i3, i5, or i7

[Vimichii]

So, I'm looking at gaming computers. The problem is, I'm not to sure what the difference between the processors are. I don't want something that is going to be lagging all of the time. I would be running games such as Battlefield 3, Starcraft, LoL, WoW, etc.

Suggestions?

I have a price range that tops off at 1.5k.

[trezoid]

None of those games are particularly CPU limited, but an i5 is probably your best bet at that budget.

[CoreOmni]

$1,500?

Personally, I bought mine at Best Buy for a sale they had, if I recall correctly.

It costed me under $1500, it is a Intel Core i7, with 8 GB of RAM.

It can play most of the latest games (including BF3) at high settings (maybe not max).

But, it is certainly possibly to get a powerful i7 for under that price tag. Just watch for sales.

Best of luck to you.

[trezoid]

CoreOmni

$1,500?

Personally, I bought mine at Best Buy for a sale they had, if I recall correctly.

It costed me under $1500, it is a Intel Core i7, with 8 GB of RAM.

It can play most of the latest games (including BF3) at high settings (maybe not max).

But, it is certainly possibly to get a powerful i7 for under that price tag. Just watch for sales.

Best of luck to you.

Maybe, just maybe, they're talking about buying JUST the CPU and building the computer themselves?

[Specialist Nathan]

Comparing the processors is fairly easy to do. In fact, I shouldn't bother, as I use AMD. But other people have already done the research for me:
http://lanoc.org/review/pc-hardware/5096-i3-vs-i5-vs-i7-sandy-bridge-comparison

If you want to get into building your own gaming machine, you can save a lot of money over buying a pre built machine from a store such as Best Buy.

Here is a very detailed guide on the subject so you can see if you're up to the task: http://www.kitchentablecomputers.com/index.php

If you'd like to get an idea of where to shop, try:
www.newegg.com
www.tigerdirect.com
www.amazon.com

[Saymos]

iCapnLexLex

So, I'm looking at gaming computers. The problem is, I'm not to sure what the difference between the processors are. I don't want something that is going to be lagging all of the time. I would be running games such as Battlefield 3, Starcraft, LoL, WoW, etc.

Suggestions?

I have a price range that tops off at 1.5k.

If it's gaming you're concerned with (And I think it is), I'd build the system around the GPU rather than the CPU wink

[Aven Donn]

Your budget for the rig is $1500?! You can get a top tier rig for that kind of money, easy.

However, for $1250~, you can get a rig like mine.

Now, you're going to want to build the computer custom order. Not buy a pre built. That'll not only save you money, but ensure you're getting good components. Here's what I have:

CPU: 2500k i5 Box (Not Tray. If you get Tray, get a cheap CPU cooler from CoolerMaster, Noctua or Zalman)
GPU: GTX 560 Ti (From GIGABYTE, Factory OC)
Mobo: GA-Z68MA-D2H Rev 1.3
PSU: SeaSonic SII 80+ Bronze 620W
Case: HAF 922
HDD: WD Caviar Black 500GB
OS: Win 7 Professional (I got Pro instead of the Home Premium I ordered, you should buy Home Premium, it's cheaper and has all the features you'll need. I got Pro because of a fluke and they let me keep it instead of making me wait for another delivery)
RAM: 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP kit.

Now, for your budget? You can stretch to a nice GTX 570 and an i7 2700k. I didn't do the math, but it seems feasible.

[LiquidGlitch]

You guysss
AMD FX 8120 (even battlefield 3 won't use 8 on max, it uses at MOST 20%)
GTX 570
Gigabyte 990FX
16GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz
2x SSD 60GB (one OS, one games)
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar
Pick your own case
1000W Silver 80+ PSU (doesn't matter brand, don't skimp it though)
That's 900ish if you buy from newegg. You could get watercooling, and a 240GB SSD and be under budget still.

[Aven Donn]

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

You guysss
AMD FX 8120 (even battlefield 3 won't use 8 on max, it uses at MOST 20%)
GTX 570
Gigabyte 990FX
16GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz
2x SSD 60GB (one OS, one games)
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar
Pick your own case
1000W Silver 80+ PSU (doesn't matter brand, don't skimp it though)
That's 900ish if you buy from newegg. You could get watercooling, and a 240GB SSD and be under budget still.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that would total at around $900.

