I3 2100 vs 960T vs FX4100

[Lycan_89]

Hy there guys,


I'm going to build myself a new rig so I'll need your help with choosing from these 3 budget CPUs: i3 2100 or 960T or FX4100 😱 . My choice is limited to these 3 CPUs.


The target is a Diablo 3/DoTa 2/Darksiders 2/Warcraft 3 and some other old games mainstream gaming rig/internet browsing PC.

I don't really know how to OC but I will learn quickly if I feel the need to get some more juice out of those AMD CPUs. I know that the i3 CPU will not be able to get OCed.

I want my build to last for at least 5 years. I'm going to play ONLY the games mentioned above about 5-6 hrs a week (not really a gamer)

The display will be a BENQ 22" FullHD LED monitor.




The store is www.emag.ro and my build so far looks like this:

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/4433/123tov.jpg



PS: now I work and play on an ASUS notebok:

Intel Core i5 2430M 2.40GHz, 4GB DDR3 1333 MHz, WD 750GB SATA2 HDD, nVidia GeForce GT 520MX 1GB

 

[jessterman21]

I didn't realize that, guess after reading the entire thread it makes sense now. Only a troll could be so blindly inlove with AMD.

For real.

Also I love your quote.

 

[rds1220]

I didn't realize that, guess after reading the entire thread it makes sense now. Only a troll could be so blindly inlove with AMD.

I'm starting to think the same thing.

 

[tulx]

FX-4100 is garbage; don't even think twice about buying it.

Which is probably why Tom's recommends the FX-4100 as a mid-range gaming CPU for £85.

 

[kettu]

Im not sure why the architecture's age matters when the chip is still good.

My thoughts excactly. Especially since the adoption of new instruction sets takes time. Also FX and Phenom II both fit the same socket so the customer gets the most modern platform AMD has to offer. Which in my opinion is more important than the one generation difference between CPUs.

 

[rds1220]

Which is probably why Tom's recommends the FX-4100 as a mid-range gaming CPU for £85.

Pff that doesn't mean anything BTW it was honorable mention and they had to put it in there because the Phenoms are done and there is nothing else.

 

[sarinaide]

I fed the troll, don't be feeding the troll.

 

[noob2222]

Thats a shock, you think that a multi billion corporate monolith will get anywhere without being ruthless or underhanded, thats new to me. Did you expect them to be nice to everyone with party hats, balloons and champaigne, ITS BUSINESS and its SERIOUS. AMD had there chance when parading around their super chips when Intel had ponies, yet AMD neglected the main market namely business/office and home PC segment which is pretty much lost to them now, made worse by the fact they cannot get reasonable performance in comparison to their competitor, yet now they spend most of the resources in the GPU market, considering they did force ATI to sellout.

Intel software, I don't really know what you mean by that, intel motherboards will support written firmware but I don't recall intel making software. If you are refering to Microsoft, there is another cut throat multi billion dollar monolith. Is it microsofts fault for Bulldozer not working properly, at the end of the day it is just another excuse. Its a sad plight but I don't in anyway feel obligated to intel, amd, nvidia or ATI/AMD, I just buy whats best for my budget.

to your first point, AMD couldn't sell to dell, hp, compaq, gateway, etc because Intel paid to block AMD when they had the lead. damage done permanently, thats not something AMD could do anything about, they even tried to give hp free comptuer chips, when they said "we can't because Intel paid us not to" thats when they sued intel.

your second point what Intel software? Your calling me blind yet you can't look up the links provided.

http://game-on.intel.com/eng/games/default.aspx

From the earliest stages of development, Intel engineers worked closely with Ubisoft Montreal to make sure the Dunia engine could bring the game world fully to life by being multi-threaded. The result is the kind of game the Intel® Core™2 Extreme was made for. - Farcry 2

Ever notice how much better farcry 2 is on intel only chips?

Intel also owns Havok Physics Engine software, and they are pushing it hard getting it hard wired into as many games as they can.

http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/2007/20070914corp.htm

Ever notice that AMD was trying to work with Havok Physics engine then all of a sudden it died? Intel bought it out fron under AMD, and put a big DENIED stamp on the software.

Then there is the Starcraft 2, granted its blizzard's game, but intel definately had their hands open. Blizzard Entertainment Re-imagines StarCraft with Intel's Help

Like i said, no matter what AMD can't win against Intel in games that use Intel software.

As far as microsoft, it seems that MS would rather see AMD succeed, otherwise they wouldn't have introduced "bulldozer patches", or the "64 bit windows."

 

[Guest]

As far as microsoft, it seems that MS would rather see AMD succeed, otherwise they wouldn't have introduced "bulldozer patches", or the "64 bit windows."

Windows XP 64-Bit Edition (October 25, 2001) was designed to run on Intel Itanium family of microprocessors in their native IA-64 mode.
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (April 25, 2005) supports the x86-64 extension of the Intel IA-32 architecture. x86-64 is implemented by AMD as "AMD64"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_editions



btw, am i the only one who noticed the OP hasn't been seen for three days?

 

[noob2222]

Everyone has been biting on noob and gamer dude's (and a couple others') trolling. The trolls have gotten a good meal out of this thread.

What, you have nothing to say so you act like a school girl and try insults? Lol

Try thinking on your own instead of feeding off intel's nipple.

 

[jessterman21]

Yessssssss malmental is here to bring the hammer down.

 

[glazer1972]

For general purposes (email, web browsing, kids games like webkins etc.) should I spend the extra now for an I5-2500k or save $ and get an i3-2120. I know I would be future proofing and probably wasting a little money now. The 2500k cooler etc would add about $150.

