Computer Upgrade or New Computer?

[DatKid20]

I wanted to upgrade my computer for dolphin and a few PC games.

Specs for Upgrade
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 x2 4450B 2.3ghz -> Athlon 64 x2 5600+ 2.9ghz
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 3100 -> AMD Radeon HD 7750
RAM: 1gb -> 2gb or 3gb (can't decide)
PSU: 240w -> 300w

Budget for new computer is about $500. A little over is fine.

Thanks in advance for helping.

PS: I can see from my specs that should most probably just get a new computer now.

[admin89]

FX 6350 @ 3.9GHz
Gigabyte G970A mobo
Sapphire 7750 GDDR5
Gskill Ripjaws Series 2x2GB 1600MHz
Seasonic S12II 520W 80 Plus Bronze
Total Cost : 433$
If you want to run most demanding games full speed , you will have to spend 700-800$ for i5 3570k build

[DatKid20]

FX 6350 @ 3.9GHz
Gigabyte G970A mobo
Sapphire 7750 GDDR5
Gskill Ripjaws Series 2x2GB 1600MHz
Seasonic S12II 520W 80 Plus Bronze
Total Cost : 433$
If you want to run most demanding games full speed , you will have to spend 700-800$ for i5 3570k build

What if I change the FX-6350 to a i5-3570k and get a gpu later? And also change the motherboard to a ASRock Z77 Pro3? And last but not least this Rosewill Challenger. The price would be $477.95 + shipping = $484.72
I'm thinking about the AM3+ build more because of Steamroller.

These sentences sounded better in my head.

[admin89]

That's also ok .

[NaturalViolence]

Don't go for ivy bridge. Either:
1. Grab an Z87 LGA 1150 motherboard + K edition haswell cpu and save the graphics card for later
or
2. Bump your budget up to $550. Get a cheap H87 motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157384 and a regular haswell cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819116896 and keep the graphics card in
or
3. Buy a used LGA1156 and sandy bridge cpu on ebay along with the graphics card.

[DatKid20]

That's also ok .

Thanks for your help. I think I've finally have these builds down.

Intel Build
CPU: Intel i5-4670k @3.4ghz
GPU: Intel HD 4600
RAM: 4gb G.SKILL Ripjaws Series
PSU: Seasonic S12II 520w 80 plus bronze
MOBO: MSI Z87-41
Case: Rosewill Challenger
Price: $518.94

AMD Build
CPU: AMD FX-6350 @3.9ghz
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7750 1gb
RAM: 4gb G.SKILL Ripjaws Series
PSU:Seasonic S12II 520w 80 plus bronze
MOBO: Asrock AM3+ PRO3
Case: Rosewill Challenger
Price:$495.74

Now there is a bigger difference.

---

Don't go for ivy bridge. Either:
1. Grab an Z87 LGA 1150 motherboard + K edition haswell cpu and save the graphics card for later
or
2. Bump your budget up to $550. Get a cheap H87 motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157384 and a regular haswell cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819116896 and keep the graphics card in
or
3. Buy a used LGA1156 and sandy bridge cpu on ebay along with the graphics card.

I went with the first option for the Intel Build.

[admin89]

Z68/Z75/Z77 mobo only work with Sandy Bridge , Ivy Bridge . These mobos don't work with Haswell CPU
MSI Z87 G41 mobo is dirt cheap , it will be fine for the job ̣(Asrock Z87 Pro 3 is also ok , it cost higher though)
Intel HD 4600 is as fast as my GPU - GT 540M which can handle 2.5xIR(1600x1320) , no AA , 16xAF . Many PC games run ok with it -> You can buy AMD 8000 series GPU later

[rokclimb15]

I just did this exercise myself, and I'd recommend a new build instead of an upgrade for you. You'll get a much better rig for just a little more money compared with the upgrade. Parts arrive tomorrow so I can't vouch for it yet, but here's what I arrived at:

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Public...r=22713645


Drop the optical drive, card reader, and bluetooth adapter (assuming you don't need them) and get 4GB of RAM instead of the 8GB, and you'll be just a nudge over $500. You can pick a less expensive PSU to make up the difference. Adding a case will put you back over $500, but not by much.

For Haswell, make sure you get a Z87 board. As admin89 pointed out, Z77 and below won't work.

Also make sure you get an Intel 4th gen tested PSU. If in doubt, check the manufacturer site for info. Some say it prominently, some do not. It has very little to do with the total wattage or amps per rail but is related to the new C6/C7 sleep states in Haswell. I think most mobo makers are disabling it by default, but if it is turned on and your PSU can't deliver sufficient current to 3.3v and 5v while the CPU is in those states, your PSU might trigger a protective shutoff. If you want to avoid this entire thing, get any PSU for 2nd/3rd gen Intel and just make sure you disable C6/C7 in your BIOS. You won't be able to use those states, but that's not very useful on a desktop anyway.

Edit: for Dolphin, do the Intel build. I'm an AMD fanboy, but the IPC (instructions per clock) in Sandy/Ivy/Haswell are higher than the AMD FX series. FX offers more cores for less money, which is great for general usage or certain applications. For Dolphin it won't help.

[NaturalViolence]

@rokclimb15

Even if you are using C6/C7 on a desktop for some strange reason an older PSU isn't going to give you any major issues with it as long as it's a good unit. It's not as big of a deal as some people are making it out to be.

[DatKid20]

I'm going with the intel build. Thanks for all your help. I thought the HD 4600 was going to be complete garbage but it is good enough until I get a new gpu.