Best processor choice for my AM2+ Socket

With the recent acquisition of my new graphics card, I find that my processor just isn't putting out the frames I need from beamNG. Currently I have one of http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103681 these in my computer, which isn't bad, but it isn't great.

I want to get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...13333&ef_id=Uun5RAAABTOIKwfF:20140219100548:s this, but when it comes to processors sometimes the numbers confuse me since I am not sure if GHz are calculated per core or for the CPU as a whole, in fact I'm not even sure if this will even run beamNG as phenomenally as I hope it will.

I'm just wondering if this is a good choice for the money or if there is anything else that's a better use of my funds.

 

I don't know what your budget is, but I would get an intel CPU, a new mobo, and new ram.

 

I agree with you, but unfortunately I'm a broke teenager who's only means of making spending cash is to not spend money on gas. My budget is around 200$ maximum.

 

What motherboard are you using as you said that you are using a AM2+ socket but the processor you linked us to is a AM3 socket.
Also the new CPU you linked is a FM2 socket which wont work with your current motherboard.

 

They're not selling CPUs here in spain for that socket anymore. Just save money for now.

 

Herp a derp, I don't even know how I overlooked that. http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M3A76CM/ this is my good old motherboard, I probably should just save up for something better like davidbc said but I'm pretty impatient. Also AM2+ is compatible with AM3 but it seems like Phenom processors are my only choice though :\

 

AM2+ was obsolete long ago. You wont get anything decent in it. Your best off saving up for a little longer so you can enlarge that $200 budget.

New AM3+ mobo could be worth it, can get them for £30 easily in UK.
That said, your link to your current CPU is AM3 and the new one is FM2. You can get FM2 motherboards cheap too but AM3+ CPU's do outperform the FM2 APU's.



As for ghz being calculated per core or for the CPU as a whole. Thats actually relatively meaningless. A 1.2Ghz processor simply means that the clock signal being used for the cores is 1.2GHz, all cores share the same clock signal in parallel so technically the chip is running at 1.2ghz yet each core is also running at 1.2ghz. The clock signal is a square wave which tells the core when to start executing instructions:

A 2 core processor running at 2ghz per core is still a 2ghz processor, it just does 2 instructions at a time instead of 1, better of course although most users (even gamers) will not benefit from more than 4 physical cores. More is usually the realm of servers, enthusiasts who must have the best computer even though it is no better to them than a slightly lower end computer and a few niche applications. Similar thing goes for RAM, most users wont benefit from more than 4gb, games may fill that up so 8gb works out nicely for gamers with room to spare, more is then the realm of servers, enthusiasts and things like high end 3d modelling, video editing, CGI etc can hammer RAM usage.
BeamNG just happens to be one of the very few games which can benefit from more cores (each vehicle is run in its own thread plus the game itself seems to use 2 threads, so 5 cars + 2 would be 7 threads).



AMD's current CPU socket types are AM3+ and FM2.
AM3+ is for regular CPU's, compatible with AM3 CPU's aswell but not AM2+ or AM2 (screw you intel not making backward compatible sockets AM3 can take AM2+ but not AM2). The current FX series chips are AM3+, you can get the athlon and phenom (or could as they are no longer current gen chips) in AM3+.
FM2+ is for what AMD dub the APU. APU's are a CPU and GPU on one chip. The GPU does not have quite as many cores as a dedicated graphics card would and it does not have its own RAM so uses the main system RAM instead, but its a notable step up from integrated graphics, can do some light gaming on them. The CPU is also not as powerful as AMD's AM3+ offerings but the higher end models are still reasonably competent chips. The second processor you linked to is FM2 (compatible with FM2+).

 

Thanks for explaining that to me. I'm having difficulties finding a motherboard that's under 400USD so I suppose I may need to shop around a little more, but at least now I have a little more insight into what I'm looking for.

 

Yes I would save up for something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1556286 as the processer would easily run BeamNG but you would need to get some DDR3 RAM like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211855 But this would be quite a bit more than your budget but it would be worth it. But if you want something closer to your budget i would suggest getting a AM3+ motherboard as i know they can but pick up really cheap in the UK (As low as £25) and a decent AM3+ CPU would be about £120 then 8GB of RAM about £60, But i don't know rough pricing in america but a quick look suggest $50 for a motherboard about $120-$150 for the CPU and 8GB or RAM $70 or 4GB of RAM $40. So a AMD setup would be best for your budget but if you save up a bit and are able to spend more you will get a better computer.

 

I think what your suggesting would actually be a pretty solid investment, I'm not sure if AMD GPUs are compatible with Intel processors (Particularly http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127687) but regardless it seems worth the cost.

... I guess I better start tearing this Nissan apart *Shudders internally*

 

Yes AMD GPU's work fine with Intel CPU's as they will communicate with each other through the PciE Bus and yes it is worth the extra money as with computers the more you spend the better they will perform.

 

The whole Intel CPU requiring NVidia GPU and AMD CPU AMD GPU thing is an absolute myth. End of the day, the graphics cards just expect data on a PCI Bus, they dont care what generates that data. The drivers for the GPU's have no optimisation for AMD vs Intel either, as far as they are concerned they are 64 bit windows 8 drivers or 32 bit windows 7 drivers etc. Hell, they arent even limited to just x86 processors and have been used with MIPS, ARM and PowerPC before.

As for motherboards costing $400, I can find hardly any costing that much and loads for under $100.


My personal preference is for NVidia GPU's. However they are more expensive than their AMD counterparts so if you are on a tight budget you would probably have to go previous gen mid range cards with overclocks (the GTX650 Boost seems to come up regularly here) or AMD.
Intel vs AMD for me is purely budgetary constraint. If I could afford intel, I would go intel, otherwise there is nothing wrong with AMD.

 

Hey, dont be an idiot like i was and get the 6600k. Dont get me wrong, its not a bad processor, IF YOURE RUNNING INTEGRATED GRAPHICS. The 6600k is basically an athlon II x4 750k with integrated graphics.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113348

This will run just as well, if not better than the 6600k, but $50 cheaper or so. It will also probably overclock higher.

Also, DO NOT get that gpu, as you will be very disappointed. Its already fairly old, and will need replaced in ~6-8 months, depending on the games you play.

$200-$300 is the best price point for buying GPUs.

Oh wait you already got it... D;

 

I should change my name to microcenteremployee. (I don't work there)
Anyways, microcenter has the amazing i5 4670k+mobo for $199. I7 4770k is $239, is $199 sometimes with sales.

EDIT: Sorry, sorry. They are now $219 and $289 with motherboard.

- - - Updated - - -

While there might be slightly better deals, and new cards are coming out in ~6months, the 7770 at $90-100 is pretty great. Mine was going strong at mediums 80+fps maxed 30fps at 1280x1024. Most are also insanely quiet and cool.

 

But the mining price jumps... That was a $80 card 6 months ago... Now its 6 months older and $20 more.

 

I must be a millionaire than, because I don't have a car, wait a second :O Jokes aside, try to go to a used PC shop, they might have some AM2+ CPUs and get the best one that you can buy! If you try and get a Black Edition and you know what overclocking is, than you can do it, but if you don't, don't even try, you might ruin your whole PC if you mess something up

 

Since my current gaming rig is more than plenty for everything I play besides beamNG I'm just going to save up for a proper Intel mobo and processor and ddr3 ram... Etc. Thanks for the advice everyone.

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