Wanting to upgrade - AMD CPU

Omaeka · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:04

I'm currently running an AMD FX-4100 Bulldozer Quad Core 3.62ghz CPU on a ASUS M5A78L-M LX motherboard. I'm looking to upgrade at some point but really have no idea where to start, google searches tell me that the AMD 1100T Phenom II Six-Core 3.2ghz is the best for gaming, but it has two cores and 1ghz less power than the FX-8150 8-Core.

Bah! I'm confusing myself just typing this :mad:

can anyone tell me both or either of the following:

A.) The best 3 AMD gaming CPU's on the market?

B.) Whether or not I could get an i5/i7 into my rig, but I don't think my motherboard supports them? If so, what are the best i5 and i7 CPU's?

If you know anything about graphics cards and would like to give me some advice, I also have a thread here:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=22138787

Thanks!

Martini1991 · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:14

Go Intel, H61 board and an i5.

Your FX4100 has pitiful IPC.
Most games use 4 or less threads, so having an 8 core is pointless, also GHZ isn't everything, so the Phenom II X6 1100T will generally spank an FX8150 in gaming, hell in gaming a Pentium G620 can put up a fight in lesser threaded titles.

Orcvader · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:15

Even with less cores and lower speed the Phenom II X4/X6 is still better for gaming. This is because it has higher IPC (Instructions Per Clock) than Bulldozer, meaning it can do more per clock. Also games at most use 4 cores, so any extra cores won't be used at all.

If you can grab a Phenom II X4 960T then you can unlock it to a 6 core and overclock it close to 4ghz. This will be the best for your money.

Or even better, sell your CPU and mobo and buy an i3/i5 with an LGA 1155 board.

Omaeka · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:17

Martini1991 said:
Go Intel, H61 board and an i5.

Your FX4100 has pitiful IPC.
Most games use 4 or less threads, so having an 8 core is pointless, also GHZ isn't everything, so the Phenom II X6 1100T will generally spank an FX8150 in gaming, hell in gaming a Pentium G620 can put up a fight in lesser threaded titles.

Thanks but I don't want to change motherboards

so I'm happy to stay AMD for now, as money isn't exactly flooding in but I would like to be able to play more demanding games. Do you have any idea what the definitive AMD gaming CPU's are? I've read numerous articles on the internet and none of it really makes a whole deal or sense to me.

Thanks!

Orcvader said:
Even with less cores and lower speed the Phenom II X4/X6 is still better for gaming. This is because it has higher IPC (Instructions Per Clock) than Bulldozer, meaning it can do more per clock. Also games at most use 4 cores, so any extra cores won't be used at all.

If you can grab a Phenom II X4 960T then you can unlock it to a 6 core and overclock it close to 4ghz. This will be the best for your money.

Or even better, sell your CPU and mobo and buy an i3/i5 with an LGA 1155 board.

I want to stick with AMD if no Intel can go with my rig at the moment, I'm also completely wet behind the ears when it comes to PC hardware

so I'm pretty worried about ever overclocking something, is there a CPU within the £175 price range that comes standard with high power for gaming?

Thanks!

Martini1991 · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:20

Omaeka said:
Thanks but I don't want to change motherboards so I'm happy to stay AMD for now, as money isn't exactly flooding in but I would like to be able to play more demanding games. Do you have any idea what the definitive AMD gaming CPU's are? I've read numerous articles on the internet and none of it really makes a whole deal or sense to me.

Thanks!

Best rounded CPU for AMD would have to be either a Phenom II 960T (Preferably unlocked) and the AMD Phenom II 1100T/1090T.

Note these are both rather old compared to your FX4100.
Upgrading to technology a year and a half older than what you have?

You'll need to switch the board eventually, the Phenom II upgrade will give you no where near the amount of future proofing an i5 and h61 upgrade would give you in terms of CPU power.

Omaeka · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:22

Martini1991 said:
Best rounded CPU for AMD would have to be either a Phenom II 960T (Preferably unlocked) and the AMD Phenom II 1100T/1090T.

Note these are both rather old compared to your FX4100.
Upgrading to technology a year and a half older than what you have?

You'll need to switch the board eventually, the Phenom II upgrade will give you no where near the amount of future proofing an i5 and h61 upgrade would give you in terms of CPU power.

Well there tons of gamers using AMD rigs, but if I really should swap to intel, how in gods name do I change a motherboard?

It sounds difficulty and risky, but then again I have not got the slightest clue about this stuff.

Martini1991 · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:24

Omaeka said:
Well there tons of gamers using AMD rigs, but if I really should swap to intel, how in gods name do I change a motherboard? It sounds difficulty and risky, but then again I have not got the slightest clue about this stuff.

Agreed, and I used to be one of them, but that doesn't mean Intel aren't better.
There's a reason you see Graphics cards get reviewed with Intel CPU's.
Changing motherboard is pretty easy, except it's basically a full rebuild.

Omaeka · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:26

Martini1991 said:
Agreed, and I used to be one of them, but that doesn't mean Intel aren't better.
There's a reason you see Graphics cards get reviewed with Intel CPU's.
Changing motherboard is pretty easy, except it's basically a full rebuild.

A full rebuild? So I'd have to get a new HDD and RAM?

Martini1991 · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:30

Omaeka said:
A full rebuild? So I'd have to get a new HDD and RAM?

Oh no.
I mean, switching a motherboard entails removing GPU etc from the case etc, so when you put the new board in, it's like a full rebuild of the PC (In the process)

Omaeka · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:32

Martini1991 said:
Oh no.
I mean, switching a motherboard entails removing GPU etc from the case etc, so when you put the new board in, it's like a full rebuild of the PC (In the process)

Does that mean all the wiring too? :| putting the power supply blah blah? Is there some kind of little magical hardware gnome I can find to do all this for me?

