What should I do? (all fanboyism aside plox)

[baber925]

Looking over my future PC parts, I realized that the i3 2120 and i5 2500k and similar in price to the Phenom II X6 1045T Processor (Six Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 3MB L2 Cache, 2.70GHz), fx-6100, fx-8100, and fx-4100.

Which should I get and with what mobo?
I'll probably get 8gb ram, windows 7 64-bit, and a 500GB HDD if that matters with the mobo decision. I probably wouldn't o.c, but if I did, I would OC the x6 to like 3.0 or 3.3

 

[rds1220]

Is this for gaming? If so I would go with the I5 2500k. Right now, for the money, it is the best performing CPU for gaming. I know you said you don't plan on overclocking but still the I5 can pretty easily hit 4.5 GHz when overclocked.

 

[mesab66]

Hi baber, just a quick answer......you have headed on over to toms cpu comparison table? For your projected needs this would be the ideal way to go - simply select the 'best' of these. 2500k is always a reported favourite then again your amd has 6 cores.....but we're down to more specific end useage with this answer.

 

[baber925]

Is this for gaming? If so I would go with the I5 2500k. Right now, for the money, it is the best performing CPU for gaming. I know you said you don't plan on overclocking but still the I5 can pretty easily hit 4.5 GHz when overclocked.

Well, the computer would be used for gaming while using other programs in the background. What would be the performance difference without the OC compared to the AMD's?

 

[baber925]

Hi baber, just a quick answer......you have headed on over to toms cpu comparison table? For your projected needs this would be the ideal way to go - simply select the 'best' of these. 2500k is always a reported favourite then again your amd has 6 cores.....but we're down to more specific end useage with this answer.

So which would you recommend?

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

but still the I5 can pretty easily hit 4.5 GHz when overclocked.

+1 4.5 on a 2500K is easy with a decent (read not stock) cooler.

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

So which would you recommend?

Unless you plan on editing a lot of video and other media, the 2500K or better yet, the 3570K, since you're building a new system, is the way to go.

 

[mesab66]

+1 on 2500k

 

[mesab66]

...or 3570...lol...sry

 

[rds1220]

Well, the computer would be used for gaming while using other programs in the background. What would be the performance difference without the OC compared to the AMD's?

Right now AMD really has nothing in performance to the I5 and I7. In most games the I5 or I7 are going to beat out a Bulldozer.

 

[-Fran-]

What would be the MoBos you picked out for the i5 and AMD setup respectively? Do they play a role in your decision?

The i5 2500K is a solid gaming CPU, but for that same price, you could get something better for Video and a MoBo in the AMD front. The 8120 is the best FX and the 1090/1100T is the best Phenom II AMD has to offer right now and should be priced within range from each other and lower than the i5. You could list your budget and put up some prices for the components you have at hand. If you're from the USA, newegg should be a good place to look for.

If it's a big enough difference in money, then it might be justified the AMD platform, otherwise, the i5 is the better all rounder CPU, IMO.

Cheers!

EDIT: If you can find a Phenom II 965/970 or 960T, they're also good gaming CPUs cause they're very cheap these days if you can find one.

 

[baber925]

What would be the MoBos you picked out for the i5 and AMD setup respectively? Do they play a role in your decision?

The i5 2500K is a solid gaming CPU, but for that same price, you could get something better for Video and a MoBo in the AMD front. The 8120 is the best FX and the 1090/1100T is the best Phenom II AMD has to offer right now and should be priced within range from each other and lower than the i5. You could list your budget and put up some prices for the components you have at hand. If you're from the USA, newegg should be a good place to look for.

If it's a big enough difference in money, then it might be justified the AMD platform, otherwise, the i5 is the better all rounder CPU, IMO.

Cheers!

EDIT: If you can find a Phenom II 965/970 or 960T, they're also good gaming CPUs cause they're very cheap these days if you can find one.

My budget is 600 - 700 as of now, but it may change in the future. http://pcpartpicker.com/user/pokemonmasterbab/saved/

I didn't pick out a mobo yet, what would you recommend?

EDIT: for the AMD

 

[-Fran-]

My budget is 600 - 700 as of now, but it may change in the future. http://pcpartpicker.com/user/pokemonmasterbab/saved/

I didn't pick out a mobo yet, what would you recommend?

EDIT: for the AMD

Well, I did some time in the page (quite useful, BTW) and came up with this build:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8jyy

For around the same price, you get a 22" 1920x1080 2ms Monitor instead of the 19" 1440x900 5ms you were planning and DDR3-1600.

The 6870 can deliver good frame rates in 1080p, so you'll be good.

Cheers!

 

[Deleted member 217926]

The 2500K is faster across the board in almost every single benchmark. Stock 2500K vs stock Phenom II X6 1100T BE picked but feel free to choose your own CPU comparison.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/288?vs=203

The 2500K will overclock to ~4.5Ghz very easily with a $30 aftermarket cooler. All the Phenom chips will hit ~4Ghz with the same cooling. Bulldozer ( AMD FX ) chips will hit ~4.5Ghz+ but are even slower clock for clock than Phenom II in most situations.

 

[Raidur]

Go Ivy Bridge if you aren't overclocking.

Really no reason to go AMD if your budget is high enough for Intel, especially for gaming.

 

[-Fran-]

Wow, you guys... So he should sacrifice RAM amount, MoBo quality and Monitor size for the i5 2500K?

Are guys really that biased towards CPU performance alone?

Cheers!

 

[baber925]

Well, I did some time in the page (quite useful, BTW) and came up with this build:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8jyy

For around the same price, you get a 22" 1920x1080 2ms Monitor instead of the 19" 1440x900 5ms you were planning and DDR3-1600.

The 6870 can deliver good frame rates in 1080p, so you'll be good.

Cheers!

Thank you very much for the help!

 

[baber925]

Best answer selected by baber925.

 

[-Fran-]

Thank you very much for the help!

No problem, my friend.

I'd really encourage you to get an after market cooler and OC the Phenom though. You don't need to break records and get such an expensive HSF (heat sink fan) for the 965. It can reach 3.7-3.8Ghz with no volts increase at all.

If you need help in that regard, the OC section of the forums is full of expert tweakers 8)

Cheers!