Help with Amd and Intel options for new build

ddog · Jul 13, 2015

Hey folks, I need some assistance with deciding on a CPU for a new PC build. It is some what of a budget build. My budget for the CPU is <$300, ideally around the $250 range though. This machine will be used for regular day to day tasks, virtual box machines and gaming, which I would like to be able to max out current games. This system will most likely be paired with a 970GTX or R9 290x.

I am currently looking at the following options:

AMD
FX9590 ($260), FX9570 ($209), FX8530($167)

INTEL
I5-4690k ($236), Xeon E3-1241v3b($271.77)
(Note: I am AN AMD USER! haven't owned an intel since pentium 2!)

I am aware that the FX 9590 and 9570 are power hungry beasts that require water cooling which I don't really have a big issue with, but from all the benchmarks I saw online, the 4690k seems to have a bit of an edge over the AMD options currently, at least for gaming.

The 4690k seems to be the perfect option performance/ price wise at the moment however I am looking at building a machine that will last at least 4 - 5 years.Of course I don't expect it to be maxing out games 4-5 years from now.

Would it be a wise decision to consider the FX9590 (8 core) or the Xeon E3-1241v3b (4/8 threads) instead of the i5-4690k for future-proofing in case games & programs take advantage of 4+ cores in the near future?

utgotye · Jul 13, 2015

Go for the Xeon E3-1231 V3.

DHFF · Jul 13, 2015

I second Utgote, the E3-1231 is a good chip. I have the 1230 and its very nice. the i5 is also a very good chip. I have several servers running on them. Really the i5 is all you would need for Gaming and general use. the E3-1231 is probably a lot more then you need but its not much more then an i5 so I say go for it and give yourself room to grow. the only limitation is that you generally cant overclock the Xeon chips.

I was a fan of AMD for many years but the FX9000 series makes no damn sense at all. the damn things are nuclear reactors and need almost as much maintenance.
Now the FX8350 is a good chip, its hot but reasonable and you can overclock it to match an i5 and its cheaper.

hamzahfelix · Jul 13, 2015

Unfortunately AMD cpu has nothing that rival ANY of intel's i5 in terms of performance and value. The overall trouble (heat and power) and cost (cooler and mobo) of running an fx 9xxx is not worth it, and no overclocking of the fx 8xxx could get it to rival an i5 in gaming performance. There's also other i5 at attractive prices, -4460, -4590 to mention a few. Though they are locked, they would still beat any fx 8xxx.

Future-proofing does not exist. If you're thinking of getting a cpu that would be more relevant for a longer period of time, the xeon e3-1231v3 is an interesting option like utgotye suggested. It is essentially an i7 4770 without the integrated graphics. Hyperthreading would get you 4 extra threads, though the benefits for gaming is essentially non-existent at the moment. You could also get an i7-4790k as well, though you would have to cope with the extra cost of z97 mobo and a cooler for overclocking.

Pyre · Jul 13, 2015

GET THAT XEON E3.
For AMD chips I would say wait for next years CPUs.

ddog · Jul 13, 2015

Well I will definitely be going the Intel route. I was actually looking at the Xeon E3-1241v3b instead of the E3-1231 for the xeon option.

My option of intel board is the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 but unfortunately neither the Xeon E3-1241v3b nor the E3-1231 is not listed as a supported processor. The 1240 and 1245 v3 is listed as supported however, so maybe it can work. I will do some research into it but if it can't I will just get another board.

synphul · Jul 13, 2015

For gaming and most other tasks, the 4690k with a z series motherboard is a good option. The larger reason for the 4790k performing better is it's clocked 500mhz faster out of the box. Clock speed will always add to performance, hyper threading will add around 10-15% performance when/if it's able to be used. If looking to save money with a locked speed cpu, the i5 4590 is a good option. While the xeon 1231v3 is essentially a 4770 without the igpu and is priced better - it's also a $60 price premium over the 4590 for hyperthreading. An oc'd 4690k will give nearly the same clock speeds as an oc'd 4790k for 2/3 the price.

Unless you need to sli, or want m.2 support there's not much reason to get a z series motherboard for a xeon cpu. It's not that you generally can't overclock the xeon chips, you can't overclock xeon chips. They have a locked multiplier. The only way to 'overclock' a xeon is to raise the base clock and it's hardly worth the effort and system instability. An oc'd fx 8350 still won't reach the performance of an i5. By the time you factor the cost of capable motherboard, cpu and cooler the 4690k isn't much more expensive than the 8350 setup. The fx 8350 will cost slightly less and perform less, it's all relative.

DHFF · Jul 14, 2015

The 1241 and 1231 will work on the MSI gaming 5 but as Synphul mentioned, its rather pointless unless you were planning on upgrading to a an i7 later down the road and overclocking. if you have no intention of ever overclocking then just get an H97 board. If you were interested in the Gaming 5 for other features it possesses but have no need for overclocking then go ahead and get a 1231 and pop it in there. In my opinion you get better bang for the buck with a 1230 or 1231 then a 1241, I think the 1241 gives you maybe 100-200mhz extra clock, I would rather save the cash.

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Help with Amd and Intel options for new build

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