About to switch from AMD to Intel

[Foxhole Sniffer]

I'm about to switch from a AMD processor to an Intel processor and change the case andmotherboard, ect. My question is, can I swap out my hard drive with my OS and such on it and it work with the Intel processor despite having AMD drivers? Or are the drivers for the AMD cpu not stored there and instead it's more of a BIOS thing?

[Foxhole Sniffer]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Rove:

I do have some parts suggestions. So all you need for your $700 is CPU, Motherboard, GPU, PSU and 2*120mm fans?

Here's a couple ideas:

Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
Asus Z87-A (NFC Express Edition) ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card
XFX Core Edition 850W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
(2 x) Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 PWM CO 74.0 CFM 120mm Fan
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mqC2Mp
Base Total: $726.93
Promo Discounts: -$10.00
Mail-in Rebates: -$95.00
Shipping: $2.99
Total: $624.92

Xeon E3-1231 V3 is basically the same as a i7-4770 except for the brandname, price, 100 MHz slower Turbo and no integrated graphics. As a CPU though it is excellant, on par with a i7-4770 and cheaper. It has 4 cores, hyperthreading and 8MB cache, 9MB if you count L1. It is a locked CPU and can not be overclocked except maybe a little by DMI.

If you'd rather a Nvidia GPU you can afford a GTX 970 up from a GTX 960 with the Xeon E3:

Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
Asus Z87-A (NFC Express Edition) ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card
XFX Core Edition 850W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
(2 x) Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 PWM CO 74.0 CFM 120mm Fan
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6mX9ZL
Base Total: $792.93
Promo Discounts: -$10.00
Mail-in Rebates: -$80.00
Total: $702.93

If you want a CPU for overclocking the i7-4790K is in your reach:

Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor
Asus Z87-A (NFC Express Edition) ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card
XFX Core Edition 850W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
(2 x) Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 PWM CO 74.0 CFM 120mm Fan
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zTGmhM
Base Total: $812.93
Promo Discounts: -$10.00
Mail-in Rebates: -$95.00
Shipping: $2.99
Total: $710.92

If you want overclocking, Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU you can either go for a i5-4690K & GTX 970 or a i7-4790K & GTX 960 ($200~). You can just switch them into the above build, no need for me to post a whole new one.

Lastly if you'd consider AMD:

AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
PowerColor Radeon R9 290X 4GB PCS+ Video Card
XFX Core Edition 850W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
(2 x) Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 PWM CO 74.0 CFM 120mm Fan
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/K3rJWZ
Base Total: $765.86
Promo Discounts: -$10.00
Mail-in Rebates: -$60.00
Shipping: $2.99
Total: $698.85

I might mix and match from things of this list, but i'm trying to stray away from AMD.

[Rove]

I do personally prefer AMD. I'm also surprised you are getting better performance out of a 3 year old i3 versus a newer desktop A10 APU. It makes me wonder if something else is wrong with your newer AMD desktop that is causing trouble for performance. If you have a dedicated graphics card with the i3 then it could be the graphics. Also if you do not have enough GB of RAM or not fast enough RAM that will be responsible for the problems with your APU graphics.

Do you have at least 2 sticks of DDR3-1866 (5th gen or 6th gen low power APUs) or DDR3-2133 (6th gen K-series and all 7th gen APUs) and total of 8GB or more RAM?

If you only have 4GB, have slower RAM, have only one stick or in some rare cases are playing a game that needs 8GB or more minimum RAM then this could be the problem.

I'm assuming you are using the APU's integrated graphics? If not then what?

I'm thinking that there is actually some trouble with your current system from what you describe and I would be happy to help troubleshoot it if you could tell me your full specs. It might even just have to do with which slots on the motherboard the RAM is plugged into.

[Maximum Game]

The Z87 is obsolete. Go with a Z97 motherboard instead. If you're going with the Core i7-4790K or the Core i5-4690K, double check and verify that the motherboard uses a Z97 chipset and that it supports SLI, so you'll have more upgrade options in the future. Make sure it's a quality motherboard by a reputable brand and that it has all the features you'll need.

[Meurock460]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Solo:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Meurock372:

Ah, you have an APU. They are nice CPUs, but not the greatest performers for games and you would gain quite a bit from an Intel CPU. If you are into overclocking, an i5 4690k would be the way to go, along with a z97 motherboard. If not a 4590 would be just fine with either a b85 or h97 motherboard (you can use z97 motherboards as well but there is little point on a locked CPU).

Some good motherboards include:

ASRock B85 Anniversary
Gigabyte GA-H97-HD3
Asus H81 GAMER
Asus Z97 P
Asus Z97 A
Asus Z97 AR
MSI H97 PC Mate
MSI H97 Guard Pro
Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H (This one is Micro ATX)
Gigabyte GA-Z97M-D3H (This one is Micro ATX)

All these boards are decent, and feature USB 3 headers and a heatsinked VRM. If you go with an unlocked CPU then you want one with a Z97 chipest.

