Currently I have this setup:
FX 8320 slight OC to 3.7 ghz (before turbo)
2x 4GB DDR3 1600
GTX 970 SSC 4GB
MSI 970A-G46
1TB HDD 7200 rpm


I'm looking to try and spend the least amount to upgrade this system. I'm thinking of switching to a 3rd or 4th gen i5/i7 + mobo then buying another 8gb of ram + ssd.

My question is: What is the best price/performance processor in the 3rd and 4th gen? I'll be selling off the AMD parts after I've made my purchase. I'm looking to buy used from hardwareswap, ebay,or CL.

The 2500K or the 2600K, but it's getting almost impossible to get the motherboards.

If I were you I would get a Samsung 850 EVO (250GB) SSD and then just save up till you can just make a new build. You would then put your Windows install on the SSD.
You could also upgrade the vid card now, as well, then upgrade everything else, at some future date.

This is pretty much a modern build, so you can see where you stand in relation to this. Choice of vid card is optional and depends on what games or programs you intend to run. As well as the monitors resolution.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/jJd2gL



/e I juust looked...on PCpartpicker. I can't find the 2500K and the 2600K is $445. There is only one microATX motherboard and I don't think it's overclockable.

This post was edited by Ghot on Dec 22 2017 12:37pm

Thanks for the comparison. I'm not planning on spend nearly that much money haha. I mostly want to be able to play PUBG on med-high settings at 1080p 60hz. I don't have any fancy 144hz monitors and I don't really plan on getting one for the next year or two.
So the 25/2600K is good enough for PUBG at these settings? Or should I look at 3770/k or 4770/k? I'm lookinh at spending maybe $250-$350 for cpu/mobo/ram and maybe ssd. I'll definitely upgrade to an SSD first though.

Here's about the oldest...it would be at all smart to go with...

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wXnnvK


Next option, up the ladder...

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/hW77yf


And the up to date option...

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/WpggD8


You will have to get a CPU cooler (air or AIO water) to go with, depending on what case you have.





/e AMD option, up to date and overclockable...comes with a CPU cooler.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/jqJdcc



I know...RAM prices are outrageous, but trying to stick with DDR3 at this point is just a dead end, and a waste of money. DDR3 prices are crazy as well, and any future upgrades will take DDR4 anyways.




BTW, the new AMD CPUs actually work fine. AMD finally got it right.

This post was edited by Ghot on Dec 22 2017 12:55pm

I know the AMD cpus are actually pretty great and the R5 is super competitive at the price point. I just wanted to try an Intel build for once though. RAM prices are what really deters me from making the upgrade to DDR4. It's hard to justify spending more on the ram than the SSD or mobo to me.


i7 4770k, Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5, Cryorig M9i cooler

I'm looking at buying this set up for about $280. Is this worth it or would you still recommend newer intel/AMD?

This post was edited by coldfyre21 on Dec 22 2017 01:08pm

You can pretty much see all the builds, I listed. The Intel 2xxx series are pretty much dead and gone. The Intel 3xxx and 4xxx series can probably still be done, but the CPU prices are twice the cost of the new ones.
The CPU prices go thru the roof, when the get 2-3 generations back.


I know it sucks...but that's the way it's always worked. Older CPUs seem to get antique level prices.


/e On all the options I linked in post #4, you can probably get slightly cheaper motherboards etc. But then you'll be giving up a lot. I try to get the cheapest (worth a crap) motherboards in the builds I make.

What are you looking to spend?

As for the 4770K CPU and mobo...they would be OK, but you're still leaving yourself on DDR3, which is really not smart.
If that is used, remember that it might have been abused, too.


/e That motherboard is microATX, make sure your case can handle microATX motherboards.

This post was edited by Ghot on Dec 22 2017 01:16pm

I'm looking to spend between $250 and $350 for cpu mobo ram and ssd. Not realistic with new items I see now. So probably just looking at SSD right away and then save for 6 months and buy new mobo/cpu/ram. I'm not broke but I'm in college so my funds are limited to $300 or less and what I can sell off to cover costs.

Well you could get a non - M.2 SSD, larger than 250GB like a 500GB or a 1TB SSD...or a 500GB and another stick of DDR3. (just make sure that the other RAM stick is identical make and model to the one you have)


If it were me, I'd save up a bit. $700 can get you a smart upgrade.

Other than some gaming...the rig you have will still work, until you can save some money.

This post was edited by Ghot on Dec 22 2017 01:21pm

Yeah you're right. I'll buy a cheaper SSD maybe like 240-250 GB if I can find one around $80. I'll just save up for a complete overhaul this summer.

The 250GB Samsung is the best price/performance. It's also the one with the least problems.
For SSDs, Samsung is #1.