Intel advice for AMD user

[Lincx]

Hi!
Im long time AMD user... All my previous PCs were AMD...
I almost ordered AMD FX-4170 with Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 Friday..
BUT 95% reviews on internet suggest building PC on Intel platform...
So i really start to thinking about Intel i5 2500k or something like that...
From what i read Z77 are good boards...
I found this MSI Z77A-GD55... Seems like good board in my price range...
So what you all think about it? Is it good? If no, than what else is worth looking?
Also about CPU.... Is it worth spending money on i5 2500k???
Or could you please recommend better CPU in similar price range???
_
And last thing... Those Z77 boards support fast RAMs but i5 2500k seems to support only 1333Mhz RAM... I read somewhere that you can still use 1600Mhz and 1866Mhz RAMs if board supports that! Is that true?
Would you recommend 1333, 1600 or 1866Mhz RAM for that i5??

Thank you!
I really need advice on all this intel thing...

P.S. Forgot to add that PC will be only for gaming (mostly GTA4 (gta5 when it comes out).

 

[arzbhatia]

The i5 2500K is an AMAZING processor! But the motherboard you specified is great, but you can get something MUCH better at that price range - Something Like the Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H.

Better than the 2500K is the 3570K (Which is the BEST Z77 processor after the 3770K imo) and is just 10$ more than the 2500K.

A 1600Mhz RAM is the best. No need to spend more for 1866 or less for 1333. 1600 is the best.

So finally -

Intel i5 3570K (Best processor for gaming)
Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H
G.Skill RipJaws X 1600Mhz RAM 8GB (4GBx2)

 

[geofelt]

At any price point, you will find that Intel is as good as it gets for gaming, compared to AMD today.
Read this article:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106.html

The 2500K is about as good as it gets for gaming. The 3570K is the best but not significantly better for the price.
Last I checked, Microcenter will sell you a 2500K for $170, and a 3570K for $190 if you can walk in.

Any Z77 motherboard will do. There is very little in extra features that would appeal to the normal gamer.
Pick your favorite brand, they are all good.

Unlike AMD, Intel cpu power is not impacted by ram speed.
The current Intel cpu's have an excellent integrated ram controller. It is able to keep the cpu fed with data from any speed ram.

The difference in real application performance or FPS between the fastest and slowest ram is on the order of 1-3%.

Synthetic benchmark differences will be impressive, but are largely irrelevant in the real world.

Fancy heat spreaders are mostly marketing too.

In fact tall heat spreaders are a negative because they can impact some cpu coolers.
Only if you are seeking record level overclocks should you consider faster ram or better latencies.

Read this Anandtech article on memory scaling:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3/1
---------------bottom line------------

DDR3 1600 is the sweet spot considering the marginal cost delta over 1333.

 

[Lincx]

Thanks a lot guys!