Best budget CPU? Help!
Best budget CPU? Help!
Help! I've been checking these CPUs for a budget build recently. At first, I considered the Pentium g3258, but some benchmarks showed the Athlon x4 860k performing better. However, I wanted something upgradeable, so I didn't go with the Athlon x4 860k. I also didn't want to replace my motherboard just for a new CPU.
I explored AM3+ options and found the fx-4300 and fx-4350, which were upgradeable. I was leaning toward them, including the fx-6300. But I needed at least four cores after upgrading, so switching from a Pentium G3258 to an i5 on LGA 1150 would cost around $200. On the AM3+ side, I could upgrade for a more affordable option.
Any advice? I plan to use this setup for gaming and editing.
Define "best"
On a budget, a overclocked G3258 is certainly a reasonable choice.
You will be buying into an older generation of cpu and motherboard.
If you go with the cheapest motherboard that allows G3258 overclocking, it will not be suitable for a future cpu upgrade that might include a overclockable "K" processor.
You have not indicated how important your editing apps are to you and if they can take advantage of multithreading.
If they are single threaded, then the G3258 will be very good.
I always like to think of a budget build as one which can be grown.
Here is a discussion on that which I made some time ago.
Take from it what you will.
And remember that prices and products will have changed.
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You forget that the i5 is equivalent to the 8core fx even though it only has 4 cores. Yes there is that big a performance difference between AMD and Intel...
For gaming, you need powerful cores.
When it comes to editing, many cores are beneficial.
The FX-6300 works well for editing but falls short for gaming.
It scores a total passmark of 6344 and a single-thread rating of 1408.
Switching to an FX-8350 could raise the total to 8949, though the single-thread rating stays at 1504.
The G3258 offers a solid choice.
At stock price 3.2, its total is 3495 and single-core rating is 2175.
With overclocking, performance improves by about 20%.
Keep in mind, certain titles require four threads.
Upgrades exist for i3.i5 and i7 on older platforms—still decent.
The $60 G4400 proves to be a surprisingly capable gamer.
A comparison set compares the G4400 against a X4-860K (stock and overclocked).
Both motherboards support extensive upgrades: i3, i5, i7, and possibly future Kaby Lake models.
The report mentions BCLK overclocking, but it’s not guaranteed.
In short, for gaming, prioritize the FX-8350 if you need many threads; for editing, an i3 or i5 is ideal.
It’s better to enjoy longer batch runs than experience game stutter due to a sluggish CPU.
For gaming, you need fast cores. For editing, many cores are ideal. The FX-6300 could work for editing but not for gaming. It has a total passmark of 6344 and a single thread rating of 1408. Upgrading to an FX-8350 could raise the total to 8949, though the single thread rating would stay at 1504. The G3258 offers a total of 3495 at stock and 2175 after overclocking, with potential for a 20% improvement. Some games actually require four threads. There are upgrades available for i3.i5 and i7 on older hardware, which is decent. A $60 G4400 proves to be a surprisingly good gamer. Here’s a comparison of the G4400 against a X4-860K (stock and overclocked). Both have LGA1151 motherboards offering various upgrades; i3, i5, i7, and possibly the future Kaby Lake. The report mentions BCLK overclocking, but it’s not guaranteed. In short, if editing is your main focus and you use multithreaded apps, an i3 or i5 is likely a better choice.
The term "best" refers to what works well within financial limits and technical constraints. It suggests selecting components that offer value now while allowing room for future enhancements. Consider your priorities with editing software and multithreading capabilities, as these affect performance. A balanced approach is recommended, focusing on expandability and current efficiency.
When on a tight budget and opt for editing over gaming, buy the FX 6300. If you lean toward gaming, go with an i5 series processor.
Geofelt:
Define "best" means choosing wisely within constraints.
On a limited budget, an overclocked G3258 makes a sensible decision.
You'll be investing in an older CPU and motherboard setup.
Picking the cheapest motherboard that supports G3258 overclocking won't be ideal for future upgrades that might involve a more powerful "K" processor.
It hasn't been specified how crucial your editing software is, nor if it can handle multithreading.
If it's single-threaded, the G3258 will perform admirably.
I often view budget builds as ones that can be expanded later.
Here’s a conversation I had some time ago for reference.
Take what you find useful, and keep in mind that prices and products may have changed.
geofelt :
That looks good to me.
You can hardly do better with that budget.
And, there is still some upgradeability.
And it be bad to shave off a 15 dollars and go with a msi h81m-e34 with 2 ram slots and pcie 2.0?