Don't know which cpu/motherboard to purchase in need of help please!

[pcnoobie0418]

Quick intro, my computer recently broke, and the technician. said i have to replace my motherboard and cpu.
I'm looking to get a cpu/motherboard in the range of $300-350, Im not really a computer guy, slowly trying to learn more though. The only specs i really know of my computer is i have
8gb Ram
radeon 7850 2 GB
coolermaster 650w
Also running on 1680x1050 monitor

Cpu i've been looking at:
i3 3220
i5 3470
AMD Bulldozer FX-4100

MotherBoards:
ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AMD970/SB950
Gigabyte B75M-D3H
I use my computer alot for playing games,watching movies and browsing web.
Looking to play Battlefield 3 on ultra with AA/AF off(if i can)

Also which case would you pick?
Case:
Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case
Bitfenix Merc Alpha Steel Black ATX Mid Tower Case

Ive been leaning towards the i3-3220 or 4100 because it is like $50 cheaper.
About the motherboard im not sure how important they are, so im just trying to get the cheapest one possible. Im a

Leave a comment on what cpu i should purchase please. Would an i3-3220 with 7850 run bf3 multiplayer?

P.S: I ran battlefield on ultra with 7850 and my old cpu amd phenom 840T 2.9ghz at around 30-60fps. But the graphics card was defective so it burned my motherboard and cpu. Or my computer was too hot and my motherboard/cpu took my 7850 down with it lol. Just bought the 7850 over the weekend so just gonna return that.

 

[BreadWhistle]

I'd personally recommend 3470 w/ a ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP mobo. You'll need a quad core for BF3, that's why I'd get an i5

 

[Hazle]

just spend that extra $50 for that i5 + B75m. an i3 is doable in BF3, though you will experience a performance drop in 64-players online maps unless you lower the settings and few missing NPCs in campaign (though i doubt you still play that). the 3470 should be a major improvement over your 840T, though not specifically in BF3.

 

[pcnoobie0418]

just spend that extra $50 for that i5 + B75m. an i3 is doable in BF3, though you will experience a performance drop in 64-players online maps unless you lower the settings and few missing NPCs in campaign (though i doubt you still play that). the 3470 should be a major improvement over your 840T, though not specifically in BF3.

Can you expand on when you say 3470 is a major improvement but not in bf3? Because im probably going to get 3470 but dont want it to be bad for gaming

 

[heavymetal2000]

The i5 3470 will make noticanle differences in larger scale online mp games over the i3 due to games like battlefield 3 utilizing more cores from your cpu. Ever consider a x4 965 be cpu?

 

[Hazle]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-4.html

http://techreport.com/review/23246/inside-the-second-gaming-performance-with-today-cpus/6

BF3 doesn't benefit by much when it comes to the CPU, to an extent. though to be fair, the benchmarks measures performance in campaign mode. in case you still do play this mode, there's been claims (haven't gotten to confirming it myself) that you will be missing some NPCs in the game if you go with a dual core over quad. no biggie, mind you.

in multiplayer, though, you'll have a lot more trouble trying to hit 30-60fps @ultra in 64-player maps with a dual core like an i3. the FX-4100 is a compromise, i guess in this regard, but assuming you wanna play other games other than BF3 that utilizes the CPU well, like Skyrim, the 4100 may disappoint you;

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-3.html

http://techreport.com/review/23246/inside-the-second-gaming-performance-with-today-cpus/3

 

[pcnoobie0418]

The i5 3470 will make noticanle differences in larger scale online mp games over the i3 due to games like battlefield 3 utilizing more cores from your cpu. Ever consider a x4 965 be cpu?

Ya I've looked into a couple of amd cpus, and a lot of people have said that Intel is better. Since it won't go over my budget im probably gonna get 3470

 

[pcnoobie0418]

Best answer selected by Pcnoobie0418.

 

[pcnoobie0418]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-4.html

http://techreport.com/review/23246/inside-the-second-gaming-performance-with-today-cpus/6

BF3 doesn't benefit by much when it comes to the CPU, to an extent. though to be fair, the benchmarks measures performance in campaign mode. in case you still do play this mode, there's been claims (haven't gotten to confirming it myself) that you will be missing some NPCs in the game if you go with a dual core over quad. no biggie, mind you.

in multiplayer, though, you'll have a lot more trouble trying to hit 30-60fps @ultra in 64-player maps with a dual core like an i3. the FX-4100 is a compromise, i guess in this regard, but assuming you wanna play other games other than BF3 that utilizes the CPU well, like Skyrim, the 4100 may disappoint you;

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-3.html

http://techreport.com/review/23246/inside-the-second-gaming-performance-with-today-cpus/3

Thank you for the insight. really helped alot. Ya im not even going to touch campaign for bf3, but i do plan on playing singleplayer games like skyrim, far cry 3 etc... in conclusion im going to be getting the 3470 as it won't go over my budget. again thanks gave you best answer if it means anything 😀

 

[xFriarx]

The i5 3470 will make noticanle differences in larger scale online mp games over the i3 due to games like battlefield 3 utilizing more cores from your cpu. Ever consider a x4 965 be cpu?

An i3 would be just about equivalent to a 965 (if not better lol). I wouldn't recommend it, I would go with the i5. I played with an 965 the last few years and upgraded to an i7 and HOLY CRAP! LoL. I would seriously go with the i5.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-4.html

http://techreport.com/review/23246/inside-the-second-gaming-performance-with-today-cpus/6

BF3 doesn't benefit by much when it comes to the CPU, to an extent. though to be fair, the benchmarks measures performance in campaign mode. in case you still do play this mode, there's been claims (haven't gotten to confirming it myself) that you will be missing some NPCs in the game if you go with a dual core over quad. no biggie, mind you.

in multiplayer, though, you'll have a lot more trouble trying to hit 30-60fps @ultra in 64-player maps with a dual core like an i3. the FX-4100 is a compromise, i guess in this regard, but assuming you wanna play other games other than BF3 that utilizes the CPU well, like Skyrim, the 4100 may disappoint you;

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-3.html

http://techreport.com/review/23246/inside-the-second-gaming-performance-with-today-cpus/3

Those are SP benches which do not stress the CPU as bad as MP does. In MP I would hit 90%+ CPU utilization on my 965 on certain maps (mostly the Close Quarter maps with all the added destruction). I would definitely recommend the i5. It will last a few years, an i3/AMD, not so much.

*Edit*
Looks like you decided. Good choice. For the mobo I have had the AsRock z77 Extreme4 for a couple months now and can't complain.

 

[heavymetal2000]

Ya I've looked into a couple of amd cpus, and a lot of people have said that Intel is better. Since it won't go over my budget im probably gonna get 3470

Its more or less how you define better imo. But the i5 3470 is without a doubt a good cpu. Just dont get caught up with people telling you intel is always better for every situation.

If your trying for bang for buck You wouldnt buy a ferrari when a when a honda could do the same job right?

 

[pcnoobie0418]

Its more or less how you define better imo. But the i5 3470 is without a doubt a good cpu. Just dont get caught up with people telling you intel is always better for every situation.

If your trying for bang for buck You wouldnt buy a ferrari when a when a honda could do the same job right?

Yup, still trying to learn everything about computer parts. It was hard enough to learn about all the gpu models and which ones are good. Now that i looked at cpu.. its even more confusing. I always thought the more and higher ghz means better cpu.
TIL it wasn't like that at all ^.^