0-20k Cheapest Possible CPU+Mobo combo for 1080p

sid41299

sid41299

Forerunner
I have an ex-office PC with an i7-6700 that pairs perfectly well with my 1660 Super for 1080p gaming. However the motherboard it it is in is a PoS whose components keep failing randomly (First it was the RAM slots; I'm down to one working slot. Now it's all the internet connectivity options. Even a fresh install of Windows hasn't fixed it).

What is the cheapest motherboard and CPU combo I could pair with a 1660 Super for 1080p? Alternatively, would it be worth it to try and get a used motherboard for the i7-6700 already in the system? I'm not too fussed about overclocking the CPU/memory and the like, I'm fine with anything cheap as long as it won't bottleneck the GPU.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers!
 
If you already enjoy playing on the i7-6700 and want to go cheap just get a new mobo. I wouldnt recommend buying a used motherboard in India. Just buy a new one which will cost around 3k.
 
sid41299 said:
Now it's all the internet connectivity options. Even a fresh install of Windows hasn't fixed it
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That might simply be due to Windows' just plain dropping driver support. It happened with many laptops that had Mediatek chipsets. The WiFi 6 chipsets were being limited to 100Mbps or 54Mbps. One way to confirm it would be to boot Linux (no need to install it, just boot a linux ISO), and check your internet connectivity. If it works, then that would confirm it.

That being said, I think only Ant Esports, Zebronics and the like make motherboards for older gen CPUs now.
I know that since I was looking for one too. They're okay, I suppose. Might pick one up, since they're so cheap anyway.
 
You can get a a520 motherboard for 3.9k, and pair it with any AM4 processor. That should be good for the foreseeable future, and upgrade the processor to something like 5700x3d or 5900x and upgrade the graphics card too.
 
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el_diablo said:
If you want to go with a mainstream brand:
https://mdcomputers.in/product/asus-h110m-cs-motherboard?gQT=1

If you want to go on a budget:
https://computechstore.in/product/zebronics-zeb-h110-d4-ddr4/

Both vendors are legit, just message them on whatsapp before buying to confirm stock availability.
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Will look into this, thank you
AntiSocialYuri said:
You can get a a520 motherboard for 3.9k, and pair it with any AM4 processor. That should be good for the foreseeable future, and upgrade the processor to something like 5700x3d or 5900x and upgrade the graphics card too.
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Would these two be a good pair for the price? And funny you mention talking about upgrading the GPU lmao. This is a secondary PC; the main has a 4060 paired with a 3500 (yes yes I know, I was strapped for cash and needed to replace a dead PC ASAP. I bought it precisely because it would keep up with the 1660S).

If I buy a 5500 now, would it bottleneck the 4060 when I swap out that 3500?
 
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sid41299 said:
Would these two be a good pair for the price? And funny you mention talking about upgrading the GPU lmao. This is a secondary PC; the main has a 4060 paired with a 3500 (yes yes I know, I was strapped for cash and needed to replace a dead PC ASAP. I bought it precisely because it would keep up with the 1660S).
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Honestly I wouldnt recommend this, better to save up money and buy an AM5 system. If you plan on keeping the system without upgrading then only go with AM4 but it will become obsolete in 1-2 years.
 
sid41299 said:
If I buy a 5500 now, would it bottleneck the 4060 when I swap out that 3500?
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If I am correct, the ryzen 5 5500, 5600 , 5600x perform almost similarly.
Pairing a 5500 with a 4060 shouldn't be bad. I think the r5 5500 (a 6 core 12 thread proccessor) for only 6999 rupees is a crazy deal if I am being honest. But paying an extra of 3000 rupees for a 5600 or a 5600x probably isn't worth it.

Theres the r7 5700 for 13000 rupess, but it probably isn't worth the 6k+ increase in price.

el_diablo said:
Honestly I wouldnt recommend this, better to save up money and buy an AM5 system. If you plan on keeping the system without upgrading then only go with AM4 but it will become obsolete in 1-2 years.
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Am5 is also a good idea, but it could be better to first fully utilise the Am4 platform, then ig move on to Am5.

Using a good budget am4 board with the 3500 and the 1660S could be a great choice for the secondary system.

Then again the 3k h110 motherboard solution is wayy cheaper than all of this.
 
el_diablo said:
Honestly I wouldnt recommend this, better to save up money and buy an AM5 system. If you plan on keeping the system without upgrading then only go with AM4 but it will become obsolete in 1-2 years.
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Not an option, it does not connect to networks anymore. And yes, I don't much care about upgrades, just has to be able to keep pace with the 1660 S
ByteBuzz said:
Then again the 3k h110 motherboard solution is wayy cheaper than all of this.
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True, but only the Zebronics board is that cheap, and even that is not too much cheaper than the MSI A520 board. I guess it comes down to whether or not I can afford to buy a CPU as well.
 
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sid41299 said:
Not an option, it does not connect to networks anymore. And yes, I don't much care about upgrades, just has to be able to keep pace with the 1660 S

True, but only the Zebronics board is that cheap, and even that is not too much cheaper than the MSI A520 board. I guess it comes down to whether or not I can afford to buy a CPU as well.
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This video kinda comes close in comparing the r5 3500, and the i7 6700. The performance uplift doest seem to be that big.

From a perspective of saving money (please take this with a grain of salt), I think getting the h110 is a better choice for 3k. You maybe can even salvage a used h110 for maybe even cheaper.

But maybe there are othe reasons you might wanna buy the a520 and the r5 5500.

Anyways, always your choice, best of luck with your purchase.
 
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If your i7-6700 is working well, a simple second-hand motherboard replacement could be the best option to stay within a tight budget. Look for a B150, H170 or Z170 chipset card compatible with your RAM and your power supply. If you want to upgrade, a Ryzen 5 5500 or an i3-12100F with an affordable motherboard would be a good choice for 1080p without bottlenecks. But price-wise, a second-hand card for your i7 remains the most economical solution.
 
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