Need to upgrade for more FPS

[John Naylor]

Watch the boards over the next few weeks for folks upgrading their rigs and selling off MoBo / CPU / RAM combos. And i5 or i7 CPU / Z series MoBo / 16GB of 2400 or above should be available for $300 or so ... after that a 1060/70 or 970/980should round that out nicely .

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Personally , coming from a similar system , i used a rx580 and vega 64 in it In racing games ie asseto corsa , project cars ,all dirts etc those GPU were bottle necked by the cpu but did give good performance in what I used them for so in part id recommend a rx 480/580 for you, however.

Less easily noticed is the fact that with a new platform (2600Xryzen) I find I am now miles ,miles better at racing , whereas i struggled in mp races before , I now stomp ass and i put it down to frame delivery time (and its latency) and the smoothness of frame delivery ,both of which has made this upgrade (whole pc platform)worthwhile Just for racing competitively.
Your choice though, i still have a crossfire rx480 pair in a fx 8350 sabertooth combo in my living room to push racing games on my 4k telly With room and pliability for my racing chair and wheel but it is not getting used anymore since the effects i notice make it now unusable ,whereas pre platform swap i would have swore it was fine.

 

[StickySauce]

Personally , coming from a similar system , i used a rx580 and vega 64 in it In racing games ie asseto corsa , project cars ,all dirts etc those GPU were bottle necked by the cpu but did give good performance in what I used them for so in part id recommend a rx 480/580 for you, however.

Less easily noticed is the fact that with a new platform (2600Xryzen) I find I am now miles ,miles better at racing , whereas i struggled in mp races before , I now stomp ass and i put it down to frame delivery time (and its latency) and the smoothness of frame delivery ,both of which has made this upgrade (whole pc platform)worthwhile Just for racing competitively.
Your choice though, i still have a crossfire rx480 pair in a fx 8350 sabertooth combo in my living room to push racing games on my 4k telly With room and pliability for my racing chair and wheel but it is not getting used anymore since the effects i notice make it now unusable ,whereas pre platform swap i would have swore it was fine.

I still have the question that remains unanswered though. Was your Sabertooth board a legacy BIOS or UEFI? I have a non-UEFI Mobo. If my Mobo will not support something that new, I may just build a new PC if I dont get the increased performance I want on the OC settings that Athlonite suggested.

What I am starting to gather from all this input and information and research I have been doing, is that my 8350 may be my main issue and that a graphics update may only help marginally. Maybe another 10%-15%fps(just a guess)

 

[m&m's]

I m currently using CPUID and ASUS Afterburner to monitor usage and temps. I'm not really seeing a CPU dip and know for I fact I'm not getting GPU dips. The GPU seems to sit at 99% at all times in game with about 1800-1900MB vram usage and and about 4.5-5.2 GB Ram usage. CPU is at 90-98% usage on cores that are being used for the games.

You mention that your FPS dips below 50 when tanks explode, cars crash, etc when your FPS hovers around 60 to 70 when it does not happen.

When you FPS drops, 2 things can be happening.
1- Your CPU is bottlenecking (or single channel memory).
2- Your GPU is not powerful enough.

1- If your CPU is bottlenecking, it's usage will go up and the GPU load will go down (which means the GPU isn't used to it's full capacity which is why you have less FPS).
2- If your GPU is too weak it's usage will peak to 99%, the frames will go down and so will the CPU load. Why? Because less FPS there is, less load there is on the CPU.

You mention that both the CPU and the GPU usage do not budge when the frames go down.
The only explanation that I can think that could be causing this is that the CPU load goes up when there are explosions but because the FPS go down the CPU load stays the same.

Anyway, if your CPU usage varies between 90-98% and your GPU usage stays @99%. It means that your CPU is already pretty much being maxed out by your current GPU.
Buying a better GPU would probably not increase your FPS by much unless you find settings in game which could lower the CPU strain (shadows for example are often causing a lot of strain on CPUs).

 

[Candor]

The RX 470 doesn't require a UEFI motherboard and your power supply is beefy enough. Go get one! Then you can sell your R9 270X.

 

[cucker tarlson]

I'm in favor of upgrading both.
Good point made by MrK about frame delivery smoothness and latency, it's something some people swear is fine before they actually can see it running on a better system.

 

[eidairaman1]

The RX 470 doesn't require a UEFI motherboard and your power supply is beefy enough. Go get one! Then you can sell your R9 270X.

Take caution, there were 270s and 250Xs that do, so even 470s could be a crapshoot.

 

[Mussels]

The FX chips are pretty average, getting a second hand i5 and board and re-using your ram would get you considerable gains - with a better GPU being the next needed upgrade.

 

[eidairaman1]

The FX chips are pretty average, getting a second hand i5 and board and re-using your ram would get you considerable gains - with a better GPU being the next needed upgrade.

In rhat case he might as well go Ryzen

 

[cucker tarlson]

The FX chips are pretty average, getting a second hand i5 and board and re-using your ram would get you considerable gains - with a better GPU being the next needed upgrade.

I'd favour a 4c/8t ryzen with ddr4 over a 4c/4t K-version of i5 with ddr3. But 6c/12t would be the best choice for him. 4c/8t Ryzens just don't deliver that good performance, maybe due to the fact that's it's just 2 cores in each ccx and they have to communicate thorugh IF with the other two. 3/4 core ccx ryzens really pick up the pace.

If you have money then upgrade both the cpu and gpu, but if that means you have to cut corners then just focus on cpu first, get a 2600(x) and 3000 CL14/15 RAM. If 1700X is avaiable at a reduced price in your country it's an even better option.

 

[Vayra86]

Both routes are viable I think, the cost aspect will decide what is best for OP

 

[StickySauce]

Thank you everyone for your advice and support.

Ended up getting a Asus R9 380 strix 4gb for $209 shipped from Newegg. OC'ed the FX8350 to 4.5 GHz, NB to 2400, HT to 2600, timings down to 7-8-7-22 @ 1333, and GPU @ stock clocking. Getting 150+ fps consistent with high loads hitting 125 fps. Have not played any WOT yet. Completely changed my gaming experience!

Gonna try and tweak it a little more and get the CPU to 4.6 and NB to 2600. I can do it with a little bit of tweaking I think. I didn't spend to much time on the overclock, maybe an hour. Then stress tested with prime95 for 2 hours with no issues. CPU got to 57 celcius and the NB got to 55 everything else stayed below 47.

 

[eidairaman1]

Thank you everyone for your advice and support.

Ended up getting a Asus R9 380 strix 4gb for $209 shipped from Newegg. OC'ed the FX8350 to 4.5 GHz, NB to 2400, HT to 2600, timings down to 7-8-7-22 @ 1333, and GPU @ stock clocking. Getting 150+ fps consistent with high loads hitting 125 fps. Have not played any WOT yet. Completely changed my gaming experience!

Gonna try and tweak it a little more and get the CPU to 4.6 and NB to 2600. I can do it with a little bit of tweaking I think. I didn't spend to much time on the overclock, maybe an hour. Then stress tested with prime95 for 2 hours with no issues. CPU got to 57 celcius and the NB got to 55 everything else stayed below 47.

4.5GHz is easy with the 8350, 4.7 too, it is 4.9-5.2 thats a challenge.

You got a Tonga Refresh card, so thats good.

 

[king of swag187]

Thank you everyone for your advice and support.

Ended up getting a Asus R9 380 strix 4gb for $209 shipped from Newegg. OC'ed the FX8350 to 4.5 GHz, NB to 2400, HT to 2600, timings down to 7-8-7-22 @ 1333, and GPU @ stock clocking. Getting 150+ fps consistent with high loads hitting 125 fps. Have not played any WOT yet. Completely changed my gaming experience!

Gonna try and tweak it a little more and get the CPU to 4.6 and NB to 2600. I can do it with a little bit of tweaking I think. I didn't spend to much time on the overclock, maybe an hour. Then stress tested with prime95 for 2 hours with no issues. CPU got to 57 celcius and the NB got to 55 everything else stayed below 47.

An R9 380 for $209? Are you joking? You could have boughten it for half that price used, or hell even gotten a new RX 570 less.
And that FX is abominable, getting easily beaten by an i5 3570K, although it should be fine for your purposes

 

[eidairaman1]

An R9 380 for $209? Are you joking? You could have boughten it for half that price used, or hell even gotten a new RX 570 less.
And that FX is abominable, getting easily beaten by an i5 3570K, although it should be fine for your purposes

Dude give it a rest. He is happy with what he has.

I have an 8350 with 290 myself.

 

[StickySauce]

An R9 380 for $209? Are you joking? You could have boughten it for half that price used, or hell even gotten a new RX 570 less.
And that FX is abominable, getting easily beaten by an i5 3570K, although it should be fine for your purposes

I just hate buy used cards. Been there, done that, been screwed. I only buy new. I've never had a used deal go good. So I'm very sceptical. And my MOBO will not support the RX cards from everything I've read. And it was the only question nobody answered on hear when I asked. So I didn't want to take a chance.

 

[eidairaman1]

I just hate buy used cards. Been there, done that, been screwed. I only buy new. I've never had a used deal go good. So I'm very sceptical. And my MOBO will not support the RX cards from everything I've read. And it was the only question nobody answered on hear when I asked. So I didn't want to take a chance.

Update your gpu in system specs too

 

[StickySauce]

Update your gpu in system specs too

Thank you! Done.


I appreciate everyone's help! This has been a wonderful experience!

 

[nothappy]

I see, its quite hectic and you will find people with good ideas but might not be the best for your taste.
from what I see you got your basics and balance in order, and all you want is just a small increase to future proof. When I it really make saw the thread name of "more FPS" it makes you sound like an enthusiast rather than a mild mannered citizen of the master race.

The guys who are ask/tell/suggest -ing you to go haswell or newer are actually thinking that your specs are dated, and to ensure FPS (enthusiast in mind) then you should go balls to the wall and upgrade (especially when now we know you're not the second hand parts guy).

I do the usual how do I see my rig in 3 years time, right now my haswell is worth something so I can sell and buy newer things. But your FX 8350 is quite dated in our minds and the price will be low if you want to trade up. Your R9 200 series is also dated cause in my mind the AMD R9 300 series are the border betweeen still ok and ye olde parts beware.

If the Mobo Doesn't accept any RX series, try contacting MSI and ask for a BIOS update. I remembered My first build of MSI K9A Platinum with PCI-e 1.1 slot, Bought me a 5770 with great personal expense and distraught due to the mobo not working with it (5770 requires PICI-e 2.0). I thought it was the PSU, and traded up 2 times (Corsair VS 450-Corsair VS 650-Corsair TX 850), I didn't know the problem was my bios and slot, and it broke me everytime my PC just wont POST. My friend asked me to write MSI a letter, sent the email in the morning got my reply in the afternoon with a BIOS update, and I never forget to check BIOS updates ever since.

I got an ultrawide monitor, cheap one with 2560x1080 25 inches of fun, I get to see half a Dota lane and a larger field of view in CS-GO. It gave me the edge to get the best results my skills can produce, but that resolution comes at a price.

In the end, please decide what you want to do but get the whole story and options before execution, I want My money to get me the best and I think I got it, In FUN we TRUST!

 

[eidairaman1]

Meh, haswell is dated too, he is happy with what he has so just leave it at that.

 

[king of swag187]

I just hate buy used cards. Been there, done that, been screwed. I only buy new. I've never had a used deal go good. So I'm very sceptical. And my MOBO will not support the RX cards from everything I've read. And it was the only question nobody answered on hear when I asked. So I didn't want to take a chance.

I feel you, but you wasted so much money. You could have boughten a 1050 or 1060, or just upgraded to a better platform than AM3+

 

[eidairaman1]

I feel you, but you wasted so much money. You could have boughten a 1050 or 1060, or just upgraded to a better platform than AM3+

There is nothing wrong with what he has.

He has made is decision already, leave him alone.

 

[king of swag187]

There is nothing wrong with what he has.

He has made is decision already, leave him alone.

You're completely right, and I'm not criticizing his decision, but the way he bought it, which was completely moronic. That is final

 

[Konceptz]

I'm not really looking to spend a whole lot if I can get away with it. I was looking to see if maybe adding ram, going to 4.7ghz or upgrading GPU would help increase fps. I also read that some of the newer GPUs need a Mobo with UEFI? Is this true?

Is there a better CPU I can upgrade too on this AM3+ 890 mb?

As a fellow 8350 owner on a MSI 990fx-gd80v2 and 16gb of ram, I wouldn't waste time overclocking. Even at 4.6ghz (where I'm currently at), the returns are minimal.

I'd honestly save up for total rebuild. An Intel i5, or a Ryzen 5 or 7, 16gb of ram, and i'll let others recommend a GPU as I've haven't really kept up with them lately. Id recommend staying with MSI tho.

 

[StickySauce]

Okay, just so everyone understands, here's why I did what I did.

My buddy has a RX470 in his PC. He came over and put it in mine uninstalled the old drivers and installed the new ones. And the card wouldn't work. I had no display, tried it multiple times with no luck. (BTW I am running the latest BIOS released for my board) So I got a R9 380. It resolved my issues, everything works much better now. Games play better and look better as I can turn the graphics setting up more, and I can start saving for a new build. It really came down to making this one work better til I build another one in a year. At that time, this PC will go to my nephew and will be a huge step up for him.

If I was going to go through the trouble of getting a haswell system or newer and spend $500-$650 after board, CPU, ram and GPU I might as well build a brand new current gen on Black Friday and Cyber Monday and be good for the next 5-6 years again. This will get me through and only cost me two bills.

If I could have made a RX or 1070/80 work on my board I would have bought that to move over to the new build next year, but I can't.

So Swag, just because I didn't do it the way you would have done it, doesn't mean I did it the wrong way. And I would appreciate it if in the future if you wouldn't get so pissy over how I spent my money. This literally has no effect on your life and their is literally no reason you should need to insult my desicion. May seem moronic to you, but it made sense to me.

And that is final! Lol.