Need help choosing a decent processor (gaming, video editing...)

[Chancholoraq]

Hello,

I need help in deciding which processor I should purchase for my first build. I'm hoping to do some gaming (not extreme but with games like crysis, metro 2033, other relatively graphically demanding games) and some video editing (animation etc.) and I don't want the best system in the world and I am on a budget. I want to spend around $900 for the build and get a 16:9 monitor on sale so around $1000 total. I'm leaning towards AMD for price but with the many forums I've visited and reviews I've read, I'm contemplating on whether I should just resort to Intel.

For AMD, I was looking at processors like the FX-4170 because I thought the price was reasonable and that a quad core would be sufficient for my requirements. But after the reviews and results of the "Bulldozer" processors, I might just step back and go for the Phenom processors like the Phenom ii x4 965 BE or a six-core Phenom. But I'm still skeptical because I've heard (emphasis on heard) that i3 can even match up or exceed the overall performance of these processors. Mind you I won't be multitasking very much but being very straightforward with my activities. Thank you for anyone who can help and here is my build list:

GPU: HIS 6870 iceq
RAM: Ripjaws (2x4) 8 gb
PSU: 650 watt
Hard Drive: Hitachi 750 gb 7200 rpm
(Still deciding on a motherboard)

*and if AMD is truly not worth it, I'll lean towards intels i3 or i5 but for price I'm currently with AMD. Thanks

 

[amuffin]

i5-2500k.

 

[Chancholoraq]

I know that will be ideal but I still want to give AMD a chance. I'm not saying they're better (and an i5 would be better) but I feel I could go for less (power) and still be satisfied because I think I don't need that much. Is AMD that bad?

 

[e56imfg]

I know that will be ideal but I still want to give AMD a chance. I'm not saying they're better (and an i5 would be better) but I feel I could go for less (power) and still be satisfied because I think I don't need that much. Is AMD that bad?

No, it's just that Intel outperforms them.
The i3s and i5s are much faster than any AMD CPU, from the 955 to the 8150.

 

[amuffin]

If you do not feel you need that much power, the i3-2120 is perfect.

 

[Chancholoraq]

Ok, then will this processor still be enough to do video editing and things like that? and will my other components still be compatible?

 

[e56imfg]

Ok, then will this processor still be enough to do video editing and things like that? and will my other components still be compatible?

Rosewill CHALLENGER
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB
i3 2120

Remember Keplar is rumored to release Thursday while Ivy Bridge is releasing April 29th.

 

[melikepie]

No, it's just that Intel outperforms them.
The i3s and i5s are much faster than any AMD CPU, from the 955 to the 8150.

well it's not more then 20% faster maybe 10%-15%

 

[melikepie]

Rosewill CHALLENGER
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB
i3 2120

Remember Keplar is rumored to release Thursday while Ivy Bridge is releasing April 29th.

whats keplar?

 

[e56imfg]

whats keplar?

NVidia 6xx series

 

[Chancholoraq]

Is this an ideal set-up for the i3-2120 and is it in my budget range? either way thanks lots and what are you talking about at the bottom with Keplar and Ivy Bridge? are those upcoming processors from Intel?

 

[e56imfg]

Is this an ideal set-up for the i3-2120 and is it in my budget range? either way thanks lots and what are you talking about at the bottom with Keplar and Ivy Bridge? are those upcoming processors from Intel?

Yes, just add the GPU and a (optional) extra HDD for storage. Or you could re-use the HDD you currently have right now.

Keplar = NVidia's 6xx series GPUs
Ivy Bridge = New Intel CPU coming April 29th

 

[melikepie]

Is this an ideal set-up for the i3-2120 and is it in my budget range? either way thanks lots and what are you talking about at the bottom with Keplar and Ivy Bridge? are those upcoming processors from Intel?

someone said keplar was graphics cards from nvidia and ivy bridge is a new cpu from intel but it's might not be more then 15% change but most things will have maybe no change to 5% change in performance but not much i say get one of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115090 i3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103911 athlon ii x3
the athlon on some boards can be unlocked to a qaud core cpu but both of these have locked multiplyers so overclocking won't be the best but if you good enough at it you might be able to get them to 4.3GHz+