Get an i3 to later upgrade to 2500k or not?

[8bitloser]

My birthday is the 26th and i plan on upgrading a bit. Now my family is not rich and im 15 so no job. So i do have a serious budget. As of now im only upgrading my cpu and motherboard right away, My HD6770 will suffice for now.

Basically im kinda thinking of going with an i3 2100 for now so i can upgrade to a 2500k later this year since im already looking for a job and since as of late im finishing school online so i figure thats a + when applying (fingers crossed). Im just wondering if there's a better way to go with all this (like if bulldozer is ever going to dig itself out of the whole they dug themselves into)

I really, REALLY want a 2500k, I just cant afford it Also does anyone have a good suggestion for a decent motherboard under 100$ (cheaper if you could) that would go with the i3, if thats my best option. Basically i plan on only being able to get the processor possibly a little after my birthday, considering ill most likely need to save a little after to get the 130$, then buying the mobo after some saving again (no allowance either so itll be tuff), then just get some 20$ 4gb ram. Ah, another thing, if you suggest a motherboard it MUST be ddr3 if they even make ddr2 for sandy bridge, considering ddr2 will only going to go up in price. I know i cant oc the i3 but i would want the option in a mobo for the 2500k or ivy-bridge equivalent when i can come into the cash.

And dont bother on suggestions for money considering i only have a few neighbors that arent 80 and hate people so simple area jobs are kinda out of the question. Also I live in Arizona :/ literally not a "real" grass yard within 25mi

 

[stingstang]

An i3 will be the best option to keep. It's going to be enough for your gpu, and upgrading to a 2500k won't give you any performance gains without also upgrading the ram, psu, and gpu. On the topic of which motherboard to choose, that's really up to you. Find one on newegg.com with a 1155 socket for your cpu, and just pick and choose which features you like for whatever price you want. Try to get one from gigabyte or asus.

 

[itzdanielp]

I know you aren't going to want to hear this.... but from experience with a limited budget I know exactly how you feel. Upgrade part by part until you get where you want.

I would strongly suggest against going for a slightly cheaper (less than $100 on newegg) CPU if you are planning on upgrading it in the next few months. Think of it this way, instead of waiting a little longer and getting the i5 for $220 you will be paying $345 for it (220 + 125) and will have a chip sitting there doing nothing. Sure you could try to resell the chip, but you aren't going to get anywhere near what you paid for it.

I would suggest getting a motherboard, and waiting long enough to save the extra $90 or so it would take to upgrade. Also, with the release of Ivy Bridge CPU's later this month it should drive the Sandy Bridge prices down a bit.

It kind of sucks not being able to get all the new stuff at once, but you will save money in the long run.


Decent boards...

Here is one for under $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135279

It is a decent board. If you are going to want to OC your chip you won't be able to get very far, and you won't be able to xFire or SLI, but as a good basic board it isn't bad.

If you don't mind refurbished, I would look strongly at this board.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131828

 

[sarinaide]

The problem with saying that you will upgrade to a 2500K is that it is looking rather unlikely, considering Sandybridge will be EOL soon, this is a common trend by Intel to EOL older architecture and make the remaining stock more expensive.

 

[Guest]

get a Intel Pentium G620 $69.99
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116399

take the difference in price from a i3-2100 and get a better motherboard for the i5-2500k
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 $121.99
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

 

[Guest]

The problem with saying that you will upgrade to a 2500K is that it is looking rather unlikely, considering Sandybridge will be EOL soon, this is a common trend by Intel to EOL older architecture and make the remaining stock more expensive.

you intel hating amd fanboyism post is completely irrelevant, off topic from the post and needs to go somewhere else.

your drivel use to be humorous now it irritating.

 

[chesteracorgi]

You have a decision to make and the above suggestions are good. On your budget, I recommend that you go with the i3 2100 and get an H67 mobo. Heres an appropriate selection: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%20600093976%20600100186&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=280%7C13%2D131%2D793%5E13%2D131%2D793%2DTS%2C13%2D138%2D339%5E13%2D138%2D339%2DTS%2C13%2D157%2D236%5E13%2D157%2D236%2DTS%2C13%2D135%2D288%5E13%2D135%2D288%2DTS

Because of budget I suggest the ECS mobo which is a cheap $30 after MIR. That puts your upgrade to about $180.

I would not try to upgrade from this platform to an i5 2500K because of its limitations. For a properly built 2500K rig you need to spend $220 for the CPU & $120 for a mobo (P67 or Z68). You will probably want a NEW PSU, faster RAM and a new GPU.

