[?] Choosing the right CPU for your GPU

[Kelsipher]

A while ago when shopping for a new CPU I was on a tight budget and bought an AMD FX-4100 CPU and was using a nvidia GTX 460.

Somewhat recently I bought a GTX 760 and now I am at a noticable bottleneck with my CPU. I know that the Bulldozer series and the FX-4100 in particular are known for generally bad archetecture resulting in less-than-desirable performance.

My question here is this: What is a good way to go about buying a new CPU that I know will not only be fast enough for me to ge the full performance of my GTX 760, but also make sure I get a good amount of overhead performance.
Any sort of known websites or ways I can gauge general performance between CPU's/GPU's?

(I usually cpubenchmark.net and videocardbenchmark.net when I am looking to compare GPU-to-GPU and CPU-to-CPU, but I do not believe that the scoring numbers each product is rated has any correlation when comparing a CPU-to-GPU)

[FloRolf]

If you have a good motherboard you could throw a 8350 in there. Otherwise i'd say like an Haswell i5.

[Shd0w2]

8350'S are great, and you can overclock them so they have a ton of extra performance.

[skullbringer]

8350 is probably your best bet.

[ForsakenLive]

The 8320 or 8350 will work in your motherboard, they are much better performers

[Real_nimr0d_3]

Well, cpu bottlenecking is a lot more complicated. Cpu bottlenecking depends on game or program. For ex. even a 4930k would bottleneck a Gtx 760 in test like Star Swarm. So, it depends on the application you're running.

So, if you're on a budget get an Fx- 8320/8350 (same thing). And if you have the money definitely get an i5 3570k(better overclock) or 4670k. 

[Kelsipher]

Thank you guys for the information so far. Been looking up the FX-8350 and it seems like a pretty huge upgrade from what I have(almost 2.5x increase in performance).
Second question real quick, reguardless of brand or socket type, what would you recommend as the best value for performance consumer grade CPU?

[hal9001]

Go with the i5-2500k or 3570k. You can squeeze out all of the performance that you can get with a nice OC without burning cash on a haswell i5 or i7.

[Priller]

Since you already have an AMD board( I would like to know which one) and live in the states then an 8320 for 130 at Microcenter will probably be the biggest and cheapest step up in performance you can get as you will gain IPC, cores, and wont have to replace your motherboard.

[Kelsipher]

Since you already have an AMD board( I would like to know which one) and live in the states then an 8320 for 130 at Microcenter will probably be the biggest and cheapest step up in performance you can get as you will gain IPC, cores, and wont have to replace your motherboard.

It's an AM3+ board. ASUS M5A88-V EVO

Thinks for the advice. Probably gonna buy the 8350.

[Faa]

You're not going to see a massive difference in ipc bound games like PS2/SC2 etc.. I doubt a 4100 cant keep a 760 at 99% in BF4..

List what games you are playing or planning to play, will give a much better idea.

[Priller]

It's an AM3+ board. ASUS M5A88-V EVO

Thinks for the advice. Probably gonna buy the 8350.

 

I wouldn't push it too far with voltage because the heatsink doesnt look that beefy so I wouldnt run it too hot and it does have a 8+1 power phase so it should be able to run an 8320 or 8350. I just wouldn't ask too much out of it and keep the voltage on the lower end.

[Kelsipher]

I wouldn't push it too far with voltage because the heatsink doesnt look that beefy so I wouldnt run it too hot and it does have a 8+1 power phase so it should be able to run an 8320 or 8350. I just wouldn't ask too much out of it and keep the voltage on the lower end.

Yeah I know not to overvolt my machine. Not worried about temps much cuz I have a 240mm 2200rpm sidepanel fan that blows right into my northbridge and my room is always pretty cool (about 50-60 degrees farenheit)

[Kelsipher]

You're not going to see a massive difference in ipc bound games like PS2/SC2 etc.. I doubt a 4100 cant keep a 760 at 99% in BF4..

List what games you are playing or planning to play, will give a much better idea.

I play a range of games. Basically I just wanna be able to play most games that are out or coming out in 2014 with high/max settings averaging around 60fps. I know that especially in BF4 I only see my 760 max out at ~60% usage while my cpu is maxed in all 4 cores.

But here's a quick list off the top of my head of games I play/will play. Metro2033/LL, Witcher2/3, Battlefield3/4, crysis2/3, diablo3, starcraft2, dark souls 2, warframe, WoW, payday2, planetside 2, saint's row3/4, etc.

[Cubit481]

Well, cpu bottlenecking is a lot more complicated. Cpu bottlenecking depends on game or program. For ex. even a 4930k would bottleneck a Gtx 760 in test like Star Swarm. So, it depends on the application 

I think that gpu is also not that good for testing like Star swarm anyway....

[Kelsipher]

I think that gpu is also not that good for testing like Star swarm anyway....

Yeah if I remember correctly, starswarm is meant for testing Mantle.

[Faa]

I play a range of games. Basically I just wanna be able to play most games that are out or coming out in 2014 with high/max settings averaging around 60fps. I know that especially in BF4 I only see my 760 max out at ~60% usage while my cpu is maxed in all 4 cores.

But here's a quick list off the top of my head of games I play/will play. Metro2033/LL, Witcher2/3, Battlefield3/4, crysis2/3, diablo3, starcraft2, dark souls 2, warframe, WoW, payday2, planetside 2, saint's row3/4, etc.

Battlefield 3

Starcraft 2

Wow

Planetside 2

Diablo 3 (this one isn't intensive)

Crysis 2

I don't know the others, but they the ones I jus listed are per core performance bound. Why not lean over to Intel?

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard:  MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($44.99 @ Micro Center) 

Total: $224.98

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-17 04:49 EDT-0400)

A 8320 would hardly match this i5's per core performance. Selling your board+cpu would bring around 100-120$ up, seems to be a better choice to me.

[Cubit481]

Yeah if I remember correctly, starswarm is meant for testing Mantle.

Yup...

[stmaki16]

You can go fx-6300 and you wont need to overclock but you can if you'd like too because its always awesome. Just make sure your vrms don't explode hahaha! Otherwise go 8350 or 8320 overclocked and you'll be good!