Phenom II X4 965 Or Intel Core i5 2500k

[silicagel]

I am trying to build a budget gaming computer and I don't know what CPU I should get. I have been looking at the phenom because it is cheaper but I have heard that the i5 was much better. I plan on running higher end games.
Also if it matters the video card I am running is an AMD Radeon HD 6870.

Thanks

 

[jimmysmitty]

Yea the 2500K is a huge step up from a Phenom II. If you want the system to last, go for the i5.

 

[silicagel]

Yea the 2500K is a huge step up from a Phenom II. If you want the system to last, go for the i5.

Okay thanks, but would I be fine going with the 2300k? or the 2400k etc. ?

 

[jimmysmitty]

There is no 2300K or 2400K, just a 2300 or 2400. And for gaming, yes. But if you want to overclock then you want to go with the 2500K.

 

[Haserath]

You should spend the extra money and definitely get the i7 2500k along with a cheap aftermarket heatsink. Just an average overclock on the 2500k could yield 30-40% more performance, since you could easily get to 4.5ghz from 3.3ghz.

The 2500k is also about 40% faster than the Phenom II clock for clock, and the PHII can only reach about 4ghz with a cheap aftermarket, so the performance is definitely better.

You will only have to upgrade the graphics card for future games(it works well right now), the i5 will last for quite a long time at the rate things are going.

 

[bmw ownage]

i5 2500k and if you are wanting a cheap aftermarket cpu cooler the hyper 212+ is really good for the price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065