AMD A10-7850K or Intel i3-6100

[JerichoPapaDelta]

Background: I am trying to build a m-ITX standalone system that I can plug into my television and use as a computer but also play games. I'm defining computer use as web browsing, Emails, YouTube, among other simple stuff not streaming services such as Netflix or music stuff. As for games I'm not looking for big AAA games such as Metal Gear or Fallout 4 or The Witcher 3, things that most people try to build computers for.

Question: Would it be better to go with either the AMD A10-7850k or Intel i3-6100?

I was going to just build with the A10 but it was brought to my attention that the 6100 has very capable integrated graphics.

The two mock builds I have are

A10 7850k
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($87.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: PNY Anarchy 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($70.49 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill Neutron Mini ITX Desktop Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.48 @ OutletPC)
Total: $424.43
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 21:46 EST-0500

I3-6100
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($121.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H170M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($70.49 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill Neutron Mini ITX Desktop Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.48 @ OutletPC)
Total: $421.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 21:48 EST-0500

 

[Supahos]

You won't be disappointed with the 6100... A lot less heat to get rid of should be quicker than the 7850k by a wide margin.

 

[JerichoPapaDelta]

Is there a way to compare the R7 on-die graphics with Integrated Graphics 530?

I know the APUs performance is effected by RAM speeds. However I do not know if the i3s onboard graphics are effected by RAM speeds.

The APU uses DDR3 RAM while the i3 uses DDR4 RAM. I don't know how much difference there is between the two.

Between the M-ITX Motherboards the A88X can handle various DDR3 RAM speeds while the H107 can only handle DDR4 2133.

 

[JerichoPapaDelta]

Though some searching it has turned up that RAM speed has an effect on integrated graphics performance but I still don't know the differences between DDR3 and DDR4 RAM.

 

[BadActor]

The graphics power of both processors are roughly equivalent to an R7 250.

 

[Legatta]

Background: I am trying to build a m-ITX standalone system that I can plug into my television and use as a computer but also play games. I'm defining computer use as web browsing, Emails, YouTube, among other simple stuff not streaming services such as Netflix or music stuff. As for games I'm not looking for big AAA games such as Metal Gear or Fallout 4 or The Witcher 3, things that most people try to build computers for.

Question: Would it be better to go with either the AMD A10-7850k or Intel i3-6100?

I was going to just build with the A10 but it was brought to my attention that the 6100 has very capable integrated graphics.

Benchmarking found on Tom's suggests in game, the 7850K out performs the 6100. It makes sense, the 7850k has stronger graphical capabilities, the 6100 is stronger in processing though.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/skylake-intel-core-i7-6700k-core-i5-6600k,review-33276-9.html

 

[athuria]

If you're not into gaming that much the skylake i3 fits better with your needs along with the possibilities of adding dedicated GPU in the future for a better gaming performance and for future upgrade in case you wanna ditch the i3 and go for a better CPU like and i5, while the A10-7850k leave you with little or to none possible future as the fm2+'s quite and old socket technology that still doesnt support ddr4, still the main advantage with the 7850k you got the option to crossfire the integrated GPUs inside with a dedicated GPU like an r7 370 or r9 380.

 

[jotabe1984]

If you're not into gaming that much the skylake i3 fits better with your needs along with the possibilities of adding dedicated GPU in the future for a better gaming performance and for future upgrade in case you wanna ditch the i3 and go for a better CPU like and i5, while the A10-7850k leave you with little or to none possible future as the fm2+'s quite and old socket technology that still doesnt support ddr4, still the main advantage with the 7850k you got the option to crossfire the integrated GPUs inside with a dedicated GPU like an r7 370 or r9 380.

APUs can't do "crossfire", they do "dual graphics" with R7 240 / R7 250 / R7 250x / R7 260 and R7 260x

If he's buying a mini itx PC i will asume that he's going to be using it as a multimedia center more than anything else, i don't think anyone building a mini itx its going to do hardcore video editing nor anything demanding on a CPU.

In that regard, the 4 CPU cores of the A10 will handle better the general multitasking, since no task will be that much heavy to need a better core, but shurely many simple task will be used at the same time.
The A10's better iGPU will also be nice for the casual gaming, and in some time he can add a R7 250x 2gb low profile for "dual graphics" and the chance of play any game at low-med settings with a nice framerate.

On the i3 side, it will perform better later on with a mid to high end GPU. If the setup its going to do mainly the "PS4" job, that would be the best choice