Best bang for my buck

So Im thinking about getting an upgrade. Currently I am using an Athlon 64 X2 5000+ BE and an Evga 590 sli motherboard, both fairly old pieces.

Im looking to spend $100~ on each a processor and motherboard, Im not stuck to that but thats where I would like to come in the end.

Ive been out of the loop when he comes to hardware lately and trying to read the forums to come to a conclusion is difficult.

If anyone has some suggestions for what I can get a way with for around $200ish(like I said could go a bit higher if needed) I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

I have this motherboard it's a really good overclocker and I'm really happy with it. Price isn't bad either $109 and $95 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128378

lots of choices for CPU, you can go with the X2 550 for about $95 or X2 555 for $104 and try your lock at unlocking the extra cores
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103846
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

Or you can go with one of the propus CPU's with guaranteed 4 cores such as the X4 630 at $102
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704

Then there'sw the X3 720 for about $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103652

There's alot of choices in the $100 CPU range, it's up to you which one fits your needs the best.

Hey thanks for the links, definitely gives me some wheres to start looking. Theres so many different cores and models now a days its going to take me a bit to start going through reviews on them all.

After poking around newegg for a bit I came along this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.328310

Im thinking about taking the dive and getting it. Im going to need to get ram anyways, my PSU needs upgraded badly and my current case is in terrible shape.

Other the the onboard video on the motherboard which isnt needed, because im sticking with my GTX260, this looks like a pretty good deal to me.

Any thing look off with this combo?

Ill just have to pick up a cooler, unless am2 coolers are compatible with am3 boards(Leaving work at the moment, have to check it out when I get home)

That is a good buy for that setup. that tri core is a good budget CPU and very over clockable if you are into that . those Gskill ripjaws are also some real good memory .

the combo's nice but the motherboard sucks.. the 980a's are rebadged 780a chipsets.. they sucked when they were branded as 780a's and they still suck branded as a 980a.. the only way i would suggest going with the 980a is if you really need SLI support.. if not then its worthless..

motherboard
MSI 770 C45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130228 $79.99 (there is also another version of this board that has crossfire support but the second PCI-e x16 slot only runs at 4x)
ram
G.skill 2x2GB DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193 $104.99

cpu
athlon II x4 620
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706 $95.99
or
phenom II x2 550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680 $95.99 ( there is also the oem version sold for 89 dollars but doesnt come with the stock heatsink)

sirmonkey1985 said:

the combo's nice but the motherboard sucks.. the 980a's are rebadged 780a chipsets.. they sucked when they were branded as 780a's and they still suck branded as a 980a.. the only way i would suggest going with the 980a is if you really need SLI support.. if not then its worthless..

motherboard
MSI 770 C45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130228 $79.99 (there is also another version of this board that has crossfire support but the second PCI-e x16 slot only runs at 4x)
ram
G.skill 2x2GB DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193 $104.99

cpu
athlon II x4 620
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706 $95.99
or
phenom II x2 550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680 $95.99 ( there is also the oem version sold for 89 dollars but doesnt come with the stock heatsink)

Click to expand...

+1 for this setup....stay away from the nvidea chipsets unless you are in need of SLI.....i highly recommend the x2 if your content with 2 Cores[and the possibility of 2 more], but if you need 4 cores the 620 is a great CPU.....


as for if AM2 coolers will work.....yes.....im pretty sure an old 754 socket cooler will work(atleast by looking at my old box which has a 754 in it, the bracket is identical[visually] to my AM3

I just tried fitting an old 939 opteron 4 heat pipe cooler on an am2 bracket and it won't fit without modification

playah said:

I just tried fitting an old 939 opteron 4 heat pipe cooler on an am2 bracket and it won't fit without modification

Click to expand...

its probably because the board manufacture used a different mounting bracket.. but the reference designed bracket hasnt changed since the socket 754.. as far as im aware of gigabytes the only one thats using a non reference designed bracket on some motherboards or the heatsink is specifically designed for the 939 bracket from your other board.. if the heatsink is using a universal amd bracket it should fit on a 754/939/am2/am2+/am3 motherboard without issues.. easy way to check is just looking up the heatsink and seeing what sockets it supports.. then you will know if its the heatsink or the motherboard thats not using the reference designed bracket.. i know their the same because im using the bracket from my socket 754 LP UT NF3 250Gb on my am2+ TForce 780G motherboard and am using the bracket from this board on my am2 m2n-sli deluxe board since i broke the bracket on that one..