You would be better off with upgrading the GPU on the i3 2100 and have a decent (but not great) gaming system that can handle most modern games at acceptible fps.

And when you are ready for an upgrade (i.e. have the cash) do a new build with a new case and all and sell the old rig.

That's my 2 cents.

 

[sarinaide]

If you look at the last few intel architectures, the trend is a year and a half to two years at most, Sandybridge is not going to co-exist with Ivybridge particularly if Intel looked at the same price range for the comparitive revisions. It makes no sense. The remedy is to buy a motherboard that will support Intel 3rd gen processors, giving him the upgrade path.

 

[13thmonkey]

The problem with saying that you will upgrade to a 2500K is that it is looking rather unlikely, considering Sandybridge will be EOL soon, this is a common trend by Intel to EOL older architecture and make the remaining stock more expensive.

it takes them a year or two to EOL it, most of the original i's are not EOL. On the other hand they could make something that no-one has built an OS for...

 

[13thmonkey]

If you look at the last few intel architectures, the trend is a year and a half to two years at most, Sandybridge is not going to co-exist with Ivybridge particularly if Intel looked at the same price range for the comparitive revisions. It makes no sense. The remedy is to buy a motherboard that will support Intel 3rd gen processors, giving him the upgrade path.

which is exactly what is being suggested, any gen3 would do that.

 

[Guest]

If you look at the last few intel architectures, the trend is a year and a half to two years at most, Sandybridge is not going to co-exist with Ivybridge particularly if Intel looked at the same price range for the comparitive revisions. It makes no sense. The remedy is to buy a motherboard that will support Intel 3rd gen processors, giving him the upgrade path.

ok troll, i'll bite.

funny it seems that out of 30 6 year old processors that 2 have reached EOL:
http://ark.intel.com/products/family/26547

so your statement that it is every year and a half/2 years is flawed.

and sandy/ivy bridge will happy co-exist since both chipsets and processors are compatible with each other; with the difference mostly being native USB3 & PCI-E 3 support. it will be up to the mobo manufactures on how the market goes; what customers buy; as to which one gets more support.

haswell won't be out until late next year. any sandy/ivy bridge rig will have an upgrade path until then AT LEAST.

 

[loneninja]

If you look at the last few intel architectures, the trend is a year and a half to two years at most, Sandybridge is not going to co-exist with Ivybridge particularly if Intel looked at the same price range for the comparitive revisions. It makes no sense. The remedy is to buy a motherboard that will support Intel 3rd gen processors, giving him the upgrade path.

Most motherboards that support Sandy Bridge support Ivy Bridge, so what if Sandy is EOL, better chips are available for the same motherboard. :lol:

 

[8bitloser]

The problem with saying that you will upgrade to a 2500K is that it is looking rather unlikely, considering Sandybridge will be EOL soon, this is a common trend by Intel to EOL older architecture and make the remaining stock more expensive.

EOL? Lol i feel like a noob! whats this

 

[8bitloser]

You have a decision to make and the above suggestions are good. On your budget, I recommend that you go with the i3 2100 and get an H67 mobo. Heres an appropriate selection: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%20600093976%20600100186&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=280%7C13%2D131%2D793%5E13%2D131%2D793%2DTS%2C13%2D138%2D339%5E13%2D138%2D339%2DTS%2C13%2D157%2D236%5E13%2D157%2D236%2DTS%2C13%2D135%2D288%5E13%2D135%2D288%2DTS

Because of budget I suggest the ECS mobo which is a cheap $30 after MIR. That puts your upgrade to about $180.

I would not try to upgrade from this platform to an i5 2500K because of its limitations. For a properly built 2500K rig you need to spend $220 for the CPU & $120 for a mobo (P67 or Z68). You will probably want a NEW PSU, faster RAM and a new GPU.

You would be better off with upgrading the GPU on the i3 2100 and have a decent (but not great) gaming system that can handle most modern games at acceptible fps.

And when you are ready for an upgrade (i.e. have the cash) do a new build with a new case and all and sell the old rig.

That's my 2 cents.

UGH!! I want the ECS cause it matches my theme black/white but i want the asus cause of the uefi Though the ECS is a bit of a better deal

 

[Guest]

yeah thats why i said or ivybridge equivalent or i think i did

don't worry what the troll says.
some of us like to feed him for entertainment value, like throwing peanuts to the monkeys when at the zoo

 

[8bitloser]

Ill probably get a 2120 considering its like what 3$ more yet a tad bit faster clock

 

[sarinaide]

It is difficult to find a sub $100 dollar motherboard that supports future processors and has enthusiast overclock features, I can think of Biostar and ECS that may be a consideration, but if you want a i5 k chip on sandy or ivy, there is little point in cheaping out on a motherboard. For around the $120 you can get a Asrock Z68. If you are not serious about overclocking and benchmarking rather save cash get a 2400 with the best performing mobo at a lower price point, putting the money towards a GPU where more gains are seen.

