Consider building AdviceCPU with a budget of 300 euros.
Consider building AdviceCPU with a budget of 300 euros.
Hello everyone,
I’m looking for your thoughts on improving my CPU (and possibly adding RAM). Could you let me know if this upgrade is worthwhile or if it’s better to wait and invest in a new system?
Here are my current details:
CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-6500 CPU @ 3.20GHz
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
RAM: HyperX DDR4-2133 CL14 288-Pin DIMM 8gb / Kingston KHX2133C13D4/8GX 8GB DIMM DDR4 2400MT/s
Motherboard: Gigabyte B150M-HD3-CF
Storage: WDC WD10EZEX-75WN4A0 / Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB
Power Supply: Not open, will handle if needed
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
Monitors: DELL S2721HGF
Approximate purchase date: 10-March 2024
Budget range: around 300 EUR
Usage priority from highest to lowest: gaming (mainly Guild Wars 2 and some older titles), browsing the web
Do you need a new monitor?
Upgrade suggestions: CPU
Preferences: AMD Ryzen works fine, seems the most affordable option
Reason for upgrade: My GPU is limited by the CPU and I can’t afford a new PC.
Extra note: Check your RAM too and let me know if you should consider upgrading it as well. Please advise if this change is justified or if saving for a new build would be better.
Thank you very much!
You mentioned 300 Euros.
How much longer would you need to wait if you wanted to spend 600 or 800?
Switching to AMD would mean a new motherboard and CPU at least.
If you stick with the current board, upgrading the Intel CPU won't be easy.
A new PSU could be an option if your CPU is 8 years old.
Having 8 GB of RAM is not recommended in 2024.
Usually, I suggest waiting until you can rebuild everything, but if you're determined to act now, you might find some improvement for 300 Euros with another graphics card. I don't play games, so I'm not sure.
Are you open to buying used components?
I would definitely need to wait a few more months, around 4 to 5 months, to afford 800 euros. Yeah, PSU is as outdated as the CPU, so it should be replaced then. I have 16gb of RAM, two 8gb units. Right now my CPU is struggling at full capacity while the GPU is idle at 20 to 30 percent. I just wanted to address that issue. I would prefer not to buy used components.
Well, you might just need to improve the CPU alone. Or perhaps the CPU and PSU. Think about it—100 for a solid PSU and 200 for the best CPU that fits your board right now. I’m not sure about older models, but you might end up in the used market, which could work if you have a good source. Used CPUs are quite dependable, so that might be fine.
However, you should think about the outcome. Performance might improve a bit, but not as much as expected. You’d spend around 300 euros and wouldn’t be able to use the new CPU on a modern board from 2023 or 2024.
Your CPU is over eight years old. The strongest option for your board would likely be an Intel 9000 series chip, which is around five years old.
If you’re looking to buy now, it might make more sense to purchase parts immediately that could still work in six months when you have more funds. Buy those components now and upgrade your motherboard and CPU then. But upgrading the PSU or drives wouldn’t solve your current CPU performance issues.
I’d suggest waiting until you have more money, but it might be hard to wait that long.
People often fall into this mistake when purchasing computer equipment, believing they can "future-proof" their setup. Unless you plan to upgrade your machine in about two years after purchase, it’s unlikely to be worthwhile. You tend to end up swapping out nearly everything except the case.
A major issue is that Intel and AMD no longer manufacture older CPUs. The price of these older chips can be just as high, if not higher, than the cost of newer, more powerful models.
In your situation, the best CPU you can install is probably an i7-7700, but you should verify the specifications on your motherboard. You might need to flash the BIOS. While this could potentially boost performance by around 15%, it’s difficult to compare these older CPUs accurately.
The outcome largely depends on what you can afford for a replacement chip. Be very cautious—many chips sold are either refurbished or used, having sat on shelves for years.
Overall, I think your best choice would be to search for a used motherboard that already contains the CPU and possibly the RAM. You could even find a 10 or 11 series device.
^ not really true. The AM4 platform came out in 2016? 2017? You can still get a new CPU in the 5700X3D and it performs good. If you have a 5700X3D, you dont need to upgrade your cpu for 3 more years. That puts it at 2027, 10 years!
This is a budget option with an upgrade path to i7 14700
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor
(€144.30 @ notebooksbilliger.de)
Motherboard:
Asus TUF GAMING B760-PLUS WIFI D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
(€156.90 @ Alza)
Memory:
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
(€72.90 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Power Supply:
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 Snow 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(€121.89 @ notebooksbilliger.de)
Total:
€495.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-02-09 14:39 CET+0100
AM5 option for longevity:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 7600 3.8 GHz 6-Core Processor
(€185.00 @ Mindfactory)
Motherboard:
Asus TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard
(€193.78 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Memory:
Apacer Panther 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6400 CL32 Memory
(€114.90 @ Alza)
Power Supply:
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 Snow 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(€121.89 @ notebooksbilliger.de)
Total:
€615.57
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-02-09 14:43 CET+0100
Here is a list of the processors supported by your motherboard:
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-...upport-cpu
The best option would be an I7-7700K, available for $100 used on eBay.
It is a solid upgrade that is straightforward to install.
Your current RAM is adequate.
Beyond that, you are considering a motherboard, RAM, and processor replacement.
If your Windows is OEM, you should also obtain a new license.
The graphics card primarily determines the need for a higher PSU wattage.
When upgrading to a GTX1060, it’s time to upgrade the PSU as well.
And... be ready to invest more for a high-quality, robust unit.
It would be easy to cover the costs right now, focusing on PSU, RAM, and graphics card later. The next important step would be a PSU of at least 750w, similar to the Corsair RMe or Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT premium models when you can afford them. Following that, a 2x16gb RAM kit with over 3600 MT/s CL18 would be next. After that, you can invest in a graphics card, spending between 300 and 2000 depending on your future needs and current preferences for gaming resolution.