A10-5800K vs. Intel i3-3220 or Intel i5-3570k

[andycal]

I recently canceled my Dish Network service and I'm in the process of building an htpc that will stream netflix, play blu-rays, and surf the web. Which processor will provide the best experience? I'm know intel is king, but I like saving money when I can especially with two small kids. I built my gaming rig with a FX-6300 and a Gigabyte GTX 680 SOC Edition on a Gigabyte 990FXA-UD5 board, so I don't need an all in one htpc/gaming rig. I just need something that will produce a 1080 experience on a 46" Sony Bravia. Any suggestions.

 

[clutchc]

You don't need a great processor for an HTPC. The i5 will be overkill unless you want to game with that machine too. (You'll need a discrete card in that case) The i3 would probably be best, with the A10 close behind. The i3 will run cooler in a small HTPC case.

 

[andycal]

I have a spare Gigabyte HD 7850 2GB card. Will that be overkill for an htpc? Or should I go for a Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 low profile graphics card?

 

[clutchc]

If as you say, you simply intend on using it to "stream netflix, play blu-rays, and surf the web", then a discrete card is not necessary. The on-die GPU is more than adequate for those tasks. In fact, preferred. The gfx card would just be another heat producer in the small case. If, on the other hand, you intend on using the HTPC to game... you will definitely want to add the card and then go for the i5.

 

[andycal]

Ok. I misread your initial post. As this will be purely a htpc only case, I'll probably sell the spare card to help pay for the build.
Here's the build so far.
Intel i3-3220 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116775
Rosewill R379-M Case - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EMSH9Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
MSI Z77MA-G45 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130647
ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (Picked up off ebay for $50) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445
Windows 7 SP1 64 Bit - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q0PT3I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Total = $494.12

 

[ericjohn004]

You won't even need the i5 to game. The i3 produces comparable performance being that it has HT enabled. I think the A105800k actually beat the i3 in some benchmarks. But overall, the i3 is definitely superior.

Personally, I'd go with the i3 3225, because the 3225 has HD4000 graphics. The 3220 has HD2500 graphics, which are far less powerful but still able to play blu rays. But HD4000 enables you to do a little gaming here and there.

It really depends, if you want to game a lot more, then the A10 is the way to go because it's iGPU is far more powerful than HD4000. If you want a better CPU that can do a little gaming, get the i3 3225. If you don't care about gaming get the i3 3220. If gamings you main concern then get the i3 3220 plus the 7850.

 

[clutchc]

Ok. I misread your initial post. As this will be purely a htpc only case, I'll probably sell the spare card to help pay for the build.
Here's the build so far.
Intel i3-3220 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116775
Rosewill R379-M Case - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EMSH9Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
MSI Z77MA-G45 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130647
ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (Picked up off ebay for $50) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445
Windows 7 SP1 64 Bit - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q0PT3I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Total = $494.12

Nothing wrong with those choices. I question your need for a CF/SLI MB with dual PCIe X16 slots if you're not going to install gfx card(s). But maybe you want to have it for a gaming build if you tire of the HTPC. Also, remember that an OEM Blu-Ray drive comes with no software; no codex to play B-R movies. You'll have to purchase that separately or try to find a suitable free version online.