Best affordable CPU to pair with a GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB 128-bit GDDR5

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THINKorthogonal

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Jan 17, 2014
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I'm looking to build a quality (but affordable) desktop machine that will do SOME gaming but mostly be used for web browsing, HD video streaming, GIMP editing, video editing and MATLAB programming (the system will also utilize 2 monitors).

I believe I've found good deals on a PSU (650W), case (120mm and 200mm fans), DDR3 memory (8GB), HDD (1TB 7200RPM), SSD (250 GB), BR/DVD burner for approx $400 and now I am looking to finalize the CPU/MOBO and graphics decisions. I am looking to spend around $200-300 to get the CPU/MOBO/GPU but willing to go to a little higher if the decision makes sense.

I found an intel i5-4670/h87 combo for $300 but I can also get the GTX 650 Ti 1 GB for $100, so I was curious what CPU/MOBO you guys would suggest to pair with that card that would outperform the Intel. I am VERY open to AMD chips, but I also don't want to get into a situation with AMD that I need to drop another $100 on a cooler system (which brings me to the following question: does the FX 8320 require additional cooling?).

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!!
 
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THINKorthogonal

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What CPU/MOBO/GPU combo would you suggest for the tasks I listed? I don't need to have a world class machine, I just want a system that will cover those tasks and still be fairly affordable. I think the intel solution is probably the best way to go, but was just curious if there were some other CPU to pair with the graphics card that would be both affordable as well as provide adequate computing power. I think what I'm really trying to find out, is for the tasks listed, is it better to have an average CPU paired with a good graphics card or is the intel integrated solution good enough?
 
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THINKorthogonal

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Do you recommend the Xeon over the i5-4670 because of the multi-threading capability or is there another characteristic that you think is best for the tasks that I listed? I ask because I live near a microcenter and I've seen the i7 4770 on sale from time to time as well...would that be a better choice if it ever goes on sale below $250? As a side note, is the graphics card I listed a good one for tasks outside of gaming? Any better and cheaper alternatives you might have in mind (Im really looking to limit GPU costs to about $100...I'm not a huge gamer so ultra fast fps is really not an issue for me).

 
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rolli59

rolli59

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The GTX650Ti is a fine GPU for the money there are lesser cards but price for performance is probably higher but you could look at GT640 or just GTX650. The video editing and streaming surely will benefit from the hyper threading capabilities over the I5!
 
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THINKorthogonal

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I've been looking up info on your suggestion and I'm really glad you brought up the Xeon option...I never even considered it but it really seems like an excellent alternative. It looks like I can get it for about $200 at Microcenter and the MOBO you listed can be had for around $75. Much appreciation for the feedback! Never would have considered this setup otherwise! Are there any specific issues with RAM that I need to consider with this combo? If you had less than $100 to spend on graphics, and gaming was lowest priority on list compared to video streaming/editing and GIMP, what would your suggested graphics solution be?
 
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rolli59

rolli59

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No that setup runs on regular none ECC desktop ram. I have seen GT640 do well in professional apps but do not know how it compares in video streaming and/or editing, it is basically a entry level gaming card as well.
On the motherboard I just picked a board with 4 ram slots at a reasonable price from a respectable manufacturer there are other as suitable B75 or H77 boards that you may find cheaper at MC. The XEON is as well available as V3 version for Haswell LGA 1150 for little more but do not know what Microcenter offers.
 
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THINKorthogonal

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If price were the same (they essentially are based on the site I'm looking at), would you go with the 1150 or 1155 socket for the e3-1230 xeon? By the way, I also saw the Xeon E3 1270 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor for around $220...would that be an even more worthwhile option or should I stick with the 1230 version? It seems like a real bargain if it would be applicable to what I'm trying to build.
 
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rolli59

rolli59

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Basically there are 3 version of the E3 or 12xx which is Sandy Bridge 12xx ver2 which is Ivy Bridge about 7 % clock for clock performance improvement both lga 1155 and the newest 12xx ver3, again 7%, which is Haswell and lga1150. The only difference between the 1230 and 1270 is clock speed. Really it is all depending on the price you pay you will not notice the performance difference but will cut down editing time. Since I do not have access to Microcenter the online price for the 1230 ver2 like I linked is the best value for me and I have been considering it to replace a I5 2400 that I have in one of my computers.
 
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Avro Arrow

Avro Arrow

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Nothing you have listed there is very CPU-intensive. You're not going to find an AMD processor that will out-perform an i5 but for what you want, the FX-6300 will feel the same as the i5. I say this because from what I've read, gaming is probably the hardest thing that your computer will be doing. The FX-6300 coupled with the ASRock 990FX Extreme3 will do the job you want perfectly and for much less than an i5. If you want extra cooling, I use the Cooler Master Hyper 101. I used it on my Phenom II X4 965 and now on my FX-8350. It does a fantastic job, is quiet and only costs $20. I also added another 80mm fan to it since it has a bracket for one. The fan cost me all of $4.
FX-6300 - $120
ASRock 990FX Extreme3 - $110
Cooler Master Hyper 101 (AMD Version) - $20
80mm Fan - $3.29
 
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