Question Gigabyte GA-H81M-S2H CPU

[Alanothen]

My son’s gaming computer has a Gigabyte GA-H81M-S2H motherboard with an Intel Core i5 4460 CPU (Haswell). As is often the case, he has been very happy with it, but games are gradually overtaking the machine’s capability. What would be the best CPU I could fit to the motherboard, and would that be a worthwhile improvement, or should I be thinking about a more fundamental change of hardware?

Many thanks,

Alan

 

[--SID--]

No happy gaming without GPU. What brand and model GPU is in the system?
What RAM?
Brand and model PSU?

 

[Alanothen]

No happy gaming without GPU. What brand and model GPU is in the system?
What RAM?
Brand and model PSU?

Okay, but I’m not sure those details would affect the best CPU to fit, would they?

The GPU is a GeForce GTX1660
RAM is 8192 MBytes PC3-12899H
I wouldn’t know the brand and model of the PSU without looking inside, but I really don’t think that can be very relevant in this context, can it?

Anyway, all I want to know is what is the best CPU I could fit to replace the current Intel Core i5 4460 CPU.

Any help would be much appreciated,

Alan

 

[--SID--]

Okay, but I’m not sure those details would affect the best CPU to fit, would they?

If there's not a dedicated GPU jet a CPU upgrade isn't very usefull for gaming.

I wouldn’t know the brand and model of the PSU without looking inside, but I really don’t think that can be very relevant in this context, can it?

GPUs are very expensive these days. GTX 1660 is worth $400 and a better CPU draws more power. You don't want to use those components with a bad PSU.

all I want to know is what is the best CPU I could fit to replace the current Intel Core i5 4460 CPU

You took a look here already?

 

[Alanothen]

If there's not a dedicated GPU jet a CPU upgrade isn't very usefull for gaming.

GPUs are very expensive these days. GTX 1660 is worth $400 and a better CPU draws more power. You don't want to use those components with a bad PSU.

You took a look here already?

Thank you for replying, but I think you are playing games with me.

The very nice list of CPUs in the link is fine, but doesn’t really answer my question. Which one of those models would be sensible to change to?

If anyone can give me a simple answer and not just try to make me look foolish I’d appreciate that very much.

Alan

 

[Wolfshadw]

Unless you can find an Intel Core I7-4770/4790 for a reasonable price, there really isn't any sensible CPU upgrade for your current motherboard.. You would probably be better served with a full system replacement, but if that's not possible, then I'd probably do a RAM upgrade to 16GB (2x8GB DDR3-1600) to replace what you currently have installed.

-Wolf sends

 

[Lafong]

Using the Passmark benchmark:

your i5-4460; passmark score 4801 multi thread; 1899 single thread

i7-4790, which seems to be the strongest CPU compatible with that motherboard; passmark score 7211 multi thread; 2229 single thread

thats 50 percent faster multi thread and 17 percent faster single thread.

I'm not sure how well your games can take advantage of multi threading.

Nor do I know at what point a certain percentage advantage would be "sensible" to you as compared to a total overhaul with a new motherboard and CPU.

 

[Alanothen]

Unless you can find an Intel Core I7-4770/4790 for a reasonable price, there really isn't any sensible CPU upgrade for your current motherboard.. You would probably be better served with a full system replacement, but if that's not possible, then I'd probably do a RAM upgrade to 16GB (2x8GB DDR3-1600) to replace what you currently have installed.

-Wolf sends

Hi Wolf,

Thank you so much, that is exactly what I needed.

I have just checked my son’s PC and can see it already has 16GB DDR-3 RAM - I‘d forgotten that I’d upgraded that previously.

I‘ve just had a look on eBay, used Intel Core i7 4770 seem to be selling for around £50 or 4790 for around £100 (so $70-$140), which is rather less than I had been expecting. At that price I think it is worth one more upgrade before we replace the system.

Thank you so much for your very good advice.

Alan

 

[--SID--]

Thank you for replying, but I think you are playing games with me.

No. I try to motivate you to investigate for yourself a bit. Specs comparison, search for benchmarks etc.

