Help a poor man choose a CPU

[SafirXP]

Hello.

 

I'm currently running a Core 2 Duo E7400, 4GB DDR2-800, GTS 250 & Thermaltake 600W PSU. Went through a lot of pain running DayZ mod on this pos machine. Since money's hard to come by I'm preparing a $350 budget for a mobo, cpu & ram upgrade. I plan to change the graphics card later on (GTX 750 Ti or GTX 760).

 

The games I want to mainly play are:

Arma 2 & various DayZ Mods

Arma 3

DayZ Standalone

Other games such as BF4, Skyrim, etc. but Arma & DayZ are my main priorities.

 

Leaving the GPU bottleneck aside, I'm confused regarding the CPU choice. My budget leaves me with either the Core i3-4160 (3.6Ghz dual core with hyperthreading) or the AMD FX-6350 (3.9Ghz hexa core). Both cost around $130. If I could then I'd definitely get the i5-4590 but my budget's really tight.

 

I live in Bangladesh and computer parts are expensive & there aren't that many options here. I'll be shipping it probably from the US. So, recommendations please...

[Krzyimprt]

 

Hello.

 

I'm currently running a Core 2 Duo E7400, 4GB DDR2-800, GTS 250 & Thermaltake 600W PSU. Went through a lot of pain running DayZ mod on this pos machine. Since money's hard to come by I'm preparing a $350 budget for a mobo, cpu & ram upgrade. I plan to change the graphics card later on (GTX 750 Ti or GTX 760).

 

The games I want to mainly play are:

Arma 2 & various DayZ Mods

Arma 3

DayZ Standalone

Other games such as BF4, Skyrim, etc. but Arma & DayZ are my main priorities.

 

Leaving the GPU bottleneck aside, I'm confused regarding the CPU choice. My budget leaves me with either the Core i3-4160 (3.6Ghz dual core with hyperthreading) or the AMD FX-6350 (3.9Ghz hexa core). Both cost around $130. If I could then I'd definitely get the i5-4590 but my budget's really tight.

 

I live in Bangladesh and computer parts are expensive & there aren't that many options here. I'll be shipping it probably from the US. So, recommendations please...

 

Z97 Mobo with a high clocked i5 would be your best bet.

[KingDaddyDaniel]

on a 760 I struggle to keep 60fps in DayZ standalone at medium settings. You're probably gonna need to look into building a new system/importing a prebuild one

[Sklo]

If you ask me I would just order a cheap used Core 2 Quad or equivalent Xeon, saw some go low much as 12€. There is of course no garantie it will run for tow years, but it gives you time to wait for more promising AMD chips in the future. FX isn't really kicking it anymore and the i5s not suit-full for your tight budged. Just because you have they money doesn't mean you need to spend it all. If you decide to update tho I would take a FX-8350 with an fitting mobo.

[Faceman]

Because of the games you play, you need an Intel processor.

 

I recommend getting a Pentium G3258 + Z97 motherboard.  Overclock the pentium as high as it will go.  The stock cooler is fine for overclocking this chip.  Once you get more money, then buy an i5.

 

Pair this with any kit of 8GB RAM.

[Faceman]

on a 760 I struggle to keep 60fps in DayZ standalone at medium settings. You're probably gonna need to look into building a new system/importing a prebuild one

Thats because you're on an FX processor.  DayZ and ARMA2/3 are games that depend on strong cores, not many weak ones.

[KingDaddyDaniel]

 

Thats because you're on an FX processor.  DayZ and ARMA2/3 are games that depend on strong cores, not many weak ones.

 

Recommended specs for DayZ is Core 2 Duo E7400/Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition. My FX-6350 stomps the Core 2 Duo E7400 in every aspect except power consumption and .5MB/core.

What I said, is that he is probably gonna need to look into building a new system 

Do you disagree? Why? Please provide a better solution.

[SeanBond]

 

 

 

Recommended specs for DayZ is Core 2 Duo E7400/Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition. My FX-6350 stomps the Core 2 Duo E7400 in every aspect except power consumption and .5MB/core.

What I said, is that he is probably gonna need to look into building a new system 

Do you disagree? Why? Please provide a better solution.

 

Whatever the recommended specs are the game like to use 1 core so having an fx and playing that game really does not help. It's a terribly coded game and I think he should get a g3258 as well. Those games with the exception of battlefield are not multithreaded games

[KingDaddyDaniel]

Whatever the recommended specs are the game like to use 1 core so having an fx and playing that game really does not help. It's a terribly coded game and I think he should get a g3258 as well. Those games with the exception of battlefield are not multithreaded games

Yep, definitely needs a CPU upgrade. Would you recommend a GPU upgrade as well?

[SafirXP]

Thanks for the info guys. Btw, I don't think I'll overclock the CPU anytime soon. Its crazy hot here and I wouldn't wanna risk it with the stock cooler. Maybe in the winter I'll try clocking up the CPU.

 

So basically the choice is between fast Intel dual core or slowish AMD quad/hexa cores. I've gone through other forums but couldn't find anything conclusive. They usually break into AMD vs Intel arguments. My only other option is to wait longer & get a proper Intel quad core.

 

The thing is that its been a year since I've played DayZ & I'm craving for some post zombie apocalypse adventure. Had to play 720p, windowed, low settings (1080p monitor) with horrible frame rates. I just want something that'll run the game at "decent" frame rates (45fps & up) & at the right resolution. For now I'm stuck watching other people play DayZ & my patience glands are almost empty!

[SeanBond]

Yep, definitely needs a CPU upgrade. Would you recommend a GPU upgrade as well?

