i5 8400 + GTX 1060 3gb or i3 8100 + GTX 1060 6gb?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
R

raphael588ftw

Jul 5, 2018
4
0
10
I'm upgrading my computer and I'm thinking of going for an intel cpu and a Nvidia gpu again. An i5 8400 costs $175 and an i3 8100 costs $114. A 1060 3gb costs $262 and the 6gb costs $336 (The 3gb is the MSI GTX 1060 3GT and the 6gb is the Gigabyte 1060 WF OC) Which combination is better for the money and as much as possible for the future? I'm planning on playing 1080p 60fps but I don't know which is more worth it. If it helps, the games I will mostly play are PUBG, Hitman 2016, CS:GO, GTA V and probably more AAA titles in the future. Thanks
 
Solution
Roland Of Gilead


Well, yes and no. 3gb vram will suffice fine at 1080p 60hz. There are only one or two games that can dynamically use more vram at that res. COD WW2 being an example, along with Wolfenstein 2. But for the most part even games like BF1 (okay toned down a little bit on in game settings to maybe high), you still won't touch 3gb usage. With that said the games he mentioned the extra 3gb of vram on the 6gb card would really help. but I don't agree that it won't be sufficient in a years time.

On the CPU thing, well, I disagree. More and more often I'm...
Sort by date Sort by votes
Roland Of Gilead

Roland Of Gilead

Titan
Aug 8, 2008
10,276
2,237
77,690
at 1080p, there is nearly no difference between the 1060 3 and 6gb flavour. Also at 1080p not many games push over the 3gb vram limit, but some do. So that's a factor to consider.

By getting the 8400 you will be able to make up for the minor difference between the cards. For the purpose of the 'future' in this case id say take the 8400 and the 1060 3gb. The 8400 is a much better CPU. It makes up (in some ways) for having the 3gb card.

Also 4c/4t is min level now for AAA games. Having a 6 core 8400 will make things a lot smoother. The i3 will get maxed out in games like BF1 etc. So CPU power wins out for me, at the res your playing and with the 2 GPU's you've mentioned.
 
Upvote 2 Downvote
Rogue Leader

Rogue Leader

It's a trap!
Moderator
Dec 22, 2014
32,721
2,802
113,640
The 1060 3gb is not going to give you 60fps at 1080p in most games without turning down the details. The 6gb will in most cases at full or ultra detail. The i3-8100 is essentially the same as the prior gen i5-7600 which is still a good gaming CPU. Of course the i5-8400 is preferable, but for gaming right now You're better off with the better GPU. 2 extra cores is great but the 4c/4t 8100 is no slouch and should still last you quite a while. And those 2 cores aren't going to make up for that GPU deficiency at all.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Roland Of Gilead

Roland Of Gilead

Titan
Aug 8, 2008
10,276
2,237
77,690


Well, yes and no. 3gb vram will suffice fine at 1080p 60hz. There are only one or two games that can dynamically use more vram at that res. COD WW2 being an example, along with Wolfenstein 2. But for the most part even games like BF1 (okay toned down a little bit on in game settings to maybe high), you still won't touch 3gb usage. With that said the games he mentioned the extra 3gb of vram on the 6gb card would really help. but I don't agree that it won't be sufficient in a years time.

On the CPU thing, well, I disagree. More and more often I'm answering posts from people on why their kabylake gaming systems have stuttering while gaming, along with FPS drops. It's because of the CPU being 4c/4t. They max out. It's happening more and more with newer games as they take advantage of more cores/threads. So, where 2 years ago an I5 7400 was rocking games with CPU resources to spare, it's just not so now. It will only continue that way. When a 4c4/t CPU is listed as a min requirement then it's kinda obvious.

For normal tasks of course a 4c CPU will be fine, and plenty. But for gaming it's running into a wall soon enough.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
Rogue Leader

Rogue Leader

It's a trap!
Moderator
Dec 22, 2014
32,721
2,802
113,640


In the case of the 1060 the 3gb version is significantly crippled to the 6gb version. It should never even have been called a 1060, it is NOT capable of 1080p/60fps in most newer games without some graphic concessions. And you are incorrect about VRAM usage, games have been sucking down as much VRAM as they can for a few years now, and its been proven that larger amounts especially with todays upscaled textures can make a big difference in game performance.

