Is 2 cores enough?

[khb]

So, I'm thinking about getting an i3-6320 with 2 cores, and 4 threads, with an RX 480. Is 2 cores/4 threads enough for games in 2016?

Also, if you could recommend a cpu with around the same price, with better performance, that would be great. (Maybe an i5?)

Thanks

 

[why_wolf]

I'd look into an i5-4670(k) used on ebay prices, are around the $150 mark, will be much better.

The i3-6320 is generally considered kind of pointless over the 6100 since you are still limited to a dual core. Usual advice is 6100 or spend more and go for an i5. The i3 is fine for a budget build just don't expect the moon from it.

 

[InvalidError]

For most games, 2C4T is going to be enough. It is only a few handfuls of high-end games that are beginning to show significant benefit from 4C4T or 4C8T under the most compute-intensive circumstances.

For about $40 more, you can get the i5-6500, a bit slower for single-threaded stuff but it should hold up better should heavily threaded games become more common in the future. Stepping up to the i5-6600 will cost you another $20/10% extra for ~7% more performance than the 6500.

It really depends on how much you are willing to spend for a given potential performance increase.

 

[CTurbo]

The i3 is stronger than most people give it credit for. That being said, if you're considering an i3, get the i3 6100. The 6320 is a terrible value.

Also, be smart with your motherboard purchase. Don't get an i3 with an expensive Z170 motherboard when you could get an i5 and a B150 or H170 motherboard for the same price.

 

[khb]

The i3 is stronger than most people give it credit for. That being said, if you're considering an i3, get the i3 6100. The 6320 is a terrible value.

Also, be smart with your motherboard purchase. Don't get an i3 with an expensive Z170 motherboard when you could get an i5 and a B150 or H170 motherboard for the same price.

Yeah I know. Thanks

 

[khb]

I'd look into an i5-4670(k) used on ebay prices, are around the $150 mark, will be much better.

The i3-6320 is generally considered kind of pointless over the 6100 since you are still limited to a dual core. Usual advice is 6100 or spend more and go for an i5. The i3 is fine for a budget build just don't expect the moon from it.

Do you think that an i5-6500 would be a good choice?

 

[InvalidError]

Do you think that an i5-6500 would be a good choice?

When I built my current PC, it boiled down to the following: do I pick an i3 and probably get the itch to upgrade to an i5 2-3 years down the road for a total cost in excess of $300 or do I get an i5-3470 up-front for $180 (about $60 extra at the time) and eliminate any need to upgrade the CPU within the rest of the PC's useful life?

I decided that spending $60 extra up-front was more logical than spending $120 on a throw-away CPU and another $180 for the CPU I should have gotten in the first place, so I went with the i5.

 

[khb]

Do you think that an i5-6500 would be a good choice?

When I built my current PC, it boiled down to the following: do I pick an i3 and probably get the itch to upgrade to an i5 2-3 years down the road for a total cost in excess of $300 or do I get an i5-3470 up-front for $180 (about $60 extra at the time) and eliminate any need to upgrade the CPU within the rest of the PC's useful life?

I decided that spending $60 extra up-front was more logical than spending $120 on a throw-away CPU and another $180 for the CPU I should have gotten in the first place, so I went with the i5.

Okay thanks a lot!