Upgrading HTPC

[Ketterer]

Hello, 
I have this current Build, along with lots of extra storage, and hooked up to a 1080p 39 inch TV.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD A6-6420K 4.0GHz Dual-Core OEM/Tray Processor

Motherboard: Asus A88XM-A Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($54.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($69.98 @ OutletPC) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($124.00 @ Amazon) 

Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($0.00) 

Power Supply: Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 460W ATX Power Supply

Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer  ($0.00) 

Total: $248.97

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-23 09:57 EST-0500

 

I have been fairly happy with this as an HTPC, and it has served me well but I had always intended on doing some updrages when I bought the Asus A88XM-A Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard. 

 

Location and Budget

I am Canadian, and with our dollar right now really do need Canadian prices/retailers, in years past it wouldnt have been so big but it is now, I do not have a large budget at most id have a 300$ CAD for upgrades

 

Aim

The main purpose is being used as an HTPC, which it already fulfills well. But right now I am deciding weather I want to upgrade this rig for light or hardcore gaming, or weather I want to buy a PS4.

 

Monitors and Peripherals

I have a 1080p 39 inchHDTV lots of external storage, that is about it..

 

Reasons for Upgrading

 I currently Run linux with Kodi, and I have a few small games and lots of emulators running. I always love emulators and would love better performance there.

I am llooking to either upgrade just my APU to highend APU or getting a GPU

If I decide against a console I would like to be able to play current games hopefully on high- ultra if I go as far a GPU or high if I get just an APU with 60 fps hopefully

 

Realistically, If I upgraded to a:

A10-7870K  

Would I be able to achieve high on current games?

 

If not at all, then what kind of GPU and cpu upgrade would you recomend I need a karvari or Godvari cpu to use PCIe 3.0 I think and right now I have an a6 trinity

I think I would prefer Nvidia, only because the currrent OS is Linux but I do duel boot for games so its not needed

I have looked at some GTX950s or GTX750Ti and R9 380s and r7 380 but don't know if they are really needed.

 

Also What do emulators (ps1 N64, DS PSP WII) actually rely more on, would do wants current games but emulators are what I currently do and I get 25 fps on N64, would love more lol,

 

[Ketterer]

Bump.

 

One of the biggest things I want to know how powerful the a10 is for current games.
I currently have a trinity a6 6420k and I think right now I would optimally want to just upgrade to a godvari 10-7870k and looking ot hear what kind of an upgrade that willl actually be.

[Djole123]

6800K is slightly better than 7870K (correct me if I'm wrong). For HTPC an external GPU is going to make experience better, especially in gaming and Full HD videos (a 750Ti at least). You'll be able to get more FPS out of games and emulators

[Ketterer]

Yes I recognize that a discreete GPU would be better, but I don't have the money for a good one right now per ce. How big of an upgrade will i get from the old a6 t the new a10, I will still probably get a gpu in the distant future.