CPU and GPU Upgrades for Asus M5A97 R2.0

Yaox25

Reputable
Sep 29, 2014
6
0
4,510
Hi, I am running the following setup:
PU: AMD FX-6300
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0
RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 8GB DDR3-1600MHz
GPU: Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB GDDR5 DirectCU II TOP

I am looking into changing my GPU and CPU for better ones, what is the best GPU and CPU available for the motherboard that i have?
 
Solution
For that particular board, the 'best' CPU is the FX-8370 (https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A97_R20/HelpDesk_CPU/). However, it only boosts you up a couple of tiers, & as @SR-71 Blackbird pointed out the AM3+ platform is pretty much out of upgrade options.

CPU- and motherboard-wise, the best bet would be to wait for the AM4/Ryzen platform to get released & be benchmarked.

GPU-wise...you have some options available that would also work with any new system you build later on. If your monitor can only manage at best 1080p/60Hz performance, then an RX 480 or GTX 1060 would be an ideal GPU upgrade for you. If it can handle 1080p/144Hz up to 1440p/60Hz, then a GTX 1070 would be great. Anything higher, you'll want a GTX 1080.

Yaox25

Reputable
Sep 29, 2014
6
0
4,510


Which motherboard/gpu/cpu setup would you suggest under the 500$?

Thanks in advance,
 

spdragoo

Expert
Ambassador
For that particular board, the 'best' CPU is the FX-8370 (https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A97_R20/HelpDesk_CPU/). However, it only boosts you up a couple of tiers, & as @SR-71 Blackbird pointed out the AM3+ platform is pretty much out of upgrade options.

CPU- and motherboard-wise, the best bet would be to wait for the AM4/Ryzen platform to get released & be benchmarked.

GPU-wise...you have some options available that would also work with any new system you build later on. If your monitor can only manage at best 1080p/60Hz performance, then an RX 480 or GTX 1060 would be an ideal GPU upgrade for you. If it can handle 1080p/144Hz up to 1440p/60Hz, then a GTX 1070 would be great. Anything higher, you'll want a GTX 1080.
 
Solution