Good Budget AM2+ Gaming Cpu

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Hardware community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Ok...same questions from here too. I want/desire/need a better processor. I too have the gateway 9150e with the AMD quad processor of 1.8 GHz, with 8 gigs of Kingston 800 MHz memory (4x2gb), and XFX 9800 GT graphics card. I want a better processor and need a better power supply (currently the OEM 300W). The motherboard is the key issue for the processor, which is RS780M03G1-8EKRS2HM as printed on the label. I have two ideas for processors...quad or dual???

I am using this desktop as gaming primarily and I am disappointed with my results and settings for Crysis (medium settings to achieve decent frame rates of 30-40). I do not think (could be wrong) most games now implement or take advantage of quad core processing and multi-threading but may in the future. So, should I get a fast and cheap dual core
or get a quad core. Also thermal design power (TDP) may ultimately make my choice for me because of the motherboard. Overclocking would be nice to achieve but not sure with the OEM bios but wouldn't AMD's black edition processor's allow me to as long as the bios recognized it?

My socket type for my current processor is AM2+ and is: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 819103287. I have a dual core processor in mind that may fit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 819103678. What do you guys think?

So, depending on the processor I think I need a power supply near the 600-700W range to allow some overclocking of the CPU and 9800 GT. I don't really have any questions about the power supply because I feel like I know enough about rail voltage and amps and all that good stuff. My main questions for the community include: 1) what processor will fit my OEM motherboard?, 2) Dual or quad core depending on TDP?, and 3) Is there a way to overclock whatever power supply you guys recommend? Thank you.
 

The 2 new egg links are brocken.
 
OEM's in general are not very good at upgrading CPU's because they want you to throw away your current rig and buy a new one every couple years or so. Check with tech support first. You might have to change both motherboard and CPU. Many OEM's use micro ATX boards and if that is what you have that link I have above is a fairly inexpensive way to go. If you feel you need extra cpu power over that CPU, a 720BE would be my next choice. Really nice CPU for the money.
 

wouldnt this cpu work just as good?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103645
 



In your opinion...will that CPU along with graphics card (XFX 9800 GT) achieve cyrsis settings on all high? I believe the graphics card has potential; however I need a better power supply to overclock it safely. I should be much better with a dual core 3.0 gHz processor than a slow quad core of 1.8 gHz. The link you provided was a good buy. Do you have any other suggestions along with a power supply as well? My maximum cost is $300 and I don't want a out-of-date computer next month (lol).

Also, by changing purchasing a new motherboard I should be able to achieve some overclocking on the CPU if needed...correct? Thanks for the quick responses and great advice.
 
Crysis is poorly coded but the faster cpu clock speed will help. And yes a new motherboard will allow for an overclock. Though if you want to overclock then the Black Editions are more for you. A whole lot less headache. Just change the multiplier and maybe increase voltage. So with that said and the PSU here would be my choices for you if your case can support the motherboard.

BIOSTAR TA785GE 128M
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138155

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W PSU (same price as the 550w again)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

AMD Phenom II X3 720
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

Comes out to about $302 shipped before $30 in MIR
 


Very nice setup. The only thing I am debating is whether the extra core will be beneficial. I have been leaning towards dual cores because I feel like nobody will take advantage of quad-cores (or triple-cores) for gaming soon, but I am not sure about this. I am going to take some measurements because I am not sure if that power supply will even fit in my small case during lunch break today. The only other processor I really think would be awesome is AMD Phenom II 550. The socket should fit the new motherboard but it's hard to not justify the extra $20 for triple-core with a slower CPU speed of 2.8 gHz. I think having a higher dual core is best for now, but will it be next year? lol. What do you think...dual or triple core?
 
i would disagree on dual vs tri or qaud maybe not qauds yet but a tri core makes sense most games are dual threaded so optimised for dual cores so on a dual core gaming seems fine right but if the game is running dual threads but your pc is running dual +another thead aka os
 


Ok. I did a little more research and managed to find my current motherboard and all its stats. Here is the link: http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/Shared/4006272R/4006272Rmv.shtml

Now when I click on (C) the CPU variable, a new window pops up and displays this information: This is the processor (CPU) socket on the motherboard. This 940 pin socket supports the following AMD® processors:

•Socket AM2+
•Athlon 64
•Athlon™ 64 X2
•Phenom® (95 W)
•Sempron™

So I guess other processors will work with this motherboard but I will not be able to change the bios and therefore will not be able to overclock. Overclocking may not be necessary or possible with thermal issues if they arise. From the list above, do you guys think that any Phenom CPU socket type will work on this motherboard even though my existing socket type is AM2+? I did some reading and swapping out CPU's seems the easiest solution because I do not want to re-load vista and drive updates and all that stuff by buying a new motherboard.

