Considering building a new tower, help?

[Coh3n]

lolno. The Intel Core Quad line up is last generation.

And second, that website uses a synthetic benchmark, which means what is shown there is not going to relate to the real world.

Intel really doesn't have anything interesting around the 160$ mark. But to give you a comparison of REAL WORLD benchmarks.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/109?vs=147

We have two similar priced CPU's from Intel and AMD, and we have some interesting results. Knowing what type of programs you run is VERY important for making a CPU purchase. As we can see from the results, the i5 750 beats the 1055T in almost zero of the programs that use multiple cores (Video rendering, synthetic benchmarks that use multiple cores, raytracing) but then we go down into stuff that relies heavily on one or two powerful cores and the i5 750 smashes the 1055T. There isn't any game where the 1055T performs better.

AMD and Intel are not competing directly. AMD cannot beat Intel at their own game. Intel has superior clock vs clock speeds when comparing similar generation CPU's. AMD realized this and has decided that instead of competing against Intel at having faster CPU's at similar clock speeds, they started building CPU's with more cores at similar prices. AMD is targeting a entirely different consumer than Intel is at this point.

For the average person who uses the internet, reads email, word processes and does gaming, you will not have ANY advantage to using a AMD cpu until games start utilizing 4/6/8 cores.

Ask yourself this, am I a hobbyist director? Do I do graphics on a consistent basis? Do I work in a environment which requires virtualization? Well then you should probably buy AMD, since they have the most cores per $.

I honestly do not even think there is a reason to buy a CPU in the 160$ range. AMD just doesn't compete* at that price range compared to lower priced Intel and once you hit 200$ your best off buying a i5 750 for gaming. Which is what OP should have gotten when he said his budget was 1k, but then he decided he didn't want to spend that much.

*for gaming

I hear what you're saying, and the be quite honest, I've done a little bit of everything: gaming, video editing/graphics, internet, programming and probably others. Do I know what my main focus will be in a couple years, no, but what IF some games next year decide to use 4/6/8 cores? I don't want to have to replace what I have.

Honestly, I think I would be just fine with whichever CPU I chose, I just decided to go with the AMD.

[Frement]

Well, if they are going to be multi-core, then 4 will be just fine.

[Coh3n]

Well, if they are going to be multi-core, then 4 will be just fine.

Let's hope, cause I just ordered all the parts.

[Capricorn]

Lol ... I had thought you bought a OEM X4 940 CPU, and I gave up on you. Then I guess you changed the link and bought the 620. Really, you should have just bought the 555 BE.

Whatever though man, enjoy the new computer.

[3Garrett3]

I still think the i5 would have been better, it's not like it will be obsolete in 2 years, it's pretty top of the line (in a budget) right now..

[Coh3n]

Lol ... I had thought you bought a OEM X4 940 CPU, and I gave up on you. Then I guess you changed the link and bought the 620. Really, you should have just bought the 555 BE.

Whatever though man, enjoy the new computer.

Thanks.

I still think the i5 would have been better, it's not like it will be obsolete in 2 years, it's pretty top of the line (in a budget) right now..

Is the i5 not the more expensive one?

[3Garrett3]

The i5 is more expensive than the i3, as the i7 is more expensive than the i5.

[noidea]

The i5 is more expensive than the i3, as the i7 is more expensive than the i5.

Keep in mind that there are many version of the i7.
500USD, 1000USD, etc
4 core, 6 core.

[3Garrett3]

Keep in mind that there are many version of the i7.
500USD, 1000USD, etc
4 core, 6 core.

Yes, but the i7 was out of the picture as an affordable option. :P

[Capricorn]

Yes, but the i7 was out of the picture as an affordable option. :P

Probably could have afforded the i7, BUT the thing is the i5 750 performs better than the i7 920 in gaming. So there was really never a point in buying a i7 920.

i3 530 = 120$
i5 750 = 200$
i7 920 = 300$