I3 550 + Hyper 212 EVO or i3 2120?

[axew]

Hello, i m building a new gaming PC. I m wondering what is a better buy from these two options:

i3 550 + CM Hyper 212 EVO
I3 2120 with Stock Cooler

Both options are about the same price. I m currently leaning toward the first option due the ability to overclock. If i3 550 is overclocked to 3.7 GHz+ it should outperform the i3 2120.

My other specs will probably be:

H55/H61 MSI Mobo
6770/GTX 550 Ti (both the same price and similar in performance, still undecided)
2X2 GB Patriot RAM
Cooler Master GX 450W 80plus PSU. I know, it is not the best brand but the only brands available in my country are Thermaltake, Chieftec, Cooler Master and LC Power, no Corsair, Seasonic, Antec, XFX, OCZ or other high quality brands.

 

[FtsArTek]

The 550 can't be overclocked, can it? I'd go for the 2120.

 

[clutchc]

I would recommend the i3-2120. It's a much faster gaming processor; http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html and http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-3.html ... especially if you upgrade to a faster card in the future.

The i3 runs so cool, the stock cooler will be more than enough. And you can always add an aftermarket cooler later.

Btw, if the board you spec'd is the board you plan on using... the i3-550 won't fit. The i3-550 is a LGA 1156 socket, the i3-2120 is a LGA 1155 socket.

 

[rds1220]

You're not really going to be able to overclock the I3, not like an Intel CPU with an unlocked multiplier like a 2500k or 2600k. With that I would go with the I3 2120 with the stock cooler unless heat turns out to be a problem. But from fooling around with I3's they pretty cool.

 

[esrever]

the I3 550 can be OC'ed but the 2120 is probably better since even after you OC the 550 it won't really beat the 2120 by much but will draw more power.

 

[rds1220]

Like I said it can be but not to the same scale as a "k' series processor that is compleatly unlocked.