Thinking of updating an old HTPC(AMD AM3). Worth doing a processor swap?

[RostHaus]

In short, I'm bringing back to life an old HTPC, I built for my parents nearly a decade ago. The old boot drive died about 2 years ago. I planned on doing a simple ssd swap and w10 update, but I thought since its so old now should I just max it out with a better AM3 and video card.  I already checked it out, its working fine with the new ssd.

 

Basic specs:

Case: Antec remote fusion

MB: Asus M4A88T-M

CPU: AMD AMD Athlon II X3 440 (AMD Phenom II X4 B40)

Storage: Crucial MX500 500g

Ram: 16gb DDR3

 

 

It probably won't play too many games these days, unless the kids use it. But mainly it was used as an XMBC/Kodi hub.  It did run quite a bit CS6 and some audio production software; and would like to still use it that way.

 

Is buying a better AM3 worth it? I'd be willing to spend up to $100. if so which? I'm guessing one of the Phenom II x6s?

 

I don't know a ton about the last AM3s, is there much of a difference in performance from 1075t to 1100t?

[Crunchy Dragon]

Phenom II X6 is the best you're gonna get on that socket.

 

Looks like the 1100T is just around 10% better than the 1075T, which I don't consider a big enough margin to really matter most of the time.

[Sir0Tek]

You may check a fm2-setup as well, they're very cheap used and even the old A8/A10 apus will give you a surprising boost without the need for a dedicated pcie-graphics card compared to your actual setup.

 

Checked 1075T/1100T vs A10 5800K...

[RostHaus]

26 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Phenom II X6 is the best you're gonna get on that socket.

 

Looks like the 1100T is just around 10% better than the 1075T, which I don't consider a big enough margin to really matter most of the time.

 

Thanks!  Would you know if the Zosma (x4) has unlockable cores like the X3s did? 

 

Because I see that the Phenom II X4 970 is based on the X6 Thuban.

 

 

[Goldilock]

34 minutes ago, Sir0Tek said:

You may check a fm2-setup as well, they're very cheap used and even the old A8/A10 apus will give you a surprising boost without the need for a dedicated pcie-graphics card compared to your actual setup.

 

Checked 1075T/1100T vs A10 5800K...

+1, FM2 or FM2+ platform are really cheap and enough for light workload.

 

Plus it runs cool.

[RostHaus]

34 minutes ago, Sir0Tek said:

You may check a fm2-setup as well, they're very cheap used and even the old A8/A10 apus will give you a surprising boost without a dedicated pcie-graphics card compared to your actual setup.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll take a look.

 To be honest If I was going to swap out the mobo, I would probably just sink a bit more money in and go with new platform.

[Sir0Tek]

8 minutes ago, RostHaus said:

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll take a look.

 To be honest If I was going to swap out the mobo, I would probably just sink a bit more money in and go with new platform.

How much more? I think $50 at max buys you a good fm2+ combo and you can re-use your memory - alas, it should be capable of DDR3 1600 at least, and dual-channel. Any other setup that would make sense will force you to exchange the memory to ddr4, which adds up even if you'd get a feasible cpu&mainboard for about 130+- 

[i_build_nanosuits]

1 hour ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Phenom II X6 is the best you're gonna get on that socket.

 

Looks like the 1100T is just around 10% better than the 1075T, which I don't consider a big enough margin to really matter most of the time.

yeah but an X6 is A LOT of CPU for that cheap motherboard he's got tho:

 

[RostHaus]

2 hours ago, Sir0Tek said:

How much more? I think $50 at max buys you a good fm2+ combo and you can re-use your memory - alas, it should be capable of DDR3 1600 at least, and dual-channel. Any other setup that would make sense will force you to exchange the memory to ddr4, which adds up even if you'd get a feasible cpu&mainboard for about 130+- 

While that is true I'd end up buying ram, too. The Asus board only allowed 16gbs of ddr3 1333.

I do probably have some unused DDR3 from my i7, but again its probably only 4 gb of ddr3 1600. 

 

An AM4 may just be in the future, for this case.

[Sir0Tek]

Just now, RostHaus said:

While that is true I'd end up buying ram, too. The Asus board only allowed 16gbs of ddr3 1333.

I do probably have some unused DDR3 from my i7, but again its probably only 4 gb of ddr3 1600. 

 

An AM4 may just be in the future, for this case.

Ehh, the M4A88T allowed up to DDR3 1866. Everything above 1333 (1600 as standard came somewhat later) is considered overclock and it usually works quite well to run DDR3 1333 @ 1600 or higher.

 

[RostHaus]

10 hours ago, Sir0Tek said:

Ehh, the M4A88T allowed up to DDR3 1866. Everything above 1333 (1600 as standard came somewhat later) is considered overclock and it usually works quite well to run DDR3 1333 @ 1600 or higher.

 

oops, you are right, my mistake.  Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look a bit more into the FM2+