Please find me an elite cpu and mobo

[Rennn]

I'm hoping to upgrade my cpu, as my favorite game is Dark Souls and my Phenom II 995 x4 at 3.2Ghz is not strong enough.

 

My motherboard has an AM3 socket unfortunately, so it'll need to be replaced as well.

 

I don't know much about motherboards, and I'm not very good at picking processors. I want a strong motherboard, nothing amazing, but a good one. I don't care if it's SLI or Crossfire ready, because I don't really like running two cards. But still, my 460 GC could be a good PhysX calculator when I get a 660 ti GC, so I won't complain if it happens to be SLI ready. I would like the mobo to stay $150 or less, if possible. If I need to spend more, that's not really a big problem since gaming is my only expensive hobby.

 

The CPU matters much more than the mobo in my case. I want something extremely fast with at least 4 cores. It should put my Phenom II 995 to shame, and greatly outperform it in every way. There's no point to upgrade my rig unless it's a big upgrade, I don't want to buy something that'll be out of date next year. I don't know what a good deal is in the world of processors, so I'm asking for help. I'll spend whatever I need to in order to get a very high end cpu, but like anyone I'd want as low of a price as is plausible and reliable.

 

My mobo will be upgraded of course, based on the cpu. You can assume that my PSU is good enough, as it's a recent Antec 750w modular model. I don't remember the exact specs, but when I bought it I made sure it would run anything I threw at it, so I'll have more than enough power. I have a full size gaming cabinet with several 120mm fans and excessive ventilation, so I'm also going to say that cooling should be sufficient for almost any cpu. If my cooling isn't good enough, I can upgrade that later, so just assume that power and cooling are not factors.

 

Thanks for any help.

[Dan3345]

I'm hoping to upgrade my cpu, as my favorite game is Dark Souls and my Phenom II 995 x4 at 3.2Ghz is not strong enough.

 

My motherboard has an AM3 socket unfortunately, so it'll need to be replaced as well.

 

I don't know much about motherboards, and I'm not very good at picking processors. I want a strong motherboard, nothing amazing, but a good one. I don't care if it's SLI or Crossfire ready, because I don't really like running two cards. But still, my 460 GC could be a good PhysX calculator when I get a 660 ti GC, so I won't complain if it happens to be SLI ready. I would like the mobo to stay $150 or less, if possible. If I need to spend more, that's not really a big problem since gaming is my only expensive hobby.

 

The CPU matters much more than the mobo in my case. I want something extremely fast with at least 4 cores. It should put my Phenom II 995 to shame, and greatly outperform it in every way. There's no point to upgrade my rig unless it's a big upgrade, I don't want to buy something that'll be out of date next year. I don't know what a good deal is in the world of processors, so I'm asking for help. I'll spend whatever I need to in order to get a very high end cpu, but like anyone I'd want as low of a price as is plausible and reliable.

 

My mobo will be upgraded of course, based on the cpu. You can assume that my PSU is good enough, as it's a recent Antec 750w modular model. I don't remember the exact specs, but when I bought it I made sure it would run anything I threw at it, so I'll have more than enough power. I have a full size gaming cabinet with several 120mm fans and excessive ventilation, so I'm also going to say that cooling should be sufficient for almost any cpu. If my cooling isn't good enough, I can upgrade that later, so just assume that power and cooling are not factors.

 

Thanks for any help.

Awesome CPU

 

Awesome Motherboard

 

That motherboard costs $140, but you could spring for an Asus P8Z77 V-Pro which is $190 but gives better overclocking headroom, more USB 3.0 and more PCIe Lanes. Asus software guarantees an overclock of at least 10% across all boards and Intel i5 and up chips, but it doesn't hurt to get a motherboard that can handle the voltage a bit better.

 

Also I am a little confused. You have a gtx 460 and you are getting a 660ti correct? In that case having the gtx 460 as a physx processor would only waste energy. The new 6 series is so far ahead of the older gtx cards that running one as a physx processor is just a waste. The card alone calculating its own physx will still be faster than the older one. I would know, I tried using my gtx 460 as a physx processor. It just isn't worth it.

[Rennn]

Awesome CPU

 

Awesome Motherboard

 

That motherboard costs $140, but you could spring for an Asus P8Z77 V-Pro which is $190 but gives better overclocking headroom, more USB 3.0 and more PCIe Lanes. Asus software guarantees an overclock of at least 10% across all boards and Intel i5 and up chips, but it doesn't hurt to get a motherboard that can handle the voltage a bit better.

