Intel i3 540 or AMD Phenom II x4 955

[needmorepizza]

Hi all!

My son and I are trying to build our first computer.

I am trying to decide which CPU to buy for a gaming computer/home work computer (COD4, COD5, Bad Co, Civil 5). Other needs would be video editing and Microsoft Office.

I thought the AMD would cost less. However, New Egg has the 530 @ $114.99 and the x4 955 is $145.99

The bench marks I have seen show the i3 (even in games) doing pretty well against this AMD chip.

What am I missing?

Is there a motherboard that would help make a difference in both cost and performance?

-Thanks

 

[rolli59]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=118
Usually you can get AMD motherboards cheaper than LGA1156 feature for feature to make up the price difference.

 

[1000FPS]

Get the 955, its a brilliant chip, and yes, AMD motherboards are often cheaper. What sort of graphics card are you looking at for this computer?

 

[needmorepizza]

I have an older Nvidia 8500 GT. Later this year we would like to add a lower end Radeon 4650 or Radeon 4670.

 

[needmorepizza]

New Egg just posted this i3 540/Asus mobo combo for $184.98.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.586990

I do really like the 955 chip, but the best deal I see is $50.00 more:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.572742

 

[rolli59]

That I3 combo is good value.

 

[needmorepizza]

The board does not have 3.0 USB or SATA 6. No Cross Fire support either...hmm
I think my son might want to have these featues in the future.

 

[rolli59]

If your wants those features then this combo is a good foundation with the 955BE http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.581453 Crossfire support!

 

[Wisecracker]

PhII 955BE / Asus M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3: $223

The Giga-Byte GA-870A-UD3/PhII 955BE combo is another $10 if that is more to your liking.

Gaming will be most dependent upon your video card selection. Video transcoding will better use the Phenom cores.

 

[rolli59]

He wants Crossfire support!

 

[rolli59]

And

Two PCI-Express 2.0 16X?

What does that mean?

The Asrock board has two slots but the second slot is running at X4.

 

[needmorepizza]

I know the i3 540 combo is good value. But it lacks USB 3.0 and potential for Crossfire.

So I think I will go with the AMD 955 and the Gigabyte 880 mobo combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.572742


I am adding 3x2mb G Skill Ripjaws:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

and a Corsair 550 PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

with a Hec Blitz Mid ATX case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096

and HIS 4670 Radeon GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161315

 

[needmorepizza]

Best answer selected by needmorepizza.