 

 

 

Thanks for the info guys. Btw, I don't think I'll overclock the CPU anytime soon. Its crazy hot here and I wouldn't wanna risk it with the stock cooler. Maybe in the winter I'll try clocking up the CPU.

 

So basically the choice is between fast Intel dual core or slowish AMD quad/hexa cores. I've gone through other forums but couldn't find anything conclusive. They usually break into AMD vs Intel arguments. My only other option is to wait longer & get a proper Intel quad core.

 

The thing is that its been a year since I've played DayZ & I'm craving for some post zombie apocalypse adventure. Had to play 720p, windowed, low settings (1080p monitor) with horrible frame rates. I just want something that'll run the game at "decent" frame rates (45fps & up) & at the right resolution. For now I'm stuck watching other people play DayZ & my patience glands are almost empty!

 

New gpu? Absolutely. I guess a gtx 750 should do fine if you could get it. Also buy a evo 212 with the cpu and you will certainly have ample cooling even in the heat. 

[Linux User]

I don't normally say this but in your situation a prebuilt might make more sense

[Faceman]

Get a locked i5 processor and the least expensive motherboard you can find that is compatible. H81?

Recommended specs for DayZ is Core 2 Duo E7400/Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition. My FX-6350 stomps the Core 2 Duo E7400 in every aspect except power consumption and .5MB/core.

What I said, is that he is probably gonna need to look into building a new system 

Do you disagree? Why? Please provide a better solution.

The game only runs on one core. I provided a better solution and that is an Intel processor

[SafirXP]

I do find the i5 with an el cheapo mobo an attractive option. But I thought the Arma engines prefer multi-core CPUs, otherwise I can go for the recommended G3258.

[Krytopsy]

Get a better GPU now by spending less on a CPU now like G3258 and get a better cpu later in about 6 months maximum

[Faceman]

I do find the i5 with an el cheapo mobo an attractive option. But I thought the Arma engines prefer multi-core CPUs, otherwise I can go for the recommended G3258.

Arma only uses one main thread/core. The Pentium will do fine for that game. An i5 is best for everything though.

[bry.yyyy]

 

Hello.

 

I'm currently running a Core 2 Duo E7400, 4GB DDR2-800, GTS 250 & Thermaltake 600W PSU. Went through a lot of pain running DayZ mod on this pos machine. Since money's hard to come by I'm preparing a $350 budget for a mobo, cpu & ram upgrade. I plan to change the graphics card later on (GTX 750 Ti or GTX 760).

 

The games I want to mainly play are:

Arma 2 & various DayZ Mods

Arma 3

DayZ Standalone

Other games such as BF4, Skyrim, etc. but Arma & DayZ are my main priorities.

 

Leaving the GPU bottleneck aside, I'm confused regarding the CPU choice. My budget leaves me with either the Core i3-4160 (3.6Ghz dual core with hyperthreading) or the AMD FX-6350 (3.9Ghz hexa core). Both cost around $130. If I could then I'd definitely get the i5-4590 but my budget's really tight.

 

I live in Bangladesh and computer parts are expensive & there aren't that many options here. I'll be shipping it probably from the US. So, recommendations please...

 

use amazon if you need to ship worldwide (but it more expensive from other store)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor  ($97.99 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($33.03 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: MSI 970 GAMING ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($124.10 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $345.11

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-21 05:53 EDT-0400

[Paralectic]

Because of the games you play, you need an Intel processor.

 

I recommend getting a Pentium G3258 + Z97 motherboard.  Overclock the pentium as high as it will go.  The stock cooler is fine for overclocking this chip.  Once you get more money, then buy an i5.

 

Pair this with any kit of 8GB RAM.

"You need an Intel processor." is biased, an AMD cpu would do fine aswell.

[Faceman]

"You need an Intel processor." is biased, an AMD cpu would do fine aswell.

Not for the games he wants to play. There are also a lot more games than the ones he mentioned that will run far better on Intel than AMD.

[Siddhesh]

Get the 6350 over the i3. You can upgrade your GPU later to a 760 or maybe a 970 if the prices drop.

[RJSX1]

Sadly your going to get terrible frames in ArmA 3... A3 is more cpu based. I have 4770k and a gtx 760 and i can hardly pull of 35 frames on ultra. My one friend who has a 4690k and a 780ti has to play on medium to low just to get decent frames. Its sad that they ruined the game this way .

[Veil]

For the games you play, an i3 4330 is the best for your budget.

[SafirXP]

Sorry for the late reply, work kept me really busy.

 

Think I'll go with the G3258 & a GTX760 with slightly bigger budget. Then upgrade the CPU later on. So which chipset should I go with? Will the H97 be good enough to overclock the G3258 & then have the compatibility for upcoming Intel CPUs?

[ComradeHX]

 

 

 

Recommended specs for DayZ is Core 2 Duo E7400/Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition. My FX-6350 stomps the Core 2 Duo E7400 in every aspect except power consumption and .5MB/core.

What I said, is that he is probably gonna need to look into building a new system 

Do you disagree? Why? Please provide a better solution.

 

Recommend spec does not always  translate into real world performance.

 

Similarly-low IPC is killing performance in Arma 2, same with Day Z.

 

 

Sadly your going to get terrible frames in ArmA 3... A3 is more cpu based. I have 4770k and a gtx 760 and i can hardly pull of 35 frames on ultra. My one friend who has a 4690k and a 780ti has to play on medium to low just to get decent frames. Its sad that they ruined the game this way  .

 

Funny thing because I get around 30fps on ultra preset with Pentium G3258 at 4.7ghz + a R9 280x.

 

It just means Arma 3 really mainly use two cores.