**I just figured out that AM3 processors do work on AM2+ motherboards but not vice versa; however, you can not always believe wikipedia..lol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM2%2B

My questions include: Which CPU will best fit gateway's requirements (listed above) for my motherboard and how do you guys interpret the above information? Also, if I do get this processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649 how would I go about getting a BIOS update so my motherboard can read that it is an AM3 socket type? If I do not get the update will the computer still recognize it? If I do get the BIOS update, will there be any hopes for overclocking? Thanks to everyone thus far.
 

I believe that you do need a bios update to use a am3 socket cpu. Gateway has not released a bios update so am3 cpus are not supported at least that is what everyone has been telling me. (please correct me if I am wrong) It is possible for an am3 socket cpu to work but it is unlikely. It should say that your bios is from american megatrends. You may be able to pick up a bios from them that will some how work but I am not taking that risk. That is why it is soo hard find a good cpu for my mobo. You could try buying a am3 cpu and if it works let me know! But if it doesnt you could try to return but new egg usally does not accept returns. (Please correct me if I am wrong)
 


Ok...sounds like if I want a really good processor I have to go with a whole new motherboard. I think I have established that the only processor that is even worth looking into that will fit my OEM motherboard is this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103678

Now, I know that it is the black edition but I will not be able to overclock because OEM Bios. So my question now is...will this 2.8 gHz dual-core processor really out perform my 1.8 gHz quad-core processor..... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103287 ? Is this worth $77 that will make a huge/noticeable difference in my Crysis experience? Thanks to all and if any other processors will fit this motherboard please let me know.
 

You should be able to overclock it (since the multiplier is unlocked) with the AMD Overdrive program. I think that that processor would work well and it definately should give you better performance over the 1.8ghz quad core. I was really also thinking about this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103244
I think that this one would be fine since the multiplier is unlocked you could overclock it. Future games are going to use quad cores very efficently. Really anything over what you have now world work much better. We should be able to overclock any processor that is a Black Edition since they have unlocked multipliers. So Which one do you guys think we should get?
 

It wont let me right now. I already tried and the multiplier is locked 🙁
 


So we can overclock any black edition processor using amd overdrive and not our horrible OEM Bios? Can anyone else confirm this? Oh and your link would not open similar to the same problem I had yesterday. What processor are you looking at? I think from your description you are wanting a quad core but will that be too much power for our OEM motherboards? Thanks for the help.
 

Yep I think that with amd overdrive should allow you to up the multiplier on black edition processors but not on our normal processors.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103244
This is the one I was looking at. I dont know if I should get it.
 


I agree with both chips that we have in mind. I think now is the time to figure out which of those two processors would best fit our gaming needs. I know the dual core has better overclocking than the quad core from the reviews I have read but maybe that will stay out perform the quad in some games releasing in the upcoming future. I am not sure what processor would be best. Anybody else have an opinion?

Also, the multiplier would be unlocked for black editions coming straight out of the box using AMD overdrive even though our BIOS will not let us do anything? I think I am going to think about this for a while. Let me know what you decide to do rajadog in case you act quicker. Thanks to everyone.
 

Yes on black editions the multiplier is unlocked right out of the box so with any black edition processor, you should be able to overclock using amd over drive.
 
I just found out that if i get a new mobo that i would be able to oveclock my current cpu. So should I get this mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381
and overclock my cpu and wait about a year for a new processor?
I think that it has crossfire support but i dont know why it is so cheap.
Or should I get the one that you suggested to me before?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138155
They both look about the same except the 1st one has crossfire.
Could someone please clairify the differences?
 

Oh didnt know about that, Ill try to find out which one mine is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom