What is a better build ?

[Username101216]

Which build is better:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Pro3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Value 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card
Case: Antec Three Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer
Total: $441.07

or

CPU: Intel Pentium G2120 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor
Motherboard: Foxconn H77MXV-D Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill NS Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7790 1GB Video Card
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 350W ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer
Total: $428.41

 

[HiTechObsessed]

What is the purpose of this computer?

 

[Username101216]

What is the purpose of this computer?

Casual gaming.

 

[HiTechObsessed]

For casual gaming, the 7790 with the Pentium would probably be better. The Pentium will have much better single thread performance, and most casual games only utilize a single thread, maybe 2. Overall though, you probably won't see much difference between the two.

 

[Guest]

agree with hitechobsessed

 

[AnEwG]

What are the games you will be playing?

 

[Username101216]

For casual gaming, the 7790 with the Pentium would probably be better. The Pentium will have much better single thread performance, and most casual games only utilize a single thread, maybe 2. Overall though, you probably won't see much difference between the two.

What are the games you will be playing?

I was wondering what could I upgrade in the future from this build?

 

[Guest]

processor...3570k

 

[AnEwG]

There is not much of an upgrade path for the Phenom rig. The Intel rig has a better upgrade path assuming by the time you decide on upgrading there will still be IB pieces available at reasonable prices. You still haven't answered my question though.

 

[Username101216]

What are the games you will be playing?

Generally FPS games free and paid but I'll play some MMORPG or MOBA. (Warframe, Warface, CoD, Battlefield 3 & 4, Skyrim, LoL, etc..)

 

[AnEwG]

A dual core will bottleneck the performance in most gaming scenarios except in a few select situations when single threaded grunt matters more like Warframe for example. Just take a look at any modern game engine frame time latency when running on the Pentium G. Stronger single threaded performance doesn't mean a better gaming experience overall. But since the Intel rig has a far superior upgrade path I would say it is an easy choice over the Phenom II. Just try to upgrade to an i5 as soon as you can.

 

[HiTechObsessed]

The Phenom is on the AM3+ and can upgrade to the 8350, pretty good upgrade path as well.

Games just started taking advantage of four cores. But you're right, I assume casual gaming to be like The Sims or something lol Games like the ones he listed above would definitely benefit from the Phenom over the Pentium in this case.

Knowing this, I would actually change my recommendation to the Phenom + 7770 rig. This can be updgraded to something like the 6300 for a lot cheaper in the future, or to the 8320/8350 for still cheaper.

 

[Username101216]

OK guys thank you for your suggestion I'll go for the AMD build then.

 

[AnEwG]

I am sorry for answering late, I just wanted to say that the AM3+ Asrock motherboard is probably 4+2 phases board so it probably won't work well with a higher TDP processors like the 8320/8350.