Intel Core i7 4770 seem to be selling for around £50

That's a fair price, not more.

4790 for around £100 (so $70-$140)

To expensive. A new and better performing i3-10105F is cheaper. Even a i5-11400F is less than 150 and it's twice as fast as a i7-4790. Heck, a 10400 with igpu is <140.

At that price I think it is worth one more upgrade Before we replace the system.

Not worth it because of the CPU like I mentioned above. Add a motherboard and RAM and you're up to date.
Great unknown is the PSU, still.

 

[Alanothen]

Using the Passmark benchmark:

your i5-4460; passmark score 4801 multi thread; 1899 single thread

i7-4790, which seems to be the strongest CPU compatible with that motherboard; passmark score 7211 multi thread; 2229 single thread

thats 50 percent faster multi thread and 17 percent faster single thread.

I'm not sure how well your games can take advantage of multi threading.

Nor do I know at what point a certain percentage advantage would be "sensible" to you as compared to a total overhaul with a new motherboard and CPU.

Thank you so much. That is really helpful.
Alan

 

[Mr.Spock]

by your own words a new mobo and RAM would up the price tag, plus maybe a new OS and time and effort to migrate.... so it not just 140

To expensive. A new and better performing i3-10105F is cheaper. Even a i5-11400F is less than 150 and it's twice as fast as a i7-4790. Heck, a 10400 with igpu is <140.

 

[Alanothen]

Unless you can find an Intel Core I7-4770/4790 for a reasonable price, there really isn't any sensible CPU upgrade for your current motherboard.. You would probably be better served with a full system replacement, but if that's not possible, then I'd probably do a RAM upgrade to 16GB (2x8GB DDR3-1600) to replace what you currently have installed.

-Wolf sends

Further to my last: CEX is selling i7-4790 CPUs for £63.95 delivered ($84.64). The rest of the system is good so I think that makes sense to undertake the final upgrade for this motherboard. My son is 17 (really should be doing this work on his own PC himself - but I suppose that is a dad's role in life) - in 18 months time he will be off to university (college) so the problem will go away .

Thank you for your help Wolf, and to all the others on this forum that chipped in with really useful advice. I know I could have spent hours wading through data sheets to find the answer, but this isn't a main interest of mine (that would be classic cars and motorcycles) so I visit the realm of PCs about once per year when something needs doing to my son's gaming machine.

This is a really good forum. Very best wishes.

Alan

 

[Alanothen]

No. I try to motivate you to investigate for yourself a bit. Specs comparison, search for benchmarks etc.

Good morn SID,

I'm sure you mean well, but I'm not looking for motivation to wade through data sheets. I could have done that but PCs are not a main interest of mine - I just maintain my son's gaming PC from time to time (everything else in the house is throwaway or Mac).

I did get the information I needed from some very helpful others (Wolf in particular). As a result I'll buy a i7 CPU from CEX today and do this final upgrade for the motherboard.

You are obviously very knowledgeable, but perhaps try to be more understanding of the question rather than just answer it in the way you would like it to be.

Best wishes,

Alan

 

[Alanothen]

Using the Passmark benchmark:

your i5-4460; passmark score 4801 multi thread; 1899 single thread

i7-4790, which seems to be the strongest CPU compatible with that motherboard; passmark score 7211 multi thread; 2229 single thread

thats 50 percent faster multi thread and 17 percent faster single thread.

I'm not sure how well your games can take advantage of multi threading.

Nor do I know at what point a certain percentage advantage would be "sensible" to you as compared to a total overhaul with a new motherboard and CPU.

The i7-4790 arrived in the mail this morn and took 10 minutes or so to fit. The results have been pretty good for a small (£60) investment. Using CPU-Z to benchmark the old i5-4460 we found:

Single ; Multi thread
i5: 358 ; 1389
i7: 407 ; 1989
Gain: 15% ; 43%

I think that was a pretty sensible upgrade. My son reports that his games (I have no idea of gaming) play much better - which is the real benchmark.

I have also taken the opportunity to change the 400GB SSD (which was 80% full) for a 1TB drive, which has also improved the gaming machine.

Alan