Which motherboard and CPU to upgrade to

[guppy44]

I'm looking to upgrade my current configuration.

Current setup:

ASUS M4A88TD-V motherboard
AMD Phenom II x6 1055T processor

I recently bought a new R9 290X Lightning GPU and started playing Wolfenstein: The New Order. While the card handles everything on Ultra and custom max settings, there are occasional bottlenecks going on. I'm not overly picky about such things but it can be annoying.

I haven't kept up with all the latest-and-greatest for quite a while so I'm looking for a good upgrade.

I've been recommended either this motherboard with this CPU for $167.98

OR

This motherboard with this CPU for $215.87.

I'm not sure if it's worth almost $50 more for the i5.

I play some games, but mainly have many browser tabs and programs open simultaneously. The bottleneck with my current CPU is a bit annoying and ever since I have upgraded to this GPU the computer hard freezes on and off. I've read on this site it's an issue with the chipset in my current motherboard, so that also fuels the interest in upgrading the motherboard and CPU.

 

[Calnin]

The i5 upgrade is definitely the better upgrade. If you can afford it then I'd suggest going with that one. Though it's 50$ more expensive, it'll last for a long while before it'll need a upgrade. The only thing's that'll bottleneck it at the moment is a multi-card setup I believe.

 

[legend001523]

I'd say it's worth, the i5 is quite good fo games especially, with an 5 thee n't be any bottlenecks

 

[Darth Rache]

For a price vs performance standpoint i would defiantly go for the AMD option, that being said if you plan to take advantage of the 8320's overclocking potential i would advise you to get a 990fx motherboard ( Like this one>>http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-990fxextreme3).

But the i5 is the better CPU and that is what I.....would get.

 

[madmatt30]

^ you don't need a 990 board to overclock the 8320 - the ud3p will take it as high as it will go pretty much.
The gap on those build pricewise disappears a little when you factor in a aftermarket cooler for the 8320 though.

 

[Darth Rache]

^ you don't need a 990 board to overclock the 8320 - the ud3p will take it as high as it will go pretty much.
The gap on those build pricewise disappears a little when you factor in a aftermarket cooler for the 8320 though.

The 990fx boards handle the heat better thought.

 

[Calnin]

The UD3P has plenty of heatsink coverage, if not more heatsink coverage than the asrock board.

 

[guppy44]

Thanks for all the input, everybody.

What about an i5-4690K? It costs more, but could be a better long term investment to get 4-5 years of use out of it. Any suggestions for a motherboard? I'm not sure if a microATX will work considering I'll only use one GPU. I've looked at some of the z87/97 boards but would like some feedback from more knowledgeable people.

 

[Calnin]

If you're getting the i5 4690k, get a z97 motherboard to go along with it. One that can give a decent overclock like the asrock z97 extreme3 or something.

 

[Darth Rache]

If you're getting the i5 4690k, get a z97 motherboard to go along with it. One that can give a decent overclock like the asrock z97 extreme3 or something.

Agreed, if you get the k series. you will want to take advantage of the overclock capabilities of the chip, and to do that effectively you will need a Z97 chipset Motherboard.

 

[legend001523]

Thanks for all the input, everybody.

What about an i5-4690K? It costs more, but could be a better long term investment to get 4-5 years of use out of it. Any suggestions for a motherboard? I'm not sure if a microATX will work considering I'll only use one GPU. I've looked at some of the z87/97 boards but would like some feedback from more knowledgeable people.

a z97 k or msi z97 pc mate maybe?

 

[guppy44]

I've wondered about this one or this one?

I've been told this one is one to go after but it isn't available for purchase in NA that I can find. Some reviews are saying it's a cut down version of this board.

I'm not sure I want to spend $190 on a board like the ASUS, so would the Gaming 5 or so be a good board for $40 less or so?

 

[legend001523]

second one

 

[guppy44]

second one

I just edited the post to add a couple of ASUS options. One available now and one not. They're more expensive by $40 or so, so not sure it's worth the extra money over the Gigabyte Gaming 5.

 

[legend001523]

second one

I just edited the post to add a couple of ASUS options. One available now and one not. They're more expensive by $40 or so, so not sure it's worth the extra money over the Gigabyte Gaming 5.

I'd go for the gaming 5 from gigabyte, it's not really worth it since there's no nticeable differencebetween the ooootins for yur situatin, save money and get the gaming 5

 

[guppy44]

Okay, I'm pretty sold on getting the Gigabyte Gaming 5 and the I5-4690K combination.

This is my current PSU. I haven't noticed any issues with it at all, but the new components will take more power (I know this has power, but as a precaution it doesn't hold up due to age). Any thoughts on this one?

 

[st3v30]

Your current cpu use more power then i5 4690k even when you oc it i think it will use less.i5 88W TDP and AMD has 125W.

 

[guppy44]

Your current cpu use more power then i5 4690k even when you oc it i think it will use less.i5 88W TDP and AMD has 125W.

Great, well then I'll forget getting a new PSU as my current one hasn't given me any issues.

 

[Calnin]

In regards to your PSU: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html <<< Search that manufacturer and look at where it's placed on the tier list before committing to that statement. It's a tier 5 meaning it's not reliable and possibly lower quality units.

 

[st3v30]

I did look at that list but it seams i didnt see it,sorry about that,I probably read it wrong so that way i didn't find it.but still he told that he didn't have any problems with it. As Calnin wrote if you have extra money maybe you can switch that PSU also.I apologize one more time.

 

[guppy44]

In regards to your PSU: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html <<< Search that manufacturer and look at where it's placed on the tier list before committing to that statement. It's a tier 5 meaning it's not reliable and possibly lower quality units.

Hey, thanks for that link. Looks like my PSU is the bottom of the barrel based on that. It hasn't given me any issues, but it's still concerning. I'd much rather have a top-level Tier-1 than Tier-5, so I just bought this to make sure I'm good.

 

[guppy44]

I did look at that list but it seams i didnt see it,sorry about that,I probably read it wrong so that way i didn't find it.but still he told that he didn't have any problems with it. As Calnin wrote if you have extra money maybe you can switch that PSU also.I apologize one more time.

No problem at all, and certainly no need to apologize. I appreciate your help. And it's true that it hasn't given me any issues but I don't like where it falls on that list; the bottom.

 

[guppy44]

I just bought my first two pieces of hardware.

After another user providing me with this list and another letting me know I have a Tier 5 PSU, I decided to go up to a Tier 1 and bought this PSU. It should have the wattage and the amps on the +12V rail to power everything.

I also put in an order for this motherboard.

Now it's just down to a CPU. I'm between this i5 and this i7, but I've heard others say they recommend the i5 and wait for the next generation i7 and upgrade then.

 

[st3v30]

I5 will be enough and with OC even better.i7 only if you gonna do streaming,video or photo editing.Best gaming CPU award GOES TO I5!!!

 

[bigjay420]

Honestly i would get a fx 8350 and overclock it. Im one of the ones that like going intel/nvidia-ati/amd but i have a i5 4670k and it plays fine but most games now are starting to go for 8 cores and the fx seems like the better choice.