New rig, X4 955 + gtx 570 or i5 2400 + Gtx 560

[JK599]

Hey everyone, I will be purchasing a new Gaming rig soon, and was wondering which pc would perform better between these two.
AMD X4 955 with a GTX 570 or
Intel i5 2400 with a GTX 560
Thanks for any help!

 

[jmsellars1]

The AMD build would probably be a little bit better right now on the majority of games but i would get the i5 to be honest. This is because both builds are going to max anything at 1920x1200 or less anyway so you might as well get the one that will be cheaper to upgrade.

 

[008Rohit]

The AMD one is a better combo. That'll play games slightly better than the i5 combo.

However, i5 is a newer and better processor, based on 32nm architecture, consumes less power and produces less heat. It can be overclocked all the way upto 4-4.5 Ghz with the stock cooler.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

i5. + 570.

There is only a $60 difference betwene teh 955 and i5-2400. You can make that up with cheaper cases, DDR3-1333 and an H61 mothrboard (you won't do doing RAID or overclocking, but that won't be missed)

 

[Outlander_04]

The AMD one is a better combo. That'll play games slightly better than the i5 combo.

However, i5 is a newer and better processor, based on 32nm architecture, consumes less power and produces less heat. It can be overclocked all the way upto 4-4.5 Ghz with the stock cooler.

No it cant . The 2400 has a locked multiplier and cant be overclocked [ much ]

The AMD is the better build , and esp if you get a 990 or 970 series motherboard

 

[metal orient]

Yeah i'd go with the 955 and GTX 570, on the basis that you get an AM3+ board.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

*sigh*

No one noticed that I suggested 'Why not BOTH the i5-2400 and a 570?

It CAN be done for the same price as an 955, real AM3+ board, and 570.

 

[metal orient]

I can't say i'd want to get an H61 board. They have so few features and connections.

From the boards i've looked at the H61 effectively blocks any improvements you can make without needing to replace the motherboard.
Very few have more than 2 RAM slots, none have more than 1 PCI-e (2.0 x16)slot, none have USB3, they have few audio outputs, few USB 2 ports (there are headers giving potentially more), the list could go on.

As an example:
An ASUS H61 board £70
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-p8h61-intel-h61-s-1155-ddr3-sata-ii-3gb-s-pcie-20-(x16)-micro-atx

An ASUS AM3+ £100
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-m5a99x-evo-amd-990x-am3plus-pci-e-20-(x16)-ddr3-2133(oc)-sata-6gb-s-sata-raid-atx

A £30 difference a small price to pay for the greater freedom and features.
(This conclusion may be different in the US and other countries)

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Metal: AS Rock has the H61M-iCafe, which has 2 USB 3.0 ports (and 1 more for a front panel on the board), 2 SATA 3 ports, and 4 RAM slots. it run about $80. the H61M.U3S3 is $75 and differs only by having just 2 RAM slots.

Single PCIe-x16 shots aren't horrid either.

H61M/U3S3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157236

 

[metal orient]

I hate the UK sometimes, so much less variety and more expensive.

Well that would give an $75 advantage over the cheapest 990FX board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514

But all but $5 of that would be lost by getting the i5 2400.

I just wouldn't want to short change my motherboard. However the best advice i think we can give for now, is wait until bulldozer which will be out in just under a month.

And yes single PCI-e x16 slots aren't horrid but i'd like to know i had the potential to SLI/XFire.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

With a 570? who would you *need* to SLI? By the time a 570 can't game on a single screen, SLIing a second 570 will be seen as inadequate. Do we recommend SLI'ing a 295 or crosfiring a 4870 anymore?

 

[jmsellars1]

ScrewySqrl has a point there. You can save money getting a non SLI board too.