AMD 8320 value?

[FFH]

So I've been looking through benchmarks, and I know that the intel i5 series a better performer overall in gaming and most if not all programs. I probably won't buy a computer until Haswell or Steamroll because that's when I'll have enough money to purchase a new computer. I also know that prices jump around a lot. I see that the AMD FX 8320 is priced at $160 at amazon. I've seen the performance comparisons, and there isn't a huge difference between the 8320 and 8350. I'm curious at what everyone thinks of the value proposition for gaming performance of the a $160 8320 vs a $220 Intel 3570k.

 

[Maksym]

Before you read into it, watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8Sekdb-IE&feature=player_embedded

Its a review on the gaming performance of the 8350 compared to Intel flagships.

I would say, its better to save, what would be nearly $100 after taxes, for marginal increases in performance. Yes, i5 and i7 series beats in benchmarks but, for an average gamer, in terms of performance, that difference is silly. Get a better video card and, for the same budget, you'll have a better gaming machine as you spent more on better video card, which is what matters at the end.

 

[stickmansam]

Before you read into it, watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8Sekdb-IE&feature=player_embedded

Its a review on the gaming performance of the 8350 compared to Intel flagships.

I would say, its better to save, what would be nearly $100 after taxes, for marginal increases in performance. Yes, i5 and i7 series beats in benchmarks but, for an average gamer, in terms of performance, that difference is silly. Get a better video card and, for the same budget, you'll have a better gaming machine as you spent more on better video card, which is what matters at the end.

The 8320 in gaming would perform closer to the 6300 than the 8350

WHile the video does show some interesting points, as well as in the next one where they continue testing I see some contradictions

In Far Cry 3 (benchmarked in follow up video) they have the 8350 beating the 3570k (both stock) by almost double the fps. But in other reviews, esp ones by Techspot, they have the 8350 performing at the same levels as the 3470 so the 8350 should only be at the same level at the 3570k, not double the fps

This was their results

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4et7kDGSRfc

I would actually consider the FX6300 and save an additional $30 and pretty much get the same fps
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/fx-8350-8320-6300-4300_6.html#sect0

 

[stantheman123]

The 8320 in gaming would perform closer to the 6300 than the 8350

WHile the video does show some interesting points, as well as in the next one where they continue testing I see some contradictions

In Far Cry 3 (benchmarked in follow up video) they have the 8350 beating the 3570k (both stock) by almost double the fps. But in other reviews, esp ones by Techspot, they have the 8350 performing at the same levels as the 3470 so the 8350 should only be at the same level at the 3570k, not double the fps

http://static.techspot.com/articles-info/615/bench/CPU_01.png


This was their results
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1623/capturensa.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4et7kDGSRfc

I would actually consider the FX6300 and save an additional $30 and pretty much get the same fps
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/fx-8350-8320-6300-4300_6.html#sect0

Yea i agree. The 6300 is where it is at for gaming. on the amd side. Its a nice chip for the price. i have mine at 4.5ghz and it crushes any game i throw at it

 

[Maksym]

I'm also about to pull a trigger on 6300, after months of research, for 129$, unlocked 6 core, its just too good.

 

[stantheman123]

Yea I love mine. Honestly at 4.5ghz i could NOT ask for a faster cpu. Make sure you overclock it. since its unlocked its just so good for the price. What gpu you pairing it with?

 

[FFH]

Everyone, thank you for the fast replies. I'm not set on buying a CPU yet. I was just trying to find out which was the better value based off price. I guess that's subjective because some people will say the 6300 or 8320 is better based off the lower price, and others will say that i5 is well worth the money for it's performance.

To answer Stan, I'm waiting for the new sea islands GPUs to come out. I heard that it's out in Q2 of 2013. I'll get the new gen 7850; the 8850 or whatever it will be called.

 

[sarinaide]

OP, it ultimately depends on the game title, it is trite that Intel has stronger x86 performance which in some x86 bound titles gives them clear advantage, but in almost every GPU bound game AMD and Intel are on a par at various price ranges. so it depends on what you want to play.

As to how good a 8320 is relative to the 3570K, you could say the 8350 is around the 3570k performance but the 8320 is about 5% slower than the 8350 so relatively close. $160 is a very fair price for the 8320 and it will certainly give you copious gaming performance.

 

[stickmansam]

OP, it ultimately depends on the game title, it is trite that Intel has stronger x86 performance which in some x86 bound titles gives them clear advantage, but in almost every GPU bound game AMD and Intel are on a par at various price ranges. so it depends on what you want to play.

As to how good a 8320 is relative to the 3570K, you could say the 8350 is around the 3570k performance but the 8320 is about 5% slower than the 8350 so relatively close. $160 is a very fair price for the 8320 and it will certainly give you copious gaming performance.

I would say the 8350 = approximately in gaming below a 3470 (3470 would win in almost all cases but the 8350 does quite decently [ as in 60+fps] The 8320 is below that but in most gaming situations the FX6300 does the same as the FX8320)

As has been said above OP, it really depend on your games. I was going to grab a FX6300 but my favorite game was a badly optimized single threaded CPU limited game so I ended up getting a i5 3570k. For other games AMD is perfectly fine.

Yes it would be worth it get a new generation GPU but it would also be good to grab a 7850/7870 when prices come down. Really depends on what new things AMD and Nvidia come out with.