Best CPU/MOBO for £200

Kmodo · 29 Dec 2012 at 00:11

My younger brother has a Phenom 955 with a MSI 870-C45 770 Chipset DDR3 motherboard.

We have the same GPU (7970) and I play at a higher res 1200p compared with 1080p but my framerates on FC3 are much higher and consistent.

He is looking to upgrade but does not have much money. He said he has about £150 but I am not sure if the latest piledriver CPU would work in his motherboard AND even if it could whether it would be that much better?

So I said I would give him £50 quid for his cpu/mobo which would bring his total up to £200.

Is there a good combo in this price bracket?

Cheers,

Kmodo

T345 · 29 Dec 2012 at 00:14

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3330 3.00GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £139.99
1 x MSI Z77A-G43 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - FREE Alpenföhn Civetta Cooler!! £79.99
Total : £231.38 (includes shipping : £9.50).

£20 over

Kmodo · 29 Dec 2012 at 00:21

Thanks! So a Z77 is what I need to go for.

He already has a "Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev 2" cooler so would this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-555-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=2261 cheaper motherboard be a decent alternative?

Ps would a 3330 be a much better CPU than the 955 in games?

Billy1280 · 29 Dec 2012 at 01:36

I'm using the P8Z77-V LX and have had no problems with it, so can assume the LX2 would be more than good enough, in my opinion

T345 · 29 Dec 2012 at 12:40

It should be
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=363
The 2400 is a bit worse than the 3330

olivier renault · 29 Dec 2012 at 15:03

Billy1280 said:
I'm using the P8Z77-V LX and have had no problems with it, so can assume the LX2 would be more than good enough, in my opinion

Yeah definitely the Z77-D3H, or the P8Z77-V LX2, or even a Z77 Pro-4 over the MSI.

I think this one is voltage-locked, so really not good. Avoid the Z77-DS3H for the same reason.