As for the posts you mentioned, are we on the same forum? Because while I do see issues like that its often because people are trying to stream, or run 400 chrome tabs, or any other of a number of system problems. Also people often mistake things like screen tearing as stutter. Or they are running cheap slow monitors and wonder why everything is not smooth. Well if you're using a slow response rate 60hz monitor, that will happen. Or they do all their testing with a game like PUBG or Fortnite, both poorly optimized, and ONLINE and affected by connection. Then they play Battlefield or GTA V single player and its all smooth, hmm wonder why?!
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Roland Of Gilead

Roland Of Gilead

Titan
Aug 8, 2008
10,276
2,237
77,690


I don't agree. The difference generally between the 3gb and 6gb version at 1080p is anywhere between 5-10%, game dependant (which translates often enough to just 2-3 fps) At that res, the extra CPU horsepower certainly does make up the difference, not exactly the same but very close.. Once you go beyond 1080p, then absolutely I'd agree, the difference is much more noticeable.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Rogue Leader

Rogue Leader

It's a trap!
Moderator
Dec 22, 2014
32,721
2,802
113,640


I don't know where you get your numbers from but no its not 2-3 fps

https://www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/2604-gtx-1060-3gb-vs-6gb-benchmark-review/page-4

One of the games there has a 30FPS difference! Most are between 7 and 15fps. It has 128 less CUDA cores. And all the games in that test are older, its since gotten worse.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Barty1884

Barty1884

Retired Moderator
Apr 16, 2015
22,250
1,350
108,740
Prices for either GPU seem like they've been converted from another currency?

Too high for USD, too low for CAD or AUD....

As for the question at hand, I'd opt for the i3-8100 + 6GB 1060 personally, you're going to get better gaming performance from the stronger GPU (opposed to a stronger CPU). If you were looking to Game + Stream, I'd opt for the weaker card for the higher core count CPU.

Either way, you'd have a pretty pleasant gaming experience at 1080p, but the 6GB 1060 will let you push the in-game details up more.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
R

raphael588ftw

Jul 5, 2018
4
0
10


In the Philippines, it's the reason why I'm stuck between the two combos the mobos and ram are all good just the cpu and gpu combo left
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Rogue Leader

Rogue Leader

It's a trap!
Moderator
Dec 22, 2014
32,721
2,802
113,640


There is nothing I'd suggest in the same price range as the i3, As the i5 you have the Ryzen 5 2600, however in terms of gaming performance the i5 will beat it every time. Also it costs more. Around the same price is the Ryzen 5 1500x, but the i5 would beat that CPU even more. In your case you are better off with Intel, especially if your primary use is gaming.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
madmatt30

madmatt30

Titan
Ambassador
Jan 1, 2013
24,574
650
91,240
Tough call this one really.

I personally would still be inclined to go 8400 + 1060 3gb if absolutely necessary.

The reason being that I think that cpu will see you out for 5 years+ whereas the way things are going a quad core won't.

10-15% is the average fps drop from the 6gb to 3gb 1060, the odd title it's way more (20-25% on forza horizon 3 for example).

Thing is though, 3 years down the line both those gpu's are going to be looking old anyway.

You'll most mainly be able to do 60fps solid on the 3gb just not at max settings.

Between the 2 choices?

6 of 1 & half a dozen of the other (old English saying)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
F

fullauto2009

Commendable
Apr 16, 2016
33
0
1,540
The only answer in any regard, is to simply wait and save etc to get the 8400 and 1060 6gb.

In both cases, taking the lesser component is a big deal.

If you wanna save money, get the 8100 and 1060 3gb. Otherwise see above.

/thread
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R

RaGiN Z

Prominent
Jul 29, 2017
3
0
510
I agree with the i3 and the 6gb card. You can always upgrade the proc later for less money than replacing a video card. The 6gb will get you more game play in the future.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TheStig47

Commendable
Sep 6, 2016
51
0
1,660


I concur. The GTX 1060 6GB is the better card. If I were the OP I would pair the 6GB version with the i5 8400, NOT the 3GB. He can compare them side-by-side here: http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-1060-3GB-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1060-6GB/3646vs3639

I understand that his budget might be limited at the moment. BUT this moment is not the only one he has - he could take the time to save just a bit more to get the better card so he can have a better overall gaming experience on his upgraded computer.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom