What CPU is best for you, and do you need to upgrade your motherboard and case?
What CPU is best for you, and do you need to upgrade your motherboard and case?
Hello,
Approximate Purchase Date:
This month
Budget Range:
$200 for CPU, $200 for Motherboard, $200 for case. Before Rebates; Before Shipping
System Usage from Most to Least Important:
Gaming, Surfing the net, watching movies
Are you buying a monitor:
No
Parts to Upgrade:
CPU for sure. Possibly Motherboard and Case. **PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600W 80 PLUS Gold ATX
**
Do you need to buy OS:
No
Please note that if you're using an OEM license of Windows, you will need a new one when buying a new motherboard.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts:
Newegg or Amazon
Location:
Los Angeles, California, United States, Earth
Parts Preferences:
Intel CPU around or under $200 that will bottleneck my GPU, a RTX 3050, as little as possible within cost.
Overclocking:
No
SLI or Crossfire:
No
Your Monitor Resolution:
1600x900@60Hz
Additional Comments:
My goal is to run Cyberpunk 2077 with max crowds and Riven (2024)
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading:
The 8 year old CPU is giving me “CPU Over Temperature Error!”s in BIOS so it’s time to upgrade. Also, it can’t run Riven (2024).
More context:
I got a hand-me-down computer last year and have been upgrading it bit by bit ever since. Everything is almost new except the CPU, Motherboard, and the Case which are all about 8 years old.
The CPU has always run hot but now I’m getting “CPU Over Temperature Error!”s in BIOS so it’s time to upgrade.
My understanding is that the Motherboard (an ASUS Z97-A) is too old for most modern CPUs, so I’ll be looking to replace the CPU, Motherboard, and Case. Otherwise, I’ll keep the Motherboard and Case. As far I can tell, they work fine.
I’m looking for a CPU around or under $200 that will bottleneck my GPU, a RTX 3050, as little as possible. I mostly play games and am looking to play games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Riven (2024).
A friend of mine recommended an Intel i3-12100F
, but I wanted to check with the community here for your opinions.
Would this be a good choice? Can it work with an ASUS Z97-A?
If not, I was thinking of getting a MicroATX ASRock B660M Pro RS Intel.
What do you think?
What would be a good case?
Thank you all so much for your help.
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
CPU (8 years old)
Intel Core i5 4690K @ 3.50GHz
Haswell 22nm Technology
RAM (8 months old)
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 801MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard (8 years old)
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. Z97-A (SOCKET 1150)
Graphics (4 months old)
Sceptre E20 (1600x900@60Hz)
4095MB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (MSI)
Storage (8 months old)
931GB Samsung SSD 870 EVO 1TB (SATA (SSD)
PSU (4 months old)
Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600W 80 PLUS Gold ATX
I’m considering swapping out the CPU, motherboard, and case. The Z97 chipset board can’t stay, and the RAM won’t function with the new setup either. You’ll likely need a full CPU, motherboard, and RAM package if you’re changing platforms.
Could you explain why you’re leaning toward Intel processors? I’d steer clear of Intel given the recent issues with their 13th Gen chips—they tend to be temperamental and require extra cooling solutions.
Honestly, a $200 budget seems tight for this kind of upgrade. Visiting Microcenter might work, but I’d prefer not to go that route. Investing in an AMD AM4 platform would make more sense. It would help clarify your exact budget needs.
This wouldn’t be something I’d recommend if you were a client.
Here’s the suggested part list:
CPU:
Intel Core i3-12100 3.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor
($115.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
ASRock B760M-HDV/M.2 D4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
($47.97 @ Amazon)
Total:
$253.94
Includes shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Prices are based on PCPartPicker data from October 7, 2024.
If you don’t need an SSD and are happy with the Intel setup, here’s another option:
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor
($113.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Assassin Spirit 120 EVO DARK 70.4 CFM CPU Cooler
($20.90 @ Newegg Sellers)
Motherboard:
MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard
($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
($72.98 @ Amazon)
Storage:
Crucial P3 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD
($39.79 @ Amazon)
Crucial P3 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($112.99 @ Amazon)
Case:
BGears b-Masstige MicroATX Mini Tower Case
($50.99 @ Newegg)
Total:
$500.64
Includes shipping, taxes, and discounts
This suggestion is based on my perspective.
Positive updates and concerns.
Negative first; low-grade PSU, quite subpar. A fresh one is definitely necessary.
