Would the extra money be worth it between these two systems? (AMD vs. Intel)

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HulkSmash

Honorable
Mar 26, 2013
18
0
10,510
So these are the two builds I have:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NS7t
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NS7t/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NS7t/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H77MA-G43 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $647.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-02 02:26 EDT-0400)


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NRWh
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NRWh/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NRWh/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($92.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G46 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB Video Card ($143.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $511.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-02 02:26 EDT-0400)

would the extra ~150 be worth it as far as performance and graphics goes? Would I really see that big of a performance difference between these two builds?
 
Solution
DarkSable
If you can get the money, the intel build will be significantly better, and, in my opinion, worth the extra $100.

However, you can cut costs a little bit by getting a 550w power supply and dropping the optical drive to install windows from USB.

Aside from that, on either of those builds, you should be getting the 7870XT - it costs the same amount and is way more powerful.
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DarkSable

DarkSable

Judicious
Sep 27, 2012
8,890
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Well, yes and no.

In any game that uses 4 cores, the AMD is actually going to pull ahead. In any game that needs a few fast cores, the Intel has the distinct advantage.

If you could somehow squeeze out an i5-3350p, the intel would be MORE than worth it, but otherwise it comes down to the games you play.

That being said, take the AMD and upgrade to a 7870XT, and you've got an amazing build... The 7870xt is cheaper than the 7870 you've got listed there, but is faster than a 660ti.
 
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H

HulkSmash

Honorable
Mar 26, 2013
18
0
10,510


so do this if I can get the extra money?:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NSeJ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NSeJ/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NSeJ/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI H77MA-G43 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $728.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-02 02:53 EDT-0400)

or this with amd?:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NSkQ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NSkQ/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NSkQ/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($92.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G46 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.97 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $632.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-02 02:53 EDT-0400)
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

Judicious
Sep 27, 2012
8,890
1
34,965
If you can get the money, the intel build will be significantly better, and, in my opinion, worth the extra $100.

However, you can cut costs a little bit by getting a 550w power supply and dropping the optical drive to install windows from USB.

Aside from that, on either of those builds, you should be getting the 7870XT - it costs the same amount and is way more powerful.
 
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