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APU vs GPU

jtchimesin
Go to solution Solved by vSyNd1c4t3,

I saw you already have a Case. I changed up the build to get it to a lower cost.

 

Brought you down to a 750GB HDD

 

Took out the Case w/PSU combo and added just a PSU.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($80.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A68M-HD+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Fractal Design Integra M 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $257.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 10:06 EST-0500

Are APU gaming rigs still relevant? If I wanted to build a steam box for mostly 2-D and a few 3-D titles (nothing too demanding of course), would it be worth it to shell out some $ for a graphics card, or spare the money and go with a nice AMD APU? I want to build something for dirt cheap to put under my TV, what would be the best option?

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How much do you want to spend?

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An AMD APU is still a good option as long as you don't expect too much from it.

-アパゾ

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unless you have something extremely small like a $200-300 budget, an APU is not worth it

NEW PC build: Blank Heaven   minimalist white and black PC     Old S340 build log "White Heaven"        The "LIGHTCANON" flashlight build log        Project AntiRoll (prototype)        Custom speaker project

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Ryzen 3950X | AMD Vega Frontier Edition | ASUS X570 Pro WS | Corsair Vengeance LPX 64GB | NZXT H500 | Seasonic Prime Fanless TX-700 | Custom loop | Coolermaster SK630 White | Logitech MX Master 2S | Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Pro 512GB | Samsung 58" 4k TV | Scarlett 2i4 | 2x AT2020

 

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APU's aren't too bad but they almost always aren't worth it compared to a lower end discrete GPU from either brand.

My Build:

Spoiler

CPU: i7 4770k GPU: GTX 780 Direct CUII Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero SSD: 840 EVO 250GB HDD: 2xSeagate 2 TB PSU: EVGA Supernova G2 650W

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How much do you want to spend?

I'm thinking around $200, I already have a case and am installing Steam OS (and yes I know it has its problems)

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unless you have something extremely small like a $200-300 budget, an APU is not worth it

Even then I wouldn't go with one. I'd build a dGPU machine out of cardboard if it came down to that.

Oh wait, already did. $210 got me a Q6600 and a 7770. And an SSD. and all the mobo, RAM, PSU and stuff. and a handle for the case.

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APU = 720p-900p with low-medium details across many games.

 

Some games are worse, some are better.

 

Dedicated GPU of medium range would destroy it.

Maximums - Asus Z97-K /w i5 4690 Bclk @106.9Mhz * x39 = 4.17Ghz, 8GB of 2600Mhz DDR3,.. Gigabyte GTX970 G1-Gaming @ 1550Mhz

 

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Even then I wouldn't go with one. I'd build a dGPU machine out of cardboard if it came down to that.

Oh wait, already did. $210 got me a Q6600 and a 7770. And an SSD. and all the mobo, RAM, PSU and stuff. and a handle for the case.

well yeah, if you buy used stuff you can make a pretty decent PC with a dedicated GPU for $300

NEW PC build: Blank Heaven   minimalist white and black PC     Old S340 build log "White Heaven"        The "LIGHTCANON" flashlight build log        Project AntiRoll (prototype)        Custom speaker project

Spoiler

Ryzen 3950X | AMD Vega Frontier Edition | ASUS X570 Pro WS | Corsair Vengeance LPX 64GB | NZXT H500 | Seasonic Prime Fanless TX-700 | Custom loop | Coolermaster SK630 White | Logitech MX Master 2S | Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Pro 512GB | Samsung 58" 4k TV | Scarlett 2i4 | 2x AT2020

 

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I have a guy selling a 4330 and decent mobo for $120, $40 for a decent psu, what can I get in terms of GPU that won't break say $80?

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($80.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A68M-HD+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Inwin CE685.FH300TB3 MicroATX Slim Case w/300W Power Supply  ($65.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $289.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 09:43 EST-0500

7800X3D - MSI B650 MAG Tomahawk - 32GB 6000mhz CL30 - Gigabyte 3080 TI - 2TB NVME - 1000w PSU - ID Cooling 240mm AIO

 

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I have a guy selling a 4330 and decent mobo for $120, $40 for a decent psu, what can I get in terms of GPU that won't break say $80?

$80 your looking at the used market for anything decent.

 

AMD - 6950/6970/7850/7870>>>>> HD7950 if your lucky.

Nvidia - 560Ti/570/580/660ti>>>>670 if your lucky.

Maximums - Asus Z97-K /w i5 4690 Bclk @106.9Mhz * x39 = 4.17Ghz, 8GB of 2600Mhz DDR3,.. Gigabyte GTX970 G1-Gaming @ 1550Mhz

 

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The lower end APUs can be worth it, but with the price of the higher end ones, you'll get better performance by going cpu + gpu.

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($80.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A68M-HD+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($46.89 @ OutletPC)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: Inwin CE685.FH300TB3 MicroATX Slim Case w/300W Power Supply  ($65.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Total: $289.85

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 09:43 EST-0500

I have 2x2gb sticks lying around, is 4GB of RAM too risky? I know I can pick up a good set for like $30, but I'd rather spend the least money possible.

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I have 2x2gb sticks lying around, is 4GB of RAM too risky? I know I can pick up a good set for like $30, but I'd rather spend the least money possible.

APU's are the main reason to get faster memory and I'd stick with what he chose.

APU's use system memory to store textures (vram/framebuffer) and faster memory here makes a big difference to APU performance.

Plus 4GB is not enough IMO for semi-modern gaming without inducing stutters n such...

Maximums - Asus Z97-K /w i5 4690 Bclk @106.9Mhz * x39 = 4.17Ghz, 8GB of 2600Mhz DDR3,.. Gigabyte GTX970 G1-Gaming @ 1550Mhz

 

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$80 your looking at the used market for anything decent.

 

AMD - 6950/6970/7850/7870>>>>> HD7950 if your lucky.

Nvidia - 560Ti/570/580/660ti>>>>670 if your lucky.

Damn, ninja'd.

But yeah, you can get quite a decent amount of power for $80.

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I have 2x2gb sticks lying around, is 4GB of RAM too risky? I know I can pick up a good set for like $30, but I'd rather spend the least money possible.

 

APU uses system RAM, so the more and faster RAM you have, the better off you are. Which is why I went for the 2400.

 

Most people recommend at least 1866. I saw the 2400 for a decent price and went for it.

7800X3D - MSI B650 MAG Tomahawk - 32GB 6000mhz CL30 - Gigabyte 3080 TI - 2TB NVME - 1000w PSU - ID Cooling 240mm AIO

 

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Also, here's a taste of what the A8-7600 can do.

 

7800X3D - MSI B650 MAG Tomahawk - 32GB 6000mhz CL30 - Gigabyte 3080 TI - 2TB NVME - 1000w PSU - ID Cooling 240mm AIO

 

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I saw you already have a Case. I changed up the build to get it to a lower cost.

 

Brought you down to a 750GB HDD

 

Took out the Case w/PSU combo and added just a PSU.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($80.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A68M-HD+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Fractal Design Integra M 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $257.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 10:06 EST-0500

7800X3D - MSI B650 MAG Tomahawk - 32GB 6000mhz CL30 - Gigabyte 3080 TI - 2TB NVME - 1000w PSU - ID Cooling 240mm AIO

 

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I saw you already have a Case. I changed up the build to get it to a lower cost.

 

Brought you down to a 750GB HDD

 

Took out the Case w/PSU combo and added just a PSU.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($80.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A68M-HD+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($46.89 @ OutletPC)

Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($34.99 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: Fractal Design Integra M 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $257.85

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 10:06 EST-0500

holy damn thanks 

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