Best GPU and CPU for under $300

[HowBoutDemPats12]

Instead of just buying a new PC and building it, I was just going to buy a new GPU and CPU, I currently have an Intel Core i5-2320 and a AMD Radeon HD 7350 and they're just not cutting it, I just want to play/stream Modded Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto, Terraria, Garry's Mod, Euro Truck Simulator, nothing intense by any means, just on max settings at 1080p with like 45-60 fps, so whatever would do that, just let me know, thank you all for your help

 

[Woody1999]

What's your motherboard? Some LGA1155 motherboards have support for Ivy Bridge processors as well.

Woody

 

[vlxedits]

Since you have a pretty old i5, the motherboard that supports it is pretty outdated as well. This really limits your options for a " good " cpu upgrade. If you were willing, I would raise that budget by a bit so you can buy a new motherboard as well.. if not, any gpu upgrade we would suggest would have to be slowed down by the processor

 

[Woody1999]

Since you have a pretty old i5, the motherboard that supports it is pretty outdated as well. This really limits your options for a " good " cpu upgrade. If you were willing, I would raise that budget by a bit so you can buy a new motherboard as well.. if not, any gpu upgrade we would suggest would have to be slowed down by the processor

Not necessarily. As I said, some (actually most) LGA1155 motherboards have support for Ivy Bridge CPUs (that's the 3000 series). These are still very powerful processors that have even better overclocking chops than Haswell.

Woody

 

[vlxedits]

I guess this could work with your existing motherboard: PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $299.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-21 15:33 EDT-0400

The gtx 960 will play any game you throw at it with pretty great settings, kind of an old i3 though but should be fine

 

[Woody1999]

I guess this could work with your existing motherboard: PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $299.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-21 15:33 EDT-0400

The gtx 960 will play any game you throw at it with pretty great settings, kind of an old i3 though but should be fine

You might want to consider looking for used Ivy Bridge i5s on ebay or similar, and preventing the GTX 960 bottleneck.

Woody

 

[tech-wreck]

if you can stretch the budget to an i5 35xx and a gtx960, even better.

 

[HowBoutDemPats12]

I forgot to mention that it's a $300 budget for each item like a $300 processor and $300 GPU

 

[vlxedits]

I guess this could work with your existing motherboard: PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $299.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-21 15:33 EDT-0400

The gtx 960 will play any game you throw at it with pretty great settings, kind of an old i3 though but should be fine

You might want to consider looking for used Ivy Bridge i5s on ebay or similar, and preventing the GTX 960 bottleneck.

Woody

I forgot to mention that it's a $300 budget for each item like a $300 processor and $300 GPU

With that budget, are you okay with getting a new motherboard so you can open up cpu upgrade options?

 

[Woody1999]

Oh nice!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-P ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Mwave)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 380 2GB Video Card ($199.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $594.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-21 15:42 EDT-0400

Awesome black and white colour scheme.

Woody

 

[HowBoutDemPats12]

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[mason marnell@1457018692]

You may need a new PSU as well If you don't already have a big enough one. The 380 is 10x more power hungry than the HD 7350.

 

[mason marnell@1457018692]

You may need a new PSU as well If you don't already have a big enough one. The 380 is 10x more power hungry than the HD 7350.

 

[Woody1999]

Ah yes, but a 500W power supply will be suffice, if the OP has it. The R9 380 is based on the R9 285, which used the Tonga GPU, with much better power efficiency than the other R9 200 series cards.

Woody