I'd get a Gen 3 z68 board either way. Looking at ASUS p8z68-v Pro/gen3. Thinking of using integrated graphics till I need a new board.

Upgrading from a Abit Kv7-v, Athlon XP2900+ Socket A 😱 to let you know how long I've kept the old desktop.

Planning on reusing my old Antec Solo Case, Nexus Fans, 1tb Seagate 7200rpm 3 gb/s hdd, Corsair Hx520W PSU.

Since I have two BILs who are AMD Fans I had the 960T as the AMD alternative but I think you guys have put that to rest.

 

[kettu]

For general purposes (email, web browsing, kids games like webkins etc.) should I spend the extra now for an I5-2500k or save $ and get an i3-2120. I know I would be future proofing and probably wasting a little money now. The 2500k cooler etc would add about $150.

I'd get a Gen 3 z68 board either way. Looking at ASUS p8z68-v Pro/gen3. Thinking of using integrated graphics till I need a new board.

For that kind of usage I'd recommend AMD Llano A8-3850 over any Intel CPU. You'll get much better integrated GPU. It's also good enough CPU for almost any other game if you add a discrete graphics. Or if you prefer you could pay a little more and get the unlocked A8-3870k. If you buy a Llano you should pair it with fast memory for the IGP bandwidth. There is some pretty affordable 1800MHz memory out there.

Only caveat is that the socket FM1 is not getting new CPUs. The upcoming Trinity is going to be FM2 and not backwards compatible with FM1.

 

[glazer1972]

For that kind of usage I'd recommend AMD Llano A8-3850 over any Intel CPU. You'll get much better integrated GPU. It's also good enough CPU for almost any other game if you add a discrete graphics. Or if you prefer you could pay a little more and get the unlocked A8-3870k. If you buy a Llano you should pair it with fast memory for the IGP bandwidth. There is some pretty affordable 1800MHz memory out there.

Only caveat is that the socket FM1 is not getting new CPUs. The upcoming Trinity is going to be FM2 and not backwards compatible with FM1.

The socket situation is one reason I was looking at the 1155 socket Intel. I upgraded my old Socket A a couple of times and then I would have needed a new board so no upgrades in quite awhile. I'll take a look at the pricing on that combo just to be fair.

 

[Guest]

For general purposes (email, web browsing, kids games like webkins etc.) should I spend the extra now for an I5-2500k or save $ and get an i3-2120. I know I would be future proofing and probably wasting a little money now. The 2500k cooler etc would add about $150.

I'd get a Gen 3 z68 board either way. Looking at ASUS p8z68-v Pro/gen3. Thinking of using integrated graphics till I need a new board.

Upgrading from a Abit Kv7-v, Athlon XP2900+ Socket A 😱 to let you know how long I've kept the old desktop.

Planning on reusing my old Antec Solo Case, Nexus Fans, 1tb Seagate 7200rpm 3 gb/s hdd, Corsair Hx520W PSU.

Since I have two BILs who are AMD Fans I had the 960T as the AMD alternative but I think you guys have put that to rest.

i have the 2120 and love the sh*t outta it. i undervolted it so it draws only 5 watts idle.

putting that on an z68 board not just saves money for a 2500k and cooler if you need it later but for ivy bridge if they are better when released in april.

only not so great choice i made was hoping the H67s would get a bios release to support ivy like the z68 is getting now. i still have my fingers crossed. i just couldn't see having the funds to get an ssd while i have only one platter and need a video out to use quick sync for encoding; meaning no p67.

 

[Guest]

looniam - I have almost the same unit in-house that you just stated.
2100. 550Ti. H61.8GB.
love it.

we could start an i3mance here but that would be ghey.

 

[kettu]

no thanks and OP will be getting dedicated card in near future.
the only option would be to wait for Trinity and totally skipping Llano,
it's too late to start FM1 with it's lesser (not calling it poor) performance.

For the stated usage Llano is more than enough. No need for discrete graphics.

 

[Guest]

For the stated usage Llano is more than enough. No need for discrete graphics.

granted the igpu is 100% better than sandy bridge but even a 5570 would give him 200% increase.

but its behind in cpu tasks and wouldn't that limit his upgrades with a fm1 socket?

 

[kettu]

granted the igpu is 100% better than sandy bridge but even a 5570 would give him 200% increase.

but its behind in cpu tasks and wouldn't that limit his upgrades with a fm1 socket?

The CPU part is also more than good enough for the tasks that were mentioned. Like I said the only caveat is that FM1 is a deadend socket.

 

[kettu]

might be..
up to the OP but I like the alternatives better.

Fair enough. Llano would be my preference in this case but I agree that Intel + entry level discrete would also be acceptable.

 

[fjay]

All I want to say is that all the CPU's you mentioned will do what you are asking.

I have a FX-4100 (gasp!) and it runs EVERYTHING I throw at it, no crashes, and smooth at that (at max+ settings). (Skyrim, ME 2&3, DeusX, Dirt 3, Fallout). Desktop is very very fast and responsive (with Anti Virus), boot time is 14 sec.

yeah I bought into the hype before october, and purchased an AM3+ board...but nonetheless, it is a VERY capable PC. I am holding out on the hope for the 2nd and 3rd gen FX series. (Since AMD usually keeps the same socket for a long time)

ASUS M5A-97 EVO, FX-4100 (@4.5), 8 GB Corsair Ram (1600), XFX 6870 1GB, azza helios case, ASUS DVD, 750GB WD Black