 

Also I am a little confused. You have a gtx 460 and you are getting a 660ti correct? In that case having the gtx 460 as a physx processor would only waste energy. The new 6 series is so far ahead of the older gtx cards that running one as a physx processor is just a waste. The card alone calculating its own physx will still be faster than the older one. I would know, I tried using my gtx 460 as a physx processor. It just isn't worth it.

 

Okay, thanks. I assumed using a 460 as a PhysX calculator would be faster, but now I think I'll just sell it at a used computer place nearby when I get a 660. That upgrade is a while off yet, since right now my cpu chokes first in the games I play, especially Dark Souls.

 

That motherboard looks perfect. :)

Just how much better is that cpu compared to my Phenom II though? I can't seem to find specific comparisons, and I'm not familiar with the finer points of cpu performance.

Edited December 2, 2012 by Rennn

[Dan3345]

Awesome CPU

 

Awesome Motherboard

 

That motherboard costs $140, but you could spring for an Asus P8Z77 V-Pro which is $190 but gives better overclocking headroom, more USB 3.0 and more PCIe Lanes. Asus software guarantees an overclock of at least 10% across all boards and Intel i5 and up chips, but it doesn't hurt to get a motherboard that can handle the voltage a bit better.

 

Also I am a little confused. You have a gtx 460 and you are getting a 660ti correct? In that case having the gtx 460 as a physx processor would only waste energy. The new 6 series is so far ahead of the older gtx cards that running one as a physx processor is just a waste. The card alone calculating its own physx will still be faster than the older one. I would know, I tried using my gtx 460 as a physx processor. It just isn't worth it.

 

Okay, thanks. I assumed using a 460 as a PhysX calculator would be faster, but now I think I'll just sell it at a used computer place nearby when I get a 660. That upgrade is a while off yet, since right now my cpu chokes first in the games I play, especially Dark Souls.

 

That motherboard looks perfect. :)

Just how much better is that cpu compared to my Phenom II though? I can't seem to find specific comparisons, and I'm not familiar with the finer points of cpu performance.

Mindblowingly faster trust me.. I had an 1100t before I went to my 2500k (the older version of the 3570k) and the difference was insane... Games that would lag before had zero problems with the intel chip.

 

You have my word (as much as that means on the internet) you won't be disappointed.

[Rennn]

Okay, thanks. I did find some feedback as well that rates the 3570k about twice as fast as an FX 6100, and an FX 6100 should be better than my Phenom II. And after looking at youtube benchmarks of the 3570k, it won't bottleneck any card, so it must be an awesome cpu.

[kalikka]

Z77 Extreme4

Using that mobo on two 3570k+r7950wf rigs atm. 1st@4,5ghz and 2nd@4,4ghz (the 4,4ghz had bad luck with silicon lottery).

Even with the most powerful (air)coolers it is extremely hard to get to 5ghz mark without "delidding" the processor.

Edited December 2, 2012 by kalikka

[hoofhearted4]

im also using a 3570k and the ASRoock z77 Extreme4 mobo! however i have not OCed my CPU yet as i only have the stock cooler. figure ill way till i can get the new H100i before i start OCing :P

 

but anyways yea, i back up the mobo and cpu with kalikka :D

[Dan3345]

im also using a 3570k and the ASRoock z77 Extreme4 mobo! however i have not OCed my CPU yet as i only have the stock cooler. figure ill way till i can get the new H100i before i start OCing :P

 

but anyways yea, i back up the mobo and cpu with kalikka :D

That Asus mobo I selected and I believe the ASRock one kalikka posted both have auto-tuning features. Personally I would trust the Asus one more as its TPU chip is more developed. But its your choice.

 

Oh and Hoof, I got my H100I RMA'ed, the second one so far has been great.

[kalikka]

A true nerd overclocks the CPU by himself:

OC guide for asrock boards.

 

btw, the "auto-OC" features do a sloppy job 90% of the time.

[Dan3345]

A true nerd overclocks the CPU by himself:

OC guide for asrock boards.

 

btw, the "auto-OC" features do a sloppy job 90% of the time.

This is a pretty typical response to auto-overclocks. And a few years ago I would have agreed, but not anymore. I have firsthand experience with the Asus OCTuner and it works great. It achieved the lowest voltage possible while still remaining stable. It's built right into the BIOS, but if you want to go further you can install the OC software and it will do go for extreme overclocks (over 25%).

 

We can argue this all night, but the fact is the software (and the processors like the TPU that handle it) are just as smart as a seasoned overclocker, the only difference is in the basic setting, the auto overclock will play it safe as far as voltages go. Believe me I used to have the same opinion as you, but times have changed and these things are much better now.