[LiquidGlitch]

Aven Donn

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

You guysss
AMD FX 8120 (even battlefield 3 won't use 8 on max, it uses at MOST 20%)
GTX 570
Gigabyte 990FX
16GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz
2x SSD 60GB (one OS, one games)
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar
Pick your own case
1000W Silver 80+ PSU (doesn't matter brand, don't skimp it though)
That's 900ish if you buy from newegg. You could get watercooling, and a 240GB SSD and be under budget still.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that would total at around $900.

FX 8120- 169.99
GTX 570- 229.99
16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz- 99.99
2x SSD 60GB- 199.99
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar-109.99
1000W PSU- 120.00
All prices from microcenter
Total Price: 929.29
Not 900, a little over. Still sexy af

[LiquidGlitch]

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

Aven Donn

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

You guysss
AMD FX 8120 (even battlefield 3 won't use 8 on max, it uses at MOST 20%)
GTX 570
Gigabyte 990FX
16GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz
2x SSD 60GB (one OS, one games)
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar
Pick your own case
1000W Silver 80+ PSU (doesn't matter brand, don't skimp it though)
That's 900ish if you buy from newegg. You could get watercooling, and a 240GB SSD and be under budget still.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that would total at around $900.

FX 8120- 189.99
GTX 570- 229.99 (refurb)
16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz- 99.99
2x SSD 60GB- 199.99
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar-109.99
1000W PSU- 120.00
All prices from microcenter
Total Price: 949.29
Not 900, a little over. Still sexy af

[29582351c3]

I link this in almost every "What should I buy" thread.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af150/The_FalconO6/CurrentLogicalPCBuyingGuide/Guide.png

For $1500 check the "Exceptional" row. It suggests an i5 2500K or i7 2600K and a HD6970 or HD6870 x2. If you don't have a screen, keyboard, and all that jazz, pick the "Outstanding" row. Which suggests an I5 2500K and HD 6970.

[Aven Donn]

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

Aven Donn

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

You guysss
AMD FX 8120 (even battlefield 3 won't use 8 on max, it uses at MOST 20%)
GTX 570
Gigabyte 990FX
16GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz
2x SSD 60GB (one OS, one games)
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar
Pick your own case
1000W Silver 80+ PSU (doesn't matter brand, don't skimp it though)
That's 900ish if you buy from newegg. You could get watercooling, and a 240GB SSD and be under budget still.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that would total at around $900.

FX 8120- 169.99
GTX 570- 229.99
16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz- 99.99
2x SSD 60GB- 199.99
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar-109.99
1000W PSU- 120.00
All prices from microcenter
Total Price: 929.29
Not 900, a little over. Still sexy af

I wont even bother checking the AMD CPU since I don't know jack s**t about AMD CPUs.

The GPU however, where the hell did you find it for $230 on Newegg? I'm finding it at $300. To get $230, you gotta scroll down and notice, out of stock. Oh and guess what. It's a REFURBISHED card.

The RAM checks out.

The SSDs seem to check out.

The Caviar Black is $150. Not $110.

That PSU seems HORRIBLY underpriced for such a wattage. It should easily cost double as much. And in fact, searching for SeaSonic, one of the most reliable brands, and 1000W, returns a $260 PSU.

So far we're at $1190 and... Notice we're missing a case? A good case like the HAF 922 costs around $90, so we're at $1280. How about a motherboard? Let's throw in a GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 like mine. $120 or so on Newegg. That's $1400. Hardly near $900. (The mobo is meant for 1155 sockets for Intel, but an equivalent for AMD should cost the same)

Now, I know a CPU befitting of such a card would be a 2600k or 2700k. The price of a 2600k is $325. A 2500k like mine is $220. So let's add $325 to our cost, instead of the CPU you presented. (Which is weaker from what I can tell and will just bottleneck that beast of a card)

We're at $1555. Remember, just because a CPU has more cores doesn't mean it's better. Especially if it's AMD you're talking about. And remember this as well. GHz means ALMOST JACK s**t when comparing different generations, ESPECIALLY different companies. And a higher GHz doesn't always mean better CPU. How come an i7 clocks at under 3Ghz yet would outperform my 3.3GHz i5?



Double check my math. Prove me wrong. Tell me if cheaper parts are better. Go ahead. Hell, I'll run the numbers by again.

