High-end APU or Mid-range CPU/GPU?

[dialgarocksful]

I'm down to my last two pieces of my first-build PC. I can't 100% decide on either getting A10-7850K or getting Athlon X4 860K and Sapphire/MSI (whichever is available) R7-250.

 

CPU + GPU is estimated $25 cheaper than the solo APU

[Guest]

Definitely the APU when compared to such a low end system.

[thekeemo]

How about save up some more money and get a 860k and a 260/270? Or a Pentium and a 260/270

[Blebekblebek]

problem is both of your option is a dead end

meaning, you won't find anything better to replace/upgrade later on.

[SpagettiNinja]

I would say the APU if you cant get a 260 or 270 card.

[dialgarocksful]

problem is both of your option is a dead end

meaning, you won't find anything better to replace/upgrade later on.

going with the CPU+GPU, I could upgrade 250 to 270 4 months later, then another 3-4 months for 270 to 280

[SpagettiNinja]

going with the CPU+GPU, I could upgrade 250 to 270 4 months later, then another 3-4 months for 270 to 280

 

In that case i would go with that CPU and upgrade the GPU later, as you said, although.. it would be more economical to just get a 260 or 270 right away. Then again, if that isnt a option.. go with the CPU and GPU you said and upgrade later.

[dialgarocksful]

In that case i would go with that CPU and upgrade the GPU later, as you said, although.. it would be more economical to just get a 260 or 270 right away. Then again, if that isnt a option.. go with the CPU and GPU you said and upgrade later.

I know that would be somehow-redundant thing to buy a low-end and carefully upgrading to a higher-end, but the laptop I'm currently using is a 5-year old 2nd gen i3.

 

Basically, I need to chase up with the games that will be coming that can't be playable with an integrated GPU on an i3-2330

[mapegl]

The R7 250 is actually faster than a 7850k for graphics peformance and the 860k is at least as fast as teh 7850k, probably better for overclocking because it only has a CPU generating heat in the socket.

 

If you really are saving a little bit of money on the CPU+ GPU combo, I would stretch for a 260X or 270 and get a very good 1080p, medium - high settings gaming rig.

[dialgarocksful]

The R7 250 is actually faster than a 7850k for graphics peformance and the 860k is at least as fast as teh 7850k, probably better for overclocking because it only has a CPU generating heat in the socket.

 

If you really are saving a little bit of money on the CPU+ GPU combo, I would stretch for a 260X or 270 and get a very good 1080p, medium - high settings gaming rig.

As far as I researched, 860K is 7850K without the integrated GPU.

 

I currently have a 15"square monitor (VGA port). Will be upgrading to a 24" when my pay as a student assistant comes. So until that day comes, I'm fine playing anything with medium.

[Aniallation]

I'm down to my last two pieces of my first-build PC. I can't 100% decide on either getting A10-7850K or getting Athlon X4 860K and Sapphire/MSI (whichever is available) R7-250.

 

CPU + GPU is estimated $25 cheaper than the solo APU

Since it's cheaper go for CPU + GPU. Performance will be similar

[Dacoolioman]

I wouldn't get anything lower than a 260

[i_build_nanosuits]

Save some more until you can afford a 860K, a decent A88 chipset motherboard for it an at least an R9 270 GPU.

[mapegl]

As far as I researched, 860K is 7850K without the integrated GPU.

 

I currently have a 15"square monitor (VGA port). Will be upgrading to a 24" when my pay as a student assistant comes. So until that day comes, I'm fine playing anything with medium.

 

True, although overclocking GPU-part and CPU-part on the APU creates more heat on a single component. So yeah, they are basically the same at stock performance, but the 860k will put out less heat and therefore stay stable at higher clocks.

I really think the CPU+GPU combo is just plain better price/performance.

I really like the concept of the 7850k, but it is not very good value.

[dandrix]

R7 250 is weak as fuck, better off with APU, dont understand why so many turds in the poll.

[i_build_nanosuits]

R7 250 is weak as fuck, better off with APU, dont understand why so many turds in the poll.

because the A10-7850K is a R7 250 GPU and a 860K CPU on the same die but it cost more...that's why...in fact the APU is even slightly weaker than a R7 250 it's about the performance in between a R7 240 and R7 250 and it rely on your system memory speed to achieve it's rated performance which it usually don't.

it will be easier to overclock the 860K than it is with the APU...less power consumption once you run on a dedicated GPU as well...you post a lot but you don't know much.

[thatguy321]

going with the CPU+GPU, I could upgrade 250 to 270 4 months later, then another 3-4 months for 270 to 280

 

Pretty much answered your own question.

[dialgarocksful]

Pretty much answered your own question.

With that, here will be how my APU path works:

 

APU bought -> earn money for a Crossfire R7 250 -> sell 250 -> buy 260 -> etc

[Opcode]

How much is a 860k + R7 250X pair in comparison to the A10-7850k?

[dialgarocksful]

How much is a 860k + R7 250X pair in comparison to the A10-7850k?

Heat output and price, most likely.

 

860K = 7850K minus iGPU

[Opcode]

Heat output and price, most likely.

 

860K = 7850K minus iGPU

I was asking the pricing for you... as that's a better option than going with a A10-7850k.

[thatguy321]

With that, here will be how my APU path works:

 

APU bought -> earn money for a Crossfire R7 250 -> sell 250 -> buy 260 -> etc

Crossfiring with the integrated seems like a waste of money given the minimal gains. Going straight to a more powerful discrete card and abandoning the integrated makes more sense as an upgrade. Which leads back to the fact that you're planning to upgrade and the CPU+GPU combo is cheaper to start with (according to your original post).

CPU + GPU is estimated $25 cheaper than the solo APU