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JenniferLesnicki Mar 1, 2019 @ 2:13pm
Should I go for the AM3 or AM3+ platform?
Hi, there guys. I'm looking to upgrade my PC, now first things first, my next PC will NOT be Intel-based or AM4 stuffs. I'm on a tight budget (around 5000THB, 150$) and buying a GPU along with that would be nice. Which one of these is preferable?
AM3 GA-790FXTA-UD5 Mobo, Phenom II X4 965 BE, 8GB DDR3 1333MHz, RX 460 at 3,790THB around 115$ or
AM3+ 970A-d3p, AMD FX 4170, 2GB DDR3 1333MHz, RX 460 at 3400THB or around 100$
Which one of these is better? Note: I'm mostly playing stuffs from 2009-2015. Mostly BF3 and I'd like to try BF1 since my older PC is an amazing substitute for WW1 slideshow but terrible for actually playing the game. :)

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Showing 1-15 of 21 comments
Snow Mar 1, 2019 @ 2:22pm 
I'd definitely go with AM3+, as top CPUs for the platform cost less and will give you more performance later on when you decide to upgrade. Just I'd let the seller keep his 2gb memory stick and buy 2x4gb. Tho if you're not good with overclocking I'd recommend to check out socket 1155 deals as well.
#1
JenniferLesnicki Mar 1, 2019 @ 2:29pm 
Originally posted by Snow:
I'd definitely go with AM3+, as top CPUs for the platform cost less and will give you more performance later on when you decide to upgrade. Just I'd let the seller keep his 2gb memory stick and buy 2x4gb. Tho if you're not good with overclocking I'd recommend to check out socket 1155 deals as well.
Damn, I forgot to tell you that the seller only sells in bundle and also, the cooler for the Phenom looks beefy as hell. By the way, I'm not gonna buy Intel stuff, I don't wanna end up with a motherboard with broken pins (I still do have it though!). The additional DDR3 RAM is about 500THB or about 12$, so the price is VERY SIMILAR.
#2
upcoast Mar 1, 2019 @ 2:33pm 
The problem would be newer games where the FX 4 core takes a big beating, the FX8300 is a good overclocker and does half decent in recent games.

From personal experience with BF3 the x4 965BE @ 3.7GHZ was a disappointment the FX8xxx was a big step up with the same R9 280x.
#3
Snow Mar 1, 2019 @ 2:36pm 
Originally posted by ...And Justice for All:
Originally posted by Snow:
I'd definitely go with AM3+, as top CPUs for the platform cost less and will give you more performance later on when you decide to upgrade. Just I'd let the seller keep his 2gb memory stick and buy 2x4gb. Tho if you're not good with overclocking I'd recommend to check out socket 1155 deals as well.
Damn, I forgot to tell you that the seller only sells in bundle and also, the cooler for the Phenom looks beefy as hell. By the way, I'm not gonna buy Intel stuff, I don't wanna end up with a motherboard with broken pins (I still do have it though!). The additional DDR3 RAM is about 500THB or about 12$, so the price is VERY SIMILAR.
Well, you still better off switching the memory for 2x4 later, 2gb sticks in 4-slot mobo is a no go.
What comes to cooler - CoolerMaster 212 EVO costs 30 bucks on Newegg rn, so getting a beefy thing these days ain't a problem at all.
And yeah, I totally get the pins stuff, fixing a pin on a mobo is such a pain. But then if CPU costs much more than mobo does - LGA kinda makes sense.
Last edited by Snow; Mar 1, 2019 @ 3:14pm
#4
Omega Mar 1, 2019 @ 3:24pm 
FX is 7+ years old now, both these CPUs will struggle with most modern games.

You can buy better stuff for less. An AMD Athlon 200GE and motherboard will cost you a little over $100, then you have to buy 8gb of RAM for $50+. Then later you can drop a GPU in to this machine to get a half decent gaming computer. And this machine can then also be upgraded with a better CPU later.

