$250 platform upgrade?

[153494661273805047288]

So I'm on a tight budget here.. What's the best mobo, CPU, PSU, and RAM I can get for $250? Already have a GPU (HD6870) and monitor/peripherals. My Core 2 Duo bottlenecks me in some games, and I can't OC it because I'm running on a Dell mobo.

 

What I'm planning to play: Unreal Tournament 4 when it comes out, CS:GO, Tribes:Ascend, Quake Live (already runs well though), GTA V when it comes out. Need good CPU so I can push 120FPS at 120hz 800x600px on lowest settings.

 

I looked at the Athlon 860k and the G3258, but one doesn't have super great single core performance and the other is only dual core. There's also the option of upgrading my Dell rig to the Core 2 Quad Q9650 which can be had used for $120, but I hate how I would not be able to OC it - and at 3Ghz it's not much of an improvement over my C2D, just two more cores. Not really worth $120. But cheaper overall.

 

Also the PSU I have right now is 350W, maybe that could be enough to power a new CPU + 6870? It does fine with my 65W TDP C2D. It's some Chinese no-namer though so I don't feel like using it for a new rig.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

[SteveGrabowski]

So I'm on a tight budget here.. What's the best mobo, CPU, PSU, and RAM I can get for $250? Already have a GPU (HD6870) and monitor/peripherals. My Core 2 Duo bottlenecks me in some games, and I can't OC it because I'm running on a Dell mobo.

 

What I'm planning to play: Unreal Tournament 4 when it comes out, CS:GO, Tribes:Ascend, Quake Live (already runs well though), GTA V when it comes out. Need good CPU so I can push 120FPS at 120hz 800x600px on lowest settings.

 

I looked at the Athlon 860k and the G3258, but one doesn't have super great single core performance and the other is only dual core. There's also the option of upgrading my Dell rig to the Core 2 Quad Q9650 which can be had used for $120, but I hate how I would not be able to OC it - and at 3Ghz it's not much of an improvement over my C2D, just two more cores. Not really worth $120. But cheaper overall.

 

Also the PSU I have right now is 350W, maybe that could be enough to power a new CPU + 6870? It does fine with my 65W TDP C2D. It's some Chinese no-namer though so I don't feel like using it for a new rig.

 

Thoughts?

 

A Haswell i3 is only 53W TDP. If the PSU works now then upgrade it later, and look at a Haswell i3.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($124.99 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($67.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($71.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $241.96

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-18 18:20 EST-0500

[SteveGrabowski]

If power supply is critical, then how about this? (though it does have $25 in mail in rebates vs the $10 in rebates in the previous post)

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($124.99 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($67.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($71.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $266.95

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-18 18:22 EST-0500

[153494661273805047288]

Why do you suggest the Core i3 4160? As far as I understand it's also only dual core like the Pentium G3258 but you can't overclock it and it's more expensive.

[TheFalseHuman]

Why do you suggest the Core i3 4160? As far as I understand it's also only dual core like the Pentium G3258 but you can't overclock it and it's more expensive.

Maybe for hyperthreading? Dunno

[i_build_nanosuits]

Why do you suggest the Core i3 4160? As far as I understand it's also only dual core like the Pentium G3258 but you can't overclock it and it's more expensive.

the core i3 has hyperthreading it can handle 4 threads at once its a vastly superior cpu to the g3258and a major upgrade to what you have right now...its what i would have suggested as well.

stevegrabowski suggestion including a new psu its a good one if you could afford this you wont be disapointed.

[SteveGrabowski]

Why do you suggest the Core i3 4160? As far as I understand it's also only dual core like the Pentium G3258 but you can't overclock it and it's more expensive.

 

The hyperthreading makes the i3 a much better gaming chip than a Pentium G3258, and gaming at 800x600 you'll surely be CPU bound. No clue if an i3 or Pentium can pull off 120 fps on low though, as I have never seen CPUs tested like that.

[153494661273805047288]

Hmm I see, I thought hyperthreading wasn't that important. Thanks for your suggestion then, I think that's what I'll go with

[153494661273805047288]

Guys, what about this build? At least I could have some fun overclocking then, I could get a better cooler down the line.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($58.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($75.74 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($33.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $268.71

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-18 23:31 EST-0500

[Faceman]

Guys, what about this build? At least I could have some fun overclocking then, I could get a better cooler down the line.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($58.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($75.74 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($33.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $268.71

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-18 23:31 EST-0500

A stock i3 will beat an overclocked FX in all games.  Stock i3 even beats FX8 in majority of games.

 

Go for the build mentioned above.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Guys, what about this build? At least I could have some fun overclocking then, I could get a better cooler down the line.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($58.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($75.74 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($33.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $268.71

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-18 23:31 EST-0500

I agree with @Faceman the core i3 is indeed a better CPU overall to the FX in regards to gaming...also this kit you,ve linked...the motherboard is too cheap to allow any overclocking of the CPU, and the stock heatsink that comes with the FX-6300 is way cheap and loud and can not sustain any overclocking...so you would have to spend more to be equipped adequatly to run such a chip...and even then the i3 will outperform it 9 times out of 10.

 

If an i3 and a cheap H81 motherboard is still out of budget, then i'd suggest you look at an athlon 860K and a cheap FM2 motherboard.

 

Also BTW none of these CPU's in this price range can push 120FPS in most of the games that you've mentionned i'm affraid