Martini1991 · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:35

It means wiring everything back to the motherboard yeah.
However it's also very good practice.
My first experience that got me into PC building was motherboard exchanging.

Orcvader · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:37

All you do is take out the graphics card, unplug everything connected to the motherboard, take the motherboard out, take the RAM out, place the Intel CPU into the new motherboard with the cooler, slot the RAM into the new motherboard, place the motherboard in, replug everything including the graphics card, and you're done. May need to reinstall 7 but you might be able to avoid this.

Omaeka · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:44

Martini1991 said:
It means wiring everything back to the motherboard yeah.
However it's also very good practice.
My first experience that got me into PC building was motherboard exchanging.

I'll definitely look into Intel, what is the absolute best motherboard for one? I can't say I'm looking forward to swapping over if I do though, probably won't have a PC left.

Also, can I get one final verdict on the very best AMD for gaming, baring in mind I'm not looking to spend over £200.

Thanks!

Orcvader said:
All you do is take out the graphics card, unplug everything connected to the motherboard, take the motherboard out, take the RAM out, place the Intel CPU into the new motherboard with the cooler, slot the RAM into the new motherboard, place the motherboard in, replug everything including the graphics card, and you're done. May need to reinstall 7 but you might be able to avoid this.

With the cooler? What do you mean, would I have to buy a cooling system with an Intel? If by a long stretch I do end up going to Intel, a reformat seems like a horrible consequence

most of my games are on Steam and take me absolutely ages to download again.

One last thing; apparently I have to keep myself grounded when working on a PC so I don't blow up? What? :mad:

Orcvader · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:48

As Martini as mentioned, the best AMD gaming CPUs are the 960T or the 1090T/1100T.

All retail CPUs come with a cooler so don't worry about that.

You can move the steamapps folder to the new install, so all you do is back it up and no need to redownload. But as I said there's a good chance you don't have to reinstall Windows.

Guide here: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

As for grounding yourself, honestly all I do is plug the PSU into the mains, and touch it every now and then to "ground" myself (The PSU is off). Other people have different methods of grounding themselves.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:49

TBH,Vishera will be out in the next few months and will work with the motherboard the OP has. By then the desktop IB Core i3 CPUs will also be out,so the OP will have a better choice of CPUs to choose from.

If I had an FX4100,I would wait until then. Its not the world's best CPU for gaming,but at normal resolutions you should still be able to get reasonable framerates in many games.

Remember,most reviews are using GTX580,GTX680 and HD7970 cards,so the differences will be more exaggerated. You have an HD6850 1GB which is far less powerful.

Martini1991 · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:50

To be honest, you could do something like this ;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-407-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=567

www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-205-MS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=2265

Allows you Crossfire in the future etc.

The cooler comes with the CPU.

Martini1991 · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:51

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
TBH,Vishera will be out in the next few months and will work with the motherboard the OP has. By then the desktop IB Core i3 CPUs will also be out,so the OP will have a better choice of CPUs to choose from.

If I had an FX4100,I would wait until then. Its not the world's best CPU for gaming,but at normal resolutions you should still be able to get reasonable framerates in many games.

Remember,most reviews are using GTX580,GTX680 and HD7970 cards,so the differences will be more exaggerated. You only have an HD6850 1GB.

Can't see Piledriver being insanely good, at best Phenom II IPC, that was so 2009 (Which was so 2007)
OP is looking to upgrade GPU, an OC'ed 7850 can almost touch stock 7950.
Looking at the trinity results, it's all over the place in comparison to Llano (CPU Side)

Hagar · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:56

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
TBH,Vishera will be out in the next few months and will work with the motherboard the OP has. By then the desktop IB Core i3 CPUs will also be out,so the OP will have a better choice of CPUs to choose from.

If I had an FX4100,I would wait until then. Its not the world's best CPU for gaming,but at normal resolutions you should still be able to get reasonable framerates in many games.

I agree, for his budget an intel i3 at £100 and a similar priced mobo is the current limit. My 1090T cost me £85 a couple of months back and he could get an x4 BE phenom for £70 by hunting around.

Wait and see with piledriver (vishera) or build a bigger budget for intel.

£200 for a couple of fps seems not very worthwhile

Note to OP, a processor swap will probably mean removing the motherboard anyway as this is the simplest way to do it.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:56

Martini1991 said:
Can't see Piledriver being insanely good, at best Phenom II IPC, that was so 2009.

I don't see what the issue is with waiting.

The GTX660 should also be incoming in a few months too.

Anyway the OP stated the following:

"as money isn't exactly flooding in"

Its best,the OP saves up a decent amount and do a decent upgrade/rebuild then doing something half-arsed.

So,IMHO they should wait a few months anyway.

Martini1991 · 14 Jun 2012 at 14:57

nkata said:
I agree, for his budget an intel i3 at £100 and a similar priced mobo is the current limit. My 1090T cost me £85 a couple of months back and he could get an x4 BE phenom for £70 by hunting around.

Wait and see with piledriver (vishera) or build a bigger budget for intel.

£200 for a couple of fps seems not very worthwhile

Note to OP, a processor swap will probably mean removing the motherboard anyway as this is the simplest way to do it.

I've removed quite a few CPU's and exchanged them without removing my motherboard.
Even with my custom watercooling I'm able to switch CPU's within about 10 minutes, no removing my watercooling or motherboard.