Upgrading My CPU (Help appreciated :))

[Naviant]

Hi guys,

I was just looking to get some info on upgrading my CPU as I don't feel that it is adequate anymore. So I was wondering what people thought a good CPU upgrade would be. I have a budget of around £100ish but could go more if needed (up to bout £200 if other parts needed). I could change to AMD (So new mobo + CPU). I was also wondering if you guys thought that I should upgrade some other things as well? I use this for gaming and I was considering potentially streaming as well if that had any bearing on the matter.

Any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU G860 @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~3.0GHz (Runs at %100 when doing certain things)
GPU: AMD Radeon Saphire HD 7700 Series
Motherboard: MSI MSI H61M-P31 (MS-7788)
PSU: XFX PRO450W
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite
Memory: GSKILL RIPJAWS 8GB

Thanks,
Gideon

 

[AshyCFC]

If you want to imporove your processor without charging motherboard, you could look at getting a used i5 2/3series processor on Ebay?

Can get a 2500k for under £100 or so for example.

but this seems like a pretty good deal right now:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intel-Core-i5-3470-3-2-GHz-6M-Quad-Core-SR0T8-CPU-Processor-IVY-BRIDGE-/131362370243?pt=UK_Computing_CPUs_Processors&hash=item1e95ceb2c3

 

[Naviant]

Thanks for your answer Ashy. Do you think upgrading the CPU is the way to go then? Would you suggest changing motherboard? Do you think I should change any other parts?

 

[AshyCFC]

Upgrading your CPU would help your performance a bit, but your GPU is a little low end as well, You could spend say £109 on the I5 3470

And then get a GPU, it's a little over your budget so what you could do is upgrade your CPU then GPU when you can afford.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270X 2GB TurboDuo Video Card (£122.21 @ More Computers)
Other: i5 3470 ebay (£109.00)
Total: £231.21
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-01 20:31 GMT+0000

Note you'll be running closeish on the power consumption side of things for your PSU as well but nothing to worry about!!!

 

[Naviant]

So after about £235 (+potentially a new PSU) I would be pretty up to speed and in a good position gaming/streaming wise?

 

[AshyCFC]

So after about £235 (+potentially a new PSU) I would be pretty up to speed and in a good position gaming/streaming wise?

You'd be able to run all the current games 1080p medium no problem at all, as for streaming that would depend on the game, you don't need a new PSU unless you wanted to get a stronger GPU but of course that would cost more on the GPU end as well.

 

[Naviant]

Do you think it would be worth spending some more on a stronger GPU, what would be the next step up?. Will I need some good fans to go with it? Also would that GPU fit in my case with my motherboard? When i say streaming i mean games such a league of legends, Dayz, Garrys mod, arma 3 etc... Sorry for so many questions but just want to be sure that what I am planning on doing is the best thing to do 😛.

 

[AshyCFC]

arma 3 and day z will be difficult, as for the stronger fans no not really.

I would spend up to a 280X if you can afford it,

[PCPartPicker part list](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/n3YfkL) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/n3YfkL/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**Video Card** | [XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Black Edition Double Dissipation Video Card](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-r9280xtdbd) | £184.99 @ More Computers
**Power Supply** | [XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9) | £44.84 @ Amazon UK
**Other**| i5 3470 ebay | £109.00
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | £338.83
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-01 20:55 GMT+0000 |

Optimal but the other setup would do you good as well.

 

[Naviant]

My final question would the performance out of the 280x be worth the +£100 (inc PSU)

 

[AshyCFC]

That's a preference thing as it's your £100 not mine, see here:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1041?vs=1043

 

[Naviant]

Thanks for all that Ashy. You have been a massive help 😀! I think I will get the i5-3470 and wait a little longer to get the 280x with the psu rather than the 270x.

 

[AshyCFC]

Here's a processor to CPU comparison by the way.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/702?vs=404

I used a pentium 850 not 860(wasn't available) but the 850 isnt much slower than the 860 so is a fair comparison.

 

[Naviant]

Ah cool thanks. Looks like the i5 is leaps and bounds better than my old pentium!

 

[Naviant]

I found an ex display MSI r9 290 for 197£ it is listed as refurbished. Do you think that would be okay? And also should I spend the extra £13 and get the msi 290 ex display for £197 over the xfx 280x new for £184? Thanks

 

[AshyCFC]

That would be fine yeah, The R9 290 will perform a bit better.

Can I see the model of the R9 290 MSI to check if it's reference cooled or aftermarket?

 

[Naviant]

http://www.ebuyer.com/667581-exdisplay-msi-r9-290-gaming-4gb-gddr5-dual-dvi-hdmi-displayport-pci-e-ebr1-r9-290-gaming-4g

This was the one i was looking at

 

[AshyCFC]

the pictures are broken on that link, how annoying.

does it look like this one?

http://www.ebuyer.com/614483-msi-r9-290-gaming-4gb-gddr5-dual-dvi-hdmi-displayport-pci-e-graphics-r9-290-gaming-4g

 

[Naviant]

Yeah I know - It has the same specs, I'm pretty sure it is that one

 

[AshyCFC]

then yeah, go for it.

 

[Naviant]

So i ordered that CPU that you linked me to on Ebay and I received it today. However it came without a fan or thermal paste. Would i be okay to use they fan from my pentium or do i need to buy an aftermarket?

 

[AshyCFC]

So i ordered that CPU that you linked me to on Ebay and I received it today. However it came without a fan or thermal paste. Would i be okay to use they fan from my pentium or do i need to buy an aftermarket?

ah, that sucks must have been CPU only.

You'd need thermal paste and I'm not sure you could use your pentium cooler as the i5 runs a bit hotter.

£16 cooler+paste, what'd you reckon?

Very cool and quiet, use it on an FX-8320.

 

[Naviant]

Thanks for the offer, but if I could avoid it really wanted to get it in today. Would this work - http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/thermaltake-slimx3-intel-cpu-cooler-a22ky or this http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/coolermaster-hyper-212-evo-cpu-cooler-n93qq

and thermal paste wise - Either of these ? http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/coolermaster-ic-essential-e2-thermal-compound-paste-n00qr + http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/silicone-thermal-compound-a71fr

 

[AshyCFC]

this is a very good cooler that you listed and comes with paste.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/coolermaster-hyper-212-evo-cpu-cooler-n93qq


I didn't mean to "offer" a cooler+paste to you, meant to link this one: it's a smaller version of the 212 evo

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Master-Hyper-TX3-Tower/dp/B005HIRDUA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417911497&sr=8-1&keywords=tx3+evo

This or 212 EVO will do great for you.

 

[Naviant]

Haha I misread what you wrote I guess 😛. Her bought the 212 evo yesterday evening... Lot of work it seemed for a cooler. After installing for bout the first 5 minutes I tried to turn it on it would come on for 5 seconds turn off come on.... Its okay now though. Thanks for your advice and time!