$325 for CPU
$120 for motherboard, and that's cheap.
$260 for PSU
$100 for RAM
$200 for the SSDs (Why the hell waste so much money on SSDs?)
$150 for the 1.5TB Caviar Black
$300 for the GPU
$80 for the case

Total is $1535, which is $20 under my last calculation, so I might be mistaken. Go ahead, double check.

[LiquidGlitch]

Zb

Aven Donn

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

Aven Donn

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

You guysss
AMD FX 8120 (even battlefield 3 won't use 8 on max, it uses at MOST 20%)
GTX 570
Gigabyte 990FX
16GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz
2x SSD 60GB (one OS, one games)
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar
Pick your own case
1000W Silver 80+ PSU (doesn't matter brand, don't skimp it though)
That's 900ish if you buy from newegg. You could get watercooling, and a 240GB SSD and be under budget still.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that would total at around $900.

FX 8120- 169.99
GTX 570- 229.99
16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz- 99.99
2x SSD 60GB- 199.99
WD 1.5TB Black Caviar-109.99
1000W PSU- 120.00
All prices from microcenter
Total Price: 929.29
Not 900, a little over. Still sexy af

I wont even bother checking the AMD CPU since I don't know jack s**t about AMD CPUs.

The GPU however, where the hell did you find it for $230 on Newegg? I'm finding it at $300. To get $230, you gotta scroll down and notice, out of stock. Oh and guess what. It's a REFURBISHED card.

The RAM checks out.

The SSDs seem to check out.

The Caviar Black is $150. Not $110.

That PSU seems HORRIBLY underpriced for such a wattage. It should easily cost double as much. And in fact, searching for SeaSonic, one of the most reliable brands, and 1000W, returns a $260 PSU.

So far we're at $1190 and... Notice we're missing a case? A good case like the HAF 922 costs around $90, so we're at $1280. How about a motherboard? Let's throw in a GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 like mine. $120 or so on Newegg. That's $1400. Hardly near $900. (The mobo is meant for 1155 sockets for Intel, but an equivalent for AMD should cost the same)

Now, I know a CPU befitting of such a card would be a 2600k or 2700k. The price of a 2600k is $325. A 2500k like mine is $220. So let's add $325 to our cost, instead of the CPU you presented. (Which is weaker from what I can tell and will just bottleneck that beast of a card)

We're at $1555. Remember, just because a CPU has more cores doesn't mean it's better. Especially if it's AMD you're talking about. And remember this as well. GHz means ALMOST JACK s**t when comparing different generations, ESPECIALLY different companies. And a higher GHz doesn't always mean better CPU. How come an i7 clocks at under 3Ghz yet would outperform my 3.3GHz i5?



Double check my math. Prove me wrong. Tell me if cheaper parts are better. Go ahead. Hell, I'll run the numbers by again.

$325 for CPU
$120 for motherboard, and that's cheap.
$260 for PSU
$100 for RAM
$200 for the SSDs (Why the hell waste so much money on SSDs?)
$150 for the 1.5TB Caviar Black
$300 for the GPU
$80 for the case

Total is $1535, which is $20 under my last calculation, so I might be mistaken. Go ahead, double check.

woops forgot about the mobo. Nothing wrong with a refurb card, just don't OC it. And we all have opinions, just sharing mine. And thanks, im not new to the pc world, no need to be a d**k. An i7 at a lower clock would be faster than an i5 at a higher clock because i7s have hyperthreading while i5 only have turbo boost. An FX 8150 @4.8GHz shits all over a stock i7, but again, the i7 is at stock

[Minion4Hire]

X_Abide_by_Darkness_X

An i7 at a lower clock would be faster than an i5 at a higher clock because i7s have hyperthreading while i5 only have turbo boost. An FX 8150 @4.8GHz shits all over a stock i7, but again, the i7 is at stock

Hyperthreading only offers an advantage if the application in question supports multiple threads. The vast majority do not, certainly not upwards of 8 threads. Many games are only optimized for two cores. Developers cater to the lowest common denominator.

As for overclocking, Bulldozer at 4.8 GHz performs worse than an i5-2500 at stock when gaming, and only offers equivalent performance when video editing, a highly parallel task. The fact of the matter is that clock-for-clock Bulldozer is not impressive. Overclocking would only be beneficial to Bulldozer if it were capable of substantially higher clocks than Sandy Bridge, which it isn't. My 2700K runs 4.8 GHz smoothly.

An FX 8150 @ 4.8 GHz is overall (less than) equivalent to a Core i5-2500 @ 3.3 GHz.