Best $150 CPU?

[DeathHat]

I have an FX-6300 and motherboard that is dying, and I would like to get a new CPU and motherboard. I have an r9 390 GPU so I would like one that would not bottleneck it. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[modernwar99]

i5 or go home.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $246.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-13 20:06 EDT-0400

 

[DeathHat]

i5 or go home.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $246.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-13 20:06 EDT-0400

I want a REALLY high quality motherboard though. My current one is shit and killed my processor and itself. Not dead yet, but nearly there. I am tight on money, the lower the price, the better. I also plan on getting a second card and watercooling my rig once I get enough money. I just want a decent CPU with an AMAZING motherboard so that there is less of a chance of failure.

 

[DeathHat]

I am also an overclocker.

 

[geofelt]

Intel does not depend on high powered motherboards for performance.

Unless you will be using ln2 and competitively overclocking, most any motherboard will do.

You have not stated your budget.

I3-4170 will generally be a better performer in games than the FX-6300 at a similar price point. H97 motherboard is fine.
I5-4460 and H97 would be the next level.
Once you get into the $200+ cpu range, I strongly suggest i5-6700K and a Z170 motherboard.

None of the intel processors need or benefit from liquid cooling. Spend your money elsewhere.
I3 and I5 run fine on the stock cooler. I5-6700K can benefit from a simple 120mm tower cooler.

Once you run out of graphics capability, plan on simply replacing it with the next best thing. GTX980ti today, pascal or amd next year.
Your current psu will suffice.

 

[modernwar99]

That mobo is high quality in terms of build quality but not features quality, since it's unlikely to OC very well. A good OCing board with CF support and K series i5 doesn't come cheap though...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($111.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $341.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-13 20:34 EDT-0400

You could get a FX 8350 for $150 but even a stock i5 will beat an OCed 8350. And the FX has no good upgrade options once it's more obsolete than it already is, you have to switch to intel either way.

 

[modernwar99]

Unless you will be using ln2 and competitively overclocking, most any motherboard will do.

I3-4170 will generally be a better performer in games than the FX-6300 at a similar price point. H97 motherboard is fine.
I5-4460 and H97 would be the next level.
Once you get into the $200+ cpu range, I strongly suggest i5-6700K and a Z170 motherboard.

Don't get an i3, it's not worth it. I have an i3 and R9 390 and the i3 bottlenecks. I agree with you except for the skylake. Considering his original CPU price was $150 and he said he wanted to OC, a $250 i5 6600k, $120+ Z170 mobo, and a new set of $50 DDR4 RAM looks to go a bit too far over his budget. My suggestion is even well over his budget.

 

[DeathHat]

That mobo is high quality in terms of build quality but not features quality, since it's unlikely to OC very well. A good OCing board with CF support and K series i5 doesn't come cheap though...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($111.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $341.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-13 20:34 EDT-0400

You could get a FX 8350 for $150 but even a stock i5 will beat an OCed 8350. And the FX has no good upgrade options once it's more obsolete than it already is, you have to switch to intel either way.

Thank you. I will just save up more and get this. AMD had dissapointed me. Intel it is then.