CPU help

[amd fanboy7]

Okay, i have quite the dilemma here...... at the moment, i'm putting together a VERY cheap pc for my cousin for his birthday. I'm talkin like <$500. So far the biggest thing i cant decide is whether to use a phenom 965, fx 6100 or an i3 3220. the reason i have both amd processors listed is because i really dont like the new amd processors, but if phenom is too outdated for this then ill get one....... The pc will be used mostly for gaming, but he also wants to do a bit of picture/video editing, and he will be installing PodFarm (musical instrument simulation program) and yes, i'm honestly skeptical about the entire ordeal. $500 pc's arent usually good for much, but im working on it. Please, helpful responses only.

Here's the rest of the PC

Apevia X juiter jr s type case
raidmax blackstone 700w psu
sapphire vapor-x radeon 7770
8GB of crucial ballistix sport series ram
ASUS p8h61-m lx plus r2 board FOR IF I GO INTEL
ASUS m5a78l-m lx plus board IF I GO AMD.

and one of the 3 processors listed above.

only problems i really see is that with those boards, theres not much room for upgrades.. but still, its under <$500. gimme your best info people!

 

[wanderer11]

Is there a microcenter by you? They give away a free mobo with a 965.

 

[amd fanboy7]

nope lol i live in sault saint marie michigan. my guess is the closest one is 4-8 hours away.

 

[amd fanboy7]

that would be nice though, free mobo would let me get a nicer video card for him.

 

[funguseater]

For an inexpensive gaming rug I would go for the i3 setup, unless you have plans for overclocking the FX6300 (NOT the 6100). The FX6300 is a better performing CPU than the 6100 which is the old bulldozer tech. But if you are overclocking you need a good aftermarket CPU cooler like the HYPER 212 EVO which adds to the cost.

Have Fun
Fungi

 

[jessterman21]

For an inexpensive gaming rug I would go for the i3 setup, unless you have plans for overclocking the FX6300 (NOT the 6100).

You could probably find an inexpensive gaming rug here: http://www.rugstomydoor.com/scripts/prodList.asp?strstyle=17



Go for the i3 - best choice in games. Who cares if you have to wait 20 seconds longer for a video to finish?

 

[amd fanboy7]

Best answer selected by amd fanboy7.

 

[amd fanboy7]

hmm.... 13-3220 it is! thanks all

 

[Outlander_04]

The i3 is not a better gamer than an FX 4300 or 6300

It doies perform better in older DX 9 games like starcraft and skyrim
but there wont be any more games built on those game engines

Pretty much everywhere else the AMD is a better choice . Particularly the FX 6300 which monsters the best i3's

 

[littleleo]

I'd got with the i3 it has a better upgrade path for the future and should handle his gaming needs just fine.

 

[Outlander_04]

I'd got with the i3 it has a better upgrade path for the future and should handle his gaming needs just fine.

The i3 has no future upgrade path . Socket 1155 will be replaced in a few months time with the release of Haswell . Yes you could find old stock of an i5 in a years time , but it will be old and not competitive

The AMD AM3+ platform will remain current for at least one more generation of processors which means it has a much longer potential life span . New more powerful cpu's will be coming on stream till late in 2014

 

[jessterman21]

The i3 is not a better gamer than an FX 4300 or 6300

It doies perform better in older DX 9 games like starcraft and skyrim
but there wont be any more games built on those game engines

Pretty much everywhere else the AMD is a better choice . Particularly the FX 6300 which monsters the best i3's

FX-6300 is certainly compelling for the price. More threads for video encoding and the like, equal gaming capabilities with the i3s, maybe edges them out in multiplayer, but also double the power draw, and more heat to deal with.

Unfortunately as far as upgrades go, I doubt AMD will produce a CPU that can compete with the i7-3770K by the time they EOL their AM3+