Hardware & Technical Most cost effective CPU upgrade?

[Lansonlad]

I'm currently running an AMD Athlon X4 950 CPU, on an ASUS Prime A320M-K Motherboard, with a GTX1050ti and 8 GB ram.
I'm getting stutter and frame lag when playing Elite Dangerous or modded Minecraft with kids so am looking upgrade and it feels like the best upgrade path at the moment would be swap out the cpu for a Ryzen 5 however at what point would the GPU become the bottleneck? wheres the point of diminishing return?
I can push to a 2600 cost wise.
thanks

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

I'm quite cheap, so I usually aim to get the best bang for buck CPU/RAM/Motherboard combo I can find, and keep it for as long as possible, as they don't need replacing as often as people seem to think.

I'm still running a perfectly capable AMD FX 8320 (at stock speeds), and has no signs of bottlenecking on my GTX 770 GPU, so can probably last another GPU upgrade or two. (I do need more RAM though.) And that all only cost £200~ (plus a new CPU cooler @ ~£15)

So my advice is, buy a CPU/RAM/Motherboard set that will keep you well clear of bottlenecks of future GPUs.

I'm a bit behind, but best bang for buck seems to be AMD still.

 

[Shadowdancer]

I'd look at something like a Ryzen 5 2600 on a B450 or even B350 mainboard (the older 350 will need an up to date BIOS to recognise the CPU). That needs new RAM too, but will probably do well for a some years to come. The stock coolers have a good reputation too.

Don't get an AM3+ CPU, they're an outdated dead-end.

 

[Pville_Piper]

The Ryzen 5 2600.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Don't get an AM3+ CPU, they're an outdated dead-end.

Oi... Lol

My out of date PC takes offense to that!

 

[Patrick_68000]

AMD for the price and also the performance today.

 

[Morbad]

it feels like the best upgrade path at the moment would be swap out the cpu for a Ryzen 5

I concur. The Ryzen 5 2600 is the clear choice for your setup.

at what point would the GPU become the bottleneck? wheres the point of diminishing return?

Generally, once basic CPU and memory requirements for the minimum frame rate you are targeting are satisfied, GPU will always be the limiting factor.

I have systems going on a decade old that are completely bottlenecked by an overclocked GTX 1080 Ti.

 

[Lansonlad]

Thanks for the replies, I intended to update the bios so 2600 may be the way to go.
Now to see if I can persuade the "boss" to let me spend my money.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Thanks for the replies, I intended to update the bios so 2600 may be the way to go.
Now to see if I can persuade the "boss" to let me spend my money.

Do it in secret.
I've become a pro...

Buy Amazon gift cards at a supermarket you normally shop in.
Place your order using said gift cards.
Order delivery to those collection points.
Collect while no one is around.
Install while no one is around.
Try not to draw attention to superfast PC.

I upgraded my most of my PC that way, and blamed any unusual behaviour on Windows updates.

I see no possible downsides to this.

 

[Patrick_68000]

I concur. The Ryzen 5 2600 is the clear choice for your setup.



Generally, once basic CPU and memory requirements for the minimum frame rate you are targeting are satisfied, GPU will always be the limiting factor.

I have systems going on a decade old that are completely bottlenecked by an overclocked GTX 1080 Ti.

There are also more recent systems which are also bottlenecked by this type of card.

 

[Patrick_68000]

Do it in secret.
I've become a pro...

Buy Amazon gift cards at a supermarket you normally shop in.
Place your order using said gift cards.
Order delivery to those collection points.
Collect while no one is around.
Install while no one is around.
Try not to draw attention to superfast PC.

I upgraded my most of my PC that way, and blamed any unusual behaviour on Windows updates.

I see no possible downsides to this.

I think that many of us do it.

The collection points are God's blessing.

 

[Jon flint]

Do it in secret.
I've become a pro...

Buy Amazon gift cards at a supermarket you normally shop in.
Place your order using said gift cards.
Order delivery to those collection points.
Collect while no one is around.
Install while no one is around.
Try not to draw attention to superfast PC.

I upgraded my most of my PC that way, and blamed any unusual behaviour on Windows updates.

I see no possible downsides to this.

You sir, are a genius

 

[Shadowdancer]

Oh right, I totally overlooked that OP was already on an AM4 mainboard, that makes the CPU upgrade a no-brainer.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

You sir, are a genius

As far as my girlfriend is aware, my PC is the same Intel Core 2 Quad, with AMD HD 6870 installed from 8 years ago.

I got my brother to buy me a new case for Christmas a few years ago, but all my new stuff was overheating in my old one . Lol

I used the excuse "I didn't think he'd buy me one! Feels rude not to use it!"

Pro, I tell you.

 

[Patrick_68000]

As far as my girlfriend is aware, my PC is the same Intel Core 2 Quad, with AMD HD 6870 installed from 8 years ago.

Be careful that she does not buy you a new PC less powerful than your current PC.

She could have pity on your Core 2 and want to please you.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Be careful that she does not buy you a new PC less powerful than your current PC.

She could have pity on your Core 2 and want to please you.

She won't.
She's itching for it to die so she has a valid reason for me to scrap it.

Apparently, it's ugly.

 

[EUS]

Do it in secret.
I've become a pro...

Buy Amazon gift cards at a supermarket you normally shop in.
Place your order using said gift cards.
Order delivery to those collection points.
Collect while no one is around.
Install while no one is around.
Try not to draw attention to superfast PC.

I upgraded my most of my PC that way, and blamed any unusual behaviour on Windows updates.

I see no possible downsides to this.

You sir, are a genius

Careful, Sir has been caught before, his tales of woe in the other forum.

I cannot imagine having to hide my spending.
"What these motorcycle pants? No, no, I've always had them, the new looking jacket, too!"
Computer parts strewn all over, amazon boxes opened.
"Just cleaning the computer, found these old, old parts, thinking they would fit somehow."

 

[TorTorden_VR]

Another option is to go the route of bait and switch.

Like if you want you upgrade your speakers.
instead of getting your normal, a bit pricy, new speakers.
instead you go out and get the biggest 7'×3' monsters you could possibly fit inside your living room.

Leave the price tag on, which should emphasize that these are more expensive than both your cars combined.

Let her get proper mad about before you finally succumb and turn them back in.
No get the speakers you actually wanted that even at 5'×1' is not small and still cost as much as an ok used car.
By proper mad, I mean slightly flushed and loud, but well before she starts packing an overnight bag to stay at her mother's.