What CPU goes good with a Radeon HD 7870 2GB?

[Macky]

I'm new to PC building, I've only been doing it for around a year. I got this awesome new card, but my CPU is lacking. I only have a AMD A8-3870k Llano 3,0 GHz. My budget is around $150-250, and I also need a new motherboard. Can anyone recommend me a good cpu?

Bonus points if you recommend me a good motherboard.

[banzaigtv]

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131821

[_I_]

for close to your budget

Intel Core i5-3350P Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.3GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 69W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80637i53350P $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116782

Intel BOXDZ68AF LGA 1155 Intel Z68 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $88
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121642

[Macky]

Hah, I've looking at the i5-3570k thinking about getting it for a while.

[Macky]

I don't mind raising the budget to around $350-400 to get a better motherboard, the Sabertooth z77 is really expensive but I might be able to fit it in.

[Tusken GA]

Originally posted by Ol' Scrublord:

I don't mind raising the budget to around $350-400 to get a better motherboard, the Sabertooth z77 is really expensive but I might be able to fit it in.

You shouldn't need to.

An i5 3570K would be hard pressed to be bottlenecked by TWO GTX 680s in SLI in nearly all games.

Since you only have the 7870, there's no need to go crazy on CPU power unless you plan to upgrade in the future. An i5 3550P or 3470 would work just fine.

And likewise with the motherboard. There's a bit of an inconsistency on that end though; no good motherboard that's more than $120 is anything but Z77 on the Intel side. However unless you get an i5 3570K or an i7 3770K, there's really no reason for you to buy a Z77 board other than higher build quality and features.

However if you're planning on getting the best for your money, you really can't NOT get a Z77 board.

I got the Asus P8Z77-V LE and I'm satisfied with the features of it. It cost me $150 but I needed it to overclock my i5 2500K (my old Z68 board didn't have the right features and Z68 is basically dead).

I really wouldn't advise spending more than $160 on a motherboard. The features you're likely to use can be had in a $100 board and after that you just start pissing away money at a steadily increasing rate.

[Joscco]

If that's your budget for a CPU, I'd definitely recommend the i5-3570K. I'm currently running an i5-2500K and love it. All depends on what type of games you're playing, and how long you'd like to go without upgrading as well. But the 3570K is definitely a very solid CPU.

[_I_]

if you can afford the 3570k, pair it with a low end z77 board, asrock pro3 is about the lowest youll want to go, and ist still a very nice board

[Macky]

Originally posted by Tuskan GA:

Originally posted by Ol' Scrublord:

I don't mind raising the budget to around $350-400 to get a better motherboard, the Sabertooth z77 is really expensive but I might be able to fit it in.

You shouldn't need to.

An i5 3570K would be hard pressed to be bottlenecked by TWO GTX 680s in SLI in nearly all games.

Since you only have the 7870, there's no need to go crazy on CPU power unless you plan to upgrade in the future. An i5 3550P or 3470 would work just fine.

I'm probably going to keep the 7870 for a while since I bought it not too long ago, I might crossfire 2 7870s if I have the cash. I'm ptobably going to go with the i5-3470 and the ASRock Z75 Pro3. The last thing I would love to get is case that has better cable management, my Rosewill Challenge has horrible cable management.

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157304

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115234

[Macky]

Originally posted by bloodraven43:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

the cpu is alittle more then that i-5 but the i7 s are quicker...that motherboard is alright for the price.

$465 for all of that, no thanks. I need to save my funds.

[banzaigtv]

For about $360, you can get this mobo + CPU combo. The CPU is a bit dated, but still very good for the price.
http://www.outletpc.com/c1018c0-intel-core-i5-2500k-asus-p8z77-m-pro-combo.html?utm_source=c1018c0-intel-core-i5-2500k-asus-p8z77-m-pro-combo&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=googleproducts&gclid=CMO1_Y-dhrUCFQmmPAodUC8A2w

[_I_]

are you near a microcenter?
http://www.microcenter.com/site/stores/default.aspx

3570k is $190
http://www.microcenter.com/product/388577/Core_i5_3570K_34GHz_LGA_1155_Processor

ASRock Z77 Extreme6 LGA 1155 ATX Intel Motherboard $150
http://www.microcenter.com/product/395374/Z77_Extreme6_LGA_1155_ATX_Intel_Motherboard

total = $340+tax

[Macky]

Oh my god, I wish I had the money right now, but I'm planning to save up 1,000 until I buy the parts. I live like 30 minutes from one, and I never been there yet, i'll probably check it out when I get the money.

[_I_]

$1000 at microcenter will go a long way

[banzaigtv]

With $1000 for upgrades, you can either get...
i7-3930K + Asus Rampage IV Extreme x79 LGA 2011 or...
i7-3770K + Asus Sabertooth z77 LGA 1155 + additional Radeon HD 7870 for crossfire

[Macky]

I don't you guys are getting it, I want to save up some money before I spend it. I'm not spending the whole 1,000, if I do that i'll just build a whole new computer.