Or buy a prebuild Dell/HP with a 2nd/3rd gen i5 for $100.
Last edited by Omega; Mar 1, 2019 @ 4:15pm
#5
Cathulhu Mar 1, 2019 @ 4:15pm 
AM3 or AM3+? Neither. AM4 unless you love to waste money on ancient AMD CPUs that can't run current games properly.
Last edited by Cathulhu; Mar 1, 2019 @ 4:15pm
#6
_I_ Mar 1, 2019 @ 4:27pm 
am4 or 1151
#7
upcoast Mar 1, 2019 @ 4:40pm 
Originally posted by Cathulhu:
AM3 or AM3+? Neither. AM4 unless you love to waste money on ancient AMD CPUs that can't run current games properly.

OPs original post makes it clear AM4 isn't in the budget.



Originally posted by Omega:
FX is 7+ years old now, both these CPUs will struggle with most modern games.

You can buy better stuff for less. An AMD Athlon 200GE and motherboard will cost you a little over $100, then you have to buy 8gb of RAM for $50+. Then later you can drop a GPU in to this machine to get a half decent gaming computer. And this machine can then also be upgraded with a better CPU later.

Or buy a prebuild Dell/HP with a 2nd/3rd gen i5 for $100.

YouTube™ Video: AMD FX-8350 vs. Athlon 200GE in 10 Games - Benchmark Comparison Test (RTX 2080) 
Views: 16,550
Athlon 200GE all Tests: https://bit.ly/2Ntfhet 00:01 - Shadow of the Tomb Raider 01:30 - Strange Brigade 02:21 - Total War: Warhammer II 03:23 - CS:GO 05:04 - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided 06:45 -...


Why on earth would any one want a 200GE for gaming in 2019.
#8
Omega Mar 1, 2019 @ 4:42pm 
Originally posted by upcoast:
Why on earth would any one want a 200GE for gaming in 2019.
You don't. But at least it's a AM4 Ryzen APU.
#9
upcoast Mar 1, 2019 @ 5:07pm 
Originally posted by Omega:
Originally posted by upcoast:
Why on earth would any one want a 200GE for gaming in 2019.
You don't. But at least it's a AM4 Ryzen APU.

YouTube™ Video: FX 8300 OC vs Athlon 200GE OC Test in 8 Games 
Views: 136,499
AMD Athlon 200GE 4.0Ghz vs FX 8300 4.2Ghz (RTX 2080) Games: Project Cars Battlefield 5 - 01:14 HITMAN 2 - 02:30 Assassin's Creed Origins - 03:44 Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 05:30 Far Cry 5 - 06:57...


Fx8xxx is still a better cpu for bf1 like OP wants.

@ OP quads CPUs are dead steer away from them.
#10
vadim Mar 1, 2019 @ 6:59pm 
Originally posted by upcoast:
Fx8xxx is still a better cpu for bf1 like OP wants.
@ OP quads CPUs are dead steer away from them.
Great opinion. But FX 8xxx is namely quad core CPU. :steamfacepalm:
#11
upcoast Mar 1, 2019 @ 7:55pm 
Originally posted by vadim:
Originally posted by upcoast:
Fx8xxx is still a better cpu for bf1 like OP wants.
@ OP quads CPUs are dead steer away from them.
Great opinion. But FX 8xxx is namely quad core CPU. :steamfacepalm:

Don't even go there, there's been countless debates that go absolutely no where on the topic generally turning into a flame war fueled by elitists.
#12
JenniferLesnicki Mar 2, 2019 @ 2:01am 
The rig I will upgrade's purpose is to play games from 2009-2016. (The newer games being BF1, DOOM, GTA V and Tomb Raider) Besides, I've never seen an AM4 combo like the Ryzen 3 2200g or the Athlon 200ge for less than 4500THB or around 150$. As for Intel LGA, I don't really want to buy them as I don't really like LGA after breaking one.
#13
It's Chase Mar 2, 2019 @ 2:06am 
I'd go AM3+ if you can.

By the way sweet profile picture. Great album :horns:
#14
AussieBobby Mar 2, 2019 @ 4:33am 
Live in Australia?

I have a FX8350 + mobo +8gig ram.My old rig.

i74770+mobo+8gig ram dumpster find and working.

10+500gig HDDs


Not doing anything with these and would give away
#15
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All Discussions > Steam Forums > Hardware and Operating Systems > Topic Details
Date Posted: Mar 1, 2019 @ 2:13pm
Posts: 21
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