Best upgrade coming from an i7-950?

[NinetyOne]

I've been slowly upgrading my rig over the last few months and I've come to point where my CPU (and mobo I guess) are the last things left that I could upgrade.

I don't think any of the new chips will work on my current motherboard so selling the cpu and mobo and either going AMD or intel won't make much difference price wise.

These new 8 cores AMD is throwing about do look intriguing I guess for the price. Haven't been on AMD architecture in a good while though.

 

[wam7]

You need to state what are the main things your computer will be used for.

 

[Martini1991]

What's your budget?
For a proper upgrade you're probably not looking at the FX8's, depending on what you do of course.

 

[NinetyOne]

You need to state what are the main things your computer will be used for.

Sorry, yeah. Gaming: MMO's (new FF), FPS (BF3+CS), and RTS (Sc2). And Music production in software such as Ableton and Cubase.

Budget will depend on how much I manage to sell my current mobo and cpu for I guess. But I'm hoping not to spend over £150 including what I get for my current cpu and mobo. (not inlcuding a new mobo)

 

[mickyflinn]

Your i-7 950 is still a very capable cpu the only worth while upgrade would be to an I-5 or I-7 Haswell cpu.

Which will cost between £330 to £400 depending.

 

[teppic]

Concerning a CPU/board upgrade. The 8320 is the best option for FX processors, as it's just a lower clocked 8350.

You'd be fine with FPS type games (some even perform better than an i7), but many existing MMO and RTS games perform a lot better with Intel CPUs. Starcraft 2 is one of the worst performers for the FX processors. That said, it's not so bad it's unplayable, e.g.

http://i.imgur.com/EiLgYLa.png

It looks like an i5 (don't get an i3) would be best for you, but if it's out of your budget, the FX-8320 is a good option.

 

[NinetyOne]

Concerning a CPU/board upgrade. The 8320 is the best option for FX processors, as it's just a lower clocked 8350.

You'd be fine with FPS type games (some even perform better than an i7), but many existing MMO and RTS games perform a lot better with Intel CPUs. Starcraft 2 is one of the worst performers for the FX processors. That said, it's not so bad it's unplayable, e.g.

http://i.imgur.com/EiLgYLa.png

It looks like an i5 (don't get an i3) would be best for you, but if it's out of your budget, the FX-8320 is a good option.

Hmm maybe a 2nd hand i7-2600k might be worthwhile looking out for on the MM or something.

 

[Martini1991]

Wouldn't really go to a 4670K from an i7 9XX, it'd have to be 4770K for me.

Second hand 3770K perhaps?

 

[teppic]

Hmm maybe a 2nd hand i7-2600k might be worthwhile looking out for on the MM or something.

Z68 boards are very cheap now even new. I sold my 2500K a few weeks ago for £100 - not sure what they go for on here, I've not got access to the MM yet.

 

[Nuclear Fusion]

Bought a 2500k off here a few weeks ago for £110 along with the Z68AP-D3 OCUK is selling for £46 for my brother's new computer. Coming from a 950 though, I'd say you'd be better off with a second hand 2600k/3770k or a 4770k if buying new.