CPU + Motherboard combo

Hey there!

I could really use some advice on picking up a new CPU and motherboard.

Here’s what I’m running right now:

CPU: Intel Pentium dual E2200
Motherboard: Asus P5L-MX
GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 650
PSU: 500w power supply
RAM: Crucial Ballistix RAM

Since I've got about $220 to work with—roughly—I was thinking about grabbing this combo:

CPU: AMD Athlon ii x4 750
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P
RAM: 1x 4 GB Crucial 1600MHz (planning to grab another 4GB stick next month)

Total price $499.

The only thing I'm stuck on is the board—should I go with the one above or the ASRock FM2A78 PRO4 +?

Which one do you think is the better bet?

Also, any idea if I can get anything for my old CPU, motherboard, and RAM?

Thanks for the help!

A much better route:

1 x AMD FX X6 6300 3.5GHz,14MB,95W,AM3+ FD6300WMHK
1 x Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11

Total at:$542 Newegg
This 6-core processor is quite a step up from the one you were looking at—it gives you plenty of breathing room, too, since it allows for future upgrades to even beefier eight-core chips like the AMD FX-Series, which would let you pair it with much stronger graphics cards down the road. If you can swing an extra hundred bucks, I’d say it’s worth stretching the budget just a little bit.
And please, do make sure you pick up a decent cooler if you don't already have one—those stock coolers that come bundled with AMD parts are notoriously subpar; they struggle to keep things cool and tend to be quite loud. That applies to the processor you originally picked as well. This should do the trick perfectly: http://www.newegg.com/product-details/11633

1 x Intel Pentium G3258 (3.20GHz,512KB,3MB,54 W,1150) Box
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x ASRock Z97-PRO3, s1150, Intel Z97

$497
Newegg

I suppose this Pentium is probably the smarter way to go, especially if you're planning on overclocking anything, plus having this motherboard gives you a much wider range of upgrade paths compared to what you'd get with FM2, I guess.

You might want to give this setup a look—honestly, the price point is pretty solid:

AMD FX 8320 @ 3.50GHz

Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P motherboard

Total cost:$496 Newegg!

4GB RAM (2x2GB)

Just a quick reminder—if you don't already have a cooler similar to the one I suggested in my last post, please make sure to pick one up along with these parts!

If you absolutely have to stick to that specific budget, here is how I would approach it:
1 x AMD FX X6 6300 3.5Ghz (4.1GHz) box
1 x Crucial 4GB DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) CL11
1 x Asus M5A78L LX3

Total: $483
You might also consider adding an extra $33 for the LC-CC-95/97. It is a significantly higher quality cooler than the Spire Kepler model, especially since it features a 4-pin connector.

Alternatively, you could follow what Amy Vaughn12 suggested: go with a Pentium and then overclock it. However, if you take that route, wouldn't you also need to pick up a decent cooler?

FM2+ Overclocking Combo:

AMD Athlon x4 860 k CPU (3.7GHz, 4MB, 95W, FM2+) box, Kingston ValueRAM
Kingston ValueRAM (4GB, 1600MHz, Single Rank, Unbuffered) KVR16N11S8/4
ASRock FM2A78 PRO4 + motherboard, FM2+
Raijintek Aidos Black CPU Cooler - 92mm P/N: CPRT-009

Total: $519 centro

I guess you could use $117 as the starting point for the CPU, motherboard, and RAM.

crimsonstag84 said:FM2+ Overclocking Combo:

AMD Athlon x4 860 k CPU (3.7GHz, 4MB, 95W, FM2+) box, Kingston ValueRAM
Kingston ValueRAM (4GB, 1600MHz, Single Rank, Unbuffered) KVR16N11S8/4
ASRock FM2A78 PRO4 + motherboard, FM2+
Raijintek Aidos Black CPU Cooler - 92mm P/N: CPRT-009

Total: $519 centro

I guess you could use $117 as the starting point for the CPU, motherboard, and RAM.

It doesn't really make sense—for $23 more, you can get a six-core AMD FX 6300 paired with a solid board, which gives you the headroom to upgrade to an AMD FX 8320 down the road.

Thanks for the quick replies, everyone!

Just gonna do a little more Googling...