Computer upgrade help

[2ndgenguy]

I have a 400$ budget to upgrade this system: Graphics: SAPPHIRE HD 7870 GHz Edition
OC 2GB GDDR5
Power Supply: LEPA N Series N500-SA 500W
Asus M2N68-AM PLUS Motherboard - Socket AM2+, Micro ATX, nForce 630a, GeForce 7025 Graphics, SATA, RAID
AMD HD9750WCJ4BGH Phenom X4 9750 Quad Core Processor - 2.40GHz, 2MB L3 Cache, 3600 MT/s FSB, Quad-Core,
Crucial CT25664AA800 2GB Desktop Memory Module - PC6400, DDR2, 800MHz, DIMM x 2
Seagate ST31000520AS Barracuda LP Hard Drive - 1TB, 5900rpm, 32MB, SATA-3G

What would you do?

 

[Col Da Red]

Go with the fx 6300 will run about $120. With that get a cheap am3+ asus motherboard (around $100). 4gb 1600mhz ram ($50 range). Lastly get a gtx 750 ti (around $150)

 

[exroofer]

The 7870 is more powerful than a 750Ti. The OP does not need a new video card.
6300, AM3+ mobo, Hyper 212. 990fx mobo if possible., for more options later, and more OC headroom. 8 GB DDR3 ram, 2 x 4 GB sticks for dual channel.
SSD if it fits in your budget after the above.

 

[2ndgenguy]

The 7870 is more powerful than a 750Ti. The OP does not need a new video card.
6300, AM3+ mobo, Hyper 212. 990fx mobo if possible., for more options later, and more OC headroom. 8 GB DDR3 ram, 2 x 4 GB sticks for dual channel.
SSD if it fits in your budget after the above.

How about this? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9110154&sku=M69-00112

 

[exroofer]

That looks like a decent deal. You would definitely notice the difference.
Budget for a decent aftermarket cooler. Stock coolers are pretty blah.
Hyper 212 is best bang for buck. They cost like $30 ish. Plus a few bucks for a tube of Arctic Silver 5.

You would need new ram, putting your old ram in would not be smart. Which is why a 6300 plus 990fx board would leave enough money for 8 GB of good cl9 ram within your budget. If you want to spend a wee bit over your budget, go 8350 package plus ram.

Check dimensions of everything to make sure it fits comfortably in your case. It "should" if you have a mid tower case.

 

[2ndgenguy]

That looks like a decent deal. You would definitely notice the difference.
Budget for a decent aftermarket cooler. Stock coolers are pretty blah.
Hyper 212 is best bang for buck. They cost like $30 ish. Plus a few bucks for a tube of Arctic Silver 5.

You would need new ram, putting your old ram in would not be smart. Which is why a 6300 plus 990fx board would leave enough money for 8 GB of good cl9 ram within your budget. If you want to spend a wee bit over your budget, go 8350 package plus ram.

Check dimensions of everything to make sure it fits comfortably in your case. It "should" if you have a mid tower case.

Thanks! Will my power supply be enough?

 

[zeyuanfu]

I would say go the Pentium G3258 and Z97 way. It won`t be really powerful right now but it WILL later, with the upgrade path the Core i5-4690K later that will CRUSH any FX CPU (OK, maybe not the 9590) in gaming.

 

[2ndgenguy]

I would say go the Pentium G3258 and Z97 way. It won`t be really powerful right now but it WILL later, with the upgrade path the Core i5-4690K later that will CRUSH any FX CPU (OK, maybe not the 9590) in gaming.

But I already have an AMD sticker on my case

 

[zeyuanfu]

Take it off?

 

[logainofhades]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $397.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-12 15:25 EDT-0400

 

[zeyuanfu]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($54.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.66 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $302.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-12 15:31 EDT-0400
Pentium if you want
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4350 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($143.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.66 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $391.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-12 15:31 EDT-0400
Core i3 if you want a better CPU

 

[exroofer]

Your PSU will be enough if it is now, since the vid card isn't changing. But you will want more watts next year if you go for a more power hungry card.
Should be ok for this upgrade cycle though.

Or you could succumb to the Intel blather and spend the same money for a dual core as you would for a six core, that would give you a barely noticeable difference in fps, and less performance in multi threaded programs.

My brand new 8350 is sitting in the closet, waiting to go in next week when the R290x shows up. That will drop right in to the AM3+ socket that my 975BE is currently occupying. Which came out of my old set up. OR you could change mobo's/socket/cpu's every two years. Me, I'm poor. So...no.
But you can do whatever is best for you...