 

[8bitloser]

Also does the h61 have any oc ability's? Yeah i know you cant do anything good with the 2100 but like a 200mhz oc or something like that. But If i have to use it for a bit with a 2500k Id like to be able to do a little

 

[8bitloser]

It is difficult to find a sub $100 dollar motherboard that supports future processors and has enthusiast overclock features, I can think of Biostar and ECS that may be a consideration, but if you want a i5 k chip on sandy or ivy, there is little point in cheaping out on a motherboard. For around the $120 you can get a Asrock Z68. If you are not serious about overclocking and benchmarking rather save cash get a 2400 with the best performing mobo at a lower price point, putting the money towards a GPU where more gains are seen.

I overclocked my current cpu just to teach my self how and its from 2.6GHz to 3.2GHz i cant go higher do to my cheap ass motherboard not allowing me to adjust the VCore but yeah i like OCing so i would but im not looking for a 2500k right now thats later down the line when i can get a job, when i can i wont cheap out, i just dont have an option not to at this point :/

 

[8bitloser]

LMFAO As i pressed enter and read over my post i bsod from the OC i was testing earlier! XD so im actually 3.1

 

[8bitloser]

I guess i thought this was obvious in my head but if its not im going for a gaming pc. And i know i cant max out AA and everything else but also unlike what alot of people seem to think my celeron e3400 at 3.1GHz and my xfx HD6770 Core at 900Mhz mem at 1300MHz and i play skyrim on high preset besides the AA cause i get weird blocks that see through stuff and get 30FPS wheres theres like 20 people around and a dragon otherwise i get 60-45 so what i have isnt as bad as people seem to assume

 

[sarinaide]

From the H61 boards I have tested, most are locked in terms of voltage adjustments, I would not overclock on one.

I would wait for IB and then make a decision rather than a panic buy.

 

[Guest]

I guess i thought this was obvious in my head but if its not im going for a gaming pc. And i know i cant max out AA and everything else but also unlike what alot of people seem to think my celeron e3400 at 3.1GHz and my xfx HD6770 Core at 900Mhz mem at 1300MHz and i play skyrim on high preset besides the AA cause i get weird blocks that see through stuff and get 30FPS wheres theres like 20 people around and a dragon otherwise i get 60-45 so what i have isnt as bad as people seem to assume

glad you mention skyrim. here is a bench with "entry level" cpus with a hd 7970:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-3.html
as you can see there is relatively little difference between a i3 2100 and a pentium G630. so when it comes to a cpu to hold you over until you get a i5 2500k it really would be better to get a cheaper cpu and a Z68 motherboard so you can just drop the i5 on it and overclock it; whereas if you get a H/67/1 board you won't be able to overclock it.

 

[Inferno1217]

+1 for the ASRock Extreme 3 Gen 3 as you can go ivy bridge with it and sell the pentium cpu and not lose much money. I have this board and it really is very good.

 

[photonboy]

I guess i thought this was obvious in my head but if its not im going for a gaming pc. And i know i cant max out AA and everything else but also unlike what alot of people seem to think my celeron e3400 at 3.1GHz and my xfx HD6770 Core at 900Mhz mem at 1300MHz and i play skyrim on high preset besides the AA cause i get weird blocks that see through stuff and get 30FPS wheres theres like 20 people around and a dragon otherwise i get 60-45 so what i have isnt as bad as people seem to assume

To be clear, since you are keeping your graphics card then upgrading the CPU to an i5-2100 won't make a huge difference.

A new motherboard+2100+DDR3 RAM will be at least $250 which might give you 20% improvement in game with the same card.

Nor can you legally transfer Windows to a new motherboard unless it's the expensive FULL version.

*So what I'm saying is IMO you should wait and put your money aside, then get the i5-2500K or similar unlocked CPU (depending on how long you wait), motherboard and RAM etc.

Now you'll have a strong system capable of supporting a much better graphics card than the when you can support it. If I had to guess, and it's just an educated guess, some games might perform 20% with the i5-2100 and 40% better with the i5-2500K with the same HD6770.

SUMMARY:
My advice is choose one of the following:
1) wait and just buy the i5-2500K (or similar) + motherboard + DDR3 RAM, or
2) wait and buy the above + a better graphics card