, but I decided to pull the trigger on this GIGABYTE GF GTX650 Ti OC instead—it’s got 2GB of GDDR5, plus DVI and DP.

Seriously? Are you kidding me? How can someone calling themselves an IT professional not realize that an AM3 socket processor won't fit into an FM2 motherboard? It's like trying to plug a Ford spark plug into a Tesla—it's just fundamentally incompatible.

The GTX 650Ti OC just isn't worth the price tag. $433 If you can grab an HD7770 for roughly the same price, just go for it—it's a noticeable step up from the 7850.

If you check the Links, you'll see that getting the 460W LC Power Pro Lin Series is actually a much better value for the money. It's a smarter play for the same price.

Timothy Kim60 said:Listen, any IT guy will tell you—that AM3 processor isn't going to work on an FM2 board...

That GTX 650 Ti OC isn't much of a deal $433 when you can grab a significantly better 7850 for basically the same price.

For the power supply, if you're shopping at Micro Center, the 460W LC Power Pro Line LC6460GP3 V2.3 with a 140mm fan is a much better value for your money.

My bad, my bad—I copied the wrong motherboard specs from my old list... he actually said this one is an ASRock N68-GE3 UCC, featuring GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a, DDR3, audio, VGA, G-LAN, S-ATA, RAID, PCI-E, mATX, with an AM3 socket.