Alright. Actually, as you said that I found a nice pair with a 4690 and a MSI motherboard in a bundle. It's cheaper than buying both individually and it has 68 positive reviews of 71

Is this the 4690 or 4690k? What model of MSI motherboard?

[Maximum Game]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Rove:

I do personally prefer AMD.

Just to clear up something. What are your system specs?
What are the most demanding games you've played?
Are there any games you've played that gave you any trouble or that didn't run smoothly?

[Rove]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Maximum Game:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Rove:

I do personally prefer AMD.

Just to clear up something. What are your system specs?
Are there any games you've played that gave you any trouble or that didn't run smoothly?

FX 8 core CPU has been fine. My HD 6950 however is aging and I'll be looking for replacement in the next 1-3 years probably. Think I'll be keeping my CPU longer than that.

I've seen lots of bugs in lots of games but I don't blame my hardware.

Also i'm not really here to talk about my system or prove my creds to you.

Just trying to help out the OP. Appreciate not being bothered for it. They can take my advice for what they think it's worth and for how it appeals to them or not.

I'm not trying to give bad advice and I don't want to debate Intel versus AMD.

[Maximum Game]

You have the AMD FX-8350, right?
What are the most demanding games you've played?
Are there any games you've played that gave you any trouble or that didn't run smoothly?

[Rove]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Maximum Game:

You have the AMD FX-8350, right?
What are the most demanding games you've played?
Are there any games you've played that gave you any trouble or that didn't run smoothly?

Can we stay on topic please?
I'd appreciate being able to try and help the OP without being bothered for it just because you don't share my opinion. It's fine, so give them advice, they make their own opinion and take what appeals to them. Everyone free to speak and form their own views.

No need to evangelize all the Intel or all the AMD or all the Nvidia users or fans.

[Maximum Game]

Scroll up and see whether or not the question was raised about whether AMD's best CPUs could run all games well.

I'm certainly not trying to "evangelize." I'm simply trying to clarify something.

[Rove]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Maximum Game:

Scroll up and see whether or not the question was raised about whether AMD's best CPUs could run all games well.

I'm certainly not trying to "evangelize." I'm simply trying to clarify something.

The question was never raised by the OP whiom we are here to help.

[Maximum Game]

If the OP did not have concerns about the performance of AMD's CPUs in games, would he be switching to Intel?

[Meurock460]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Solo:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Meurock372:

Ah, you have an APU. They are nice CPUs, but not the greatest performers for games and you would gain quite a bit from an Intel CPU. If you are into overclocking, an i5 4690k would be the way to go, along with a z97 motherboard. If not a 4590 would be just fine with either a b85 or h97 motherboard (you can use z97 motherboards as well but there is little point on a locked CPU).

Some good motherboards include:

ASRock B85 Anniversary
Gigabyte GA-H97-HD3
Asus H81 GAMER
Asus Z97 P
Asus Z97 A
Asus Z97 AR
MSI H97 PC Mate
MSI H97 Guard Pro
Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H (This one is Micro ATX)
Gigabyte GA-Z97M-D3H (This one is Micro ATX)

All these boards are decent, and feature USB 3 headers and a heatsinked VRM. If you go with an unlocked CPU then you want one with a Z97 chipest.

Alright. Actually, as you said that I found a nice pair with a 4690 and a MSI motherboard in a bundle. It's cheaper than buying both individually and it has 68 positive reviews of 71

One more thing, I saw in one of your earlier posts you were looking at a GTX 960. If so then I would look at the 4GB version as many newer games are starting to utilise more VRAM, even on resolutions like 1080p. There are some good options for the GTX 960 such as the Gigabyte Windforce or MSI Twin Frozr.

Have you also considered looking at the R9 380? specifically the 4GB version. It performs faster than the gtx 960 in the majority of games and typically retails for the same price. I know it's AMD and yes the drivers aren't as amazing as NVidia's, but their drivers have still come a long way since Ati and are getting better. NVidia has messed up with drivers before too for that matter, it happens with both companies from time to time. I have an R9 270 myself (previously ran a GTX 480 so I have used NVidia also) and it has yet to let me down in terms of drivers and performance.

[Tator]

I use a AMD a8-6600k cpu. It work amzing for any game I put at it. Like battlefield to csgo.
I can't even explain the limits.

[Maximum Game]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Solo:

I'm about to switch from a AMD processor to an Intel processor and change the case andmotherboard, ect.

I'm trying to help you, but could you provide some clarification?

Which exact AMD CPU & motherboard do you have now? Which exact GPU (video card) do you have?

If you don't know how to tell, I can tell you how to find out.

There is a good chance your GPU might need to be upgraded.

Which Intel CPU and motherboard are you considering getting?

[Rove]

Also Like I asked, what's your RAM?

See my post about helping troubleshoot. From what you are describing there is a problem with your current system which is making your performance worse than usual.