Best cheap mobo&CPU inc graphics

WalderX · 27 May 2014 at 11:19

Hi peeps,

I'm selling my i5 CPU and z68 mobo due to it being summer and I won't use my PC for gaming and I would like to upgrade to the newest Intel platform come the winter.

In the mean time though I need something to get me through the summer just for playing music, web browsing etc. I am thinking of going down AMD FM2 route as it's cheap and will do what I need. I will likely go for the cheapest A6-5400K and cheapest mobo with sata 3 port Gigabyte F2A78M-DS2 - but perhaps there is another combo that represents better price/performance value? I don't really want to spend more than £100 on the 2 (must include built-in gpu)

Thanks in advance!

snips86x · 27 May 2014 at 11:22

Why not keep what you have and sell when you come to upgrade? Remove the GPU and use onboard?

tamzzy · 27 May 2014 at 11:23

that sounds kinda stupid.
you lose money selling your current chips and buying new low-end components.
then you sell them on again (for another loss) just to buy new components to match your current spec.

the 2500k is still no slouch even compared to haswell. no point wasting your money

snips86x · 27 May 2014 at 11:26

The least I would do to your rig is upgrade to a Z77 for the prospect of a 3770k!

WalderX · 27 May 2014 at 12:50

snips86x said:
Why not keep what you have and sell when you come to upgrade? Remove the GPU and use onboard?

A few reasons! Mainly I need the money. My z68 board has no vga/dvi output at all so need a discrete GPU (which I have also sold).

tamzzy said:
that sounds kinda stupid.
you lose money selling your current chips and buying new low-end components.
then you sell them on again (for another loss) just to buy new components to match your current spec.

the 2500k is still no slouch even compared to haswell. no point wasting your money

My i5 and board will sell for about £170 which pays for my flights to Barcelona next month! So I have thought it through and don't mind about the costs when I need to buy again - I just need the money now that's all. They have served me well for 3 years now.

It's done now so back to the initial question do we think the cheap FM2 and board is the way to go for now?

los · 27 May 2014 at 12:57

As said keep it till your ready to upgrade?
If not got a z97 board and something like a G3220 pentium, it will be a little more, but then you dont need to buy a new motherbaord when you do your new build!

tamzzy · 27 May 2014 at 13:01

WalderX said:
It's done now so back to the initial question do we think the cheap FM2 and board is the way to go for now?

no. a z97 board and a cheap pentium is the way to go, that way you dont lose much through depreciation and you wont need to change boards again, just the chip when you're ready to buy

WalderX · 27 May 2014 at 14:58

los said:
As said keep it till your ready to upgrade?
If not got a z97 board and something like a G3220 pentium, it will be a little more, but then you dont need to buy a new motherbaord when you do your new build!

tamzzy said:
no. a z97 board and a cheap pentium is the way to go, that way you dont lose much through depreciation and you wont need to change boards again, just the chip when you're ready to buy

Good plan people - this may make more sense! Thanks for the responses.

los · 27 May 2014 at 17:35

We aim to please

leigh_boy · 30 Jun 2014 at 08:25

dude if you need a machine to borrow i have a acer e pc thingy small form factor with 4gb ram and atom you can borrow for a a wee while if you need to.