DDR3 RAM is outdated—ended with Intel’s sixth generation, now DDR4 is standard, and the latest is DDR5. Thus, upgrading RAM is essential too.
Similarly, a new CPU cooler is required, because your current one isn’t sufficient for the i5-4690K; the newer CPU generates more heat.
Positive aspects:
You can assemble a complete setup for around $600.
Here’s a suggested component list:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: Intel Core i5-12600K 3.7 GHz, 10-core processor ($159 at Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM ($34.90 on Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-S WIFI ATX LGA1700 ($149.99 on Amazon)
Memory: Kingston FURY Beast 16 GB (2 x 8 GB), DDR5-6000 CL30 ($59.99 on Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower ($65.98 on Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS GX 650 W, 80+ Gold Certified, Fully Modular ($96.99 on Newegg)
Total: $566.85 (shipping, taxes, discounts applied)
Generated by PCPartPicker
2024-10-07 00:31 EDT-0400
Brief summary.
CPU – 12th gen Core i5, reliable performance. While newer models are 14th gen, they have firmware problems; the current generation remains solid and can be upgraded later.
CPU Cooler – top-tier value, dual-tower design, no better options found at this price.
Motherboard – MSI PRO Z790-S, good airflow, personal preference matters.
Memory – 2x 8GB DDR5-6000 CL30, ample capacity.
PC case – Fractal Design Focus G ATX, solid choice for cooling and style.
PSU – Seasonic 650W, 10-year warranty, 80+ Gold certified, suitable for RTX 4070 Super GPU.
Remarks: No operating system included, as requested. For the RTX 3050, consider a more powerful GPU if you aim for higher FPS, especially in Cyberpunk 2077. Options include RTX 4060, 4060 Ti, 4070 or 4070 Super.
I just wanted to stick with the same brand, but if Intel is having issues, then I'll switch to AMD.
I was considering a $200 budget for CPU, motherboard, etc., and it seems fine. Do I still need new storage?
Based on past experiences, I've become a bit anxious about PSUs failing, so thanks for the warning.
I think I'll go with the AMD build because of Intel's problems. But with the new Aeacus PSU. Thank you both.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
*
Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor
($111.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler:
*
Thermalright Assassin X 120 V2 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler
($19.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
*
ASRock B760 Pro RS/D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($109.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
*
Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
($47.97 @ Amazon)
Case:
*
Montech AIR 903 BASE ATX Mid Tower Case
($65.00 @ B&H)
Total:
$354.74
Costs cover shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected lowest prices based on criteria*
Created by
PCPartPicker
2024-10-07 03:26 EDT-0400
14th generation Intel models are experiencing firmware problems, and it seems similar with the 13th generation as well.
For more updates, you can check this link:
https://community.intel.com/t5/Blog...n-...st/1633239
The 12th generation Intel, such as the i5-12600K, is considered stable, according to my suggestion.
AMD is also worth considering; occasionally, AMD CPUs offer a better performance-to-price ratio. (Still, I prefer Intel.)
The Samsung 870 Evo 1TB SSD is dependable and doesn’t need replacement. You can opt for a second drive for additional space, though the 870 Evo works just as well.
Even with the 870 Evo installed, my systems use 2TB drives.
Regarding power supplies, be cautious and avoid cutting corners.
For PSUs, if you’re looking at budget-friendly options, consider these alternatives: Seasonic Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium.
My three PCs are powered by Seasonic, and I own two PRIME TX-650 units plus one Focus PX-550. Full specifications with photos are available in my profile.
If you’re aiming for the latest ATX 3.0/3.1 PSUs, this list highlights top choices in the 650W range:
https://hwbusters.com/best_picks/best-at...busters/2/
The article also mentions other high-wattage options.
As per the information from https://pc-builds.com/bottleneck-calculator, the Intel Core i5-12400F is the top choice for a 3050. The other two CPUs are also strong options. I don't think upgrading to a 3050 will be necessary for a while. It's also the 12th generation processor. Very promising.
AMD Ryzen 5 7500F priced at $123.79
PCPartPicker item details
CPU Cooler options
*
ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE 58 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard selections
*
MSI PRO B650-S WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($125.90 @ Amazon)
Memory choices
*
TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($85.99 @ Amazon)
Case selections
*
Montech AIR 903 BASE ATX Mid Tower Case ($65.00 @ B&H)
*All amounts reflect total cost with shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts*
Prices shown are the lowest based on current criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker
Date: 2024-10-07 06:54 EDT-0400