CPU primarily for multi-tasking and art stuff. Games here and there

[xenobreak]

$500 budget. i know the i3 2120 (i think thats the new one) is the best for games at this price point. If the system is going to be used mostly for mutlitasking music, videos, photoshop, and other school related things, then would a 960T or other sinilarly priced CPU be better? Games will be played but its not the primary use for this PC.

If i had to call it something i guess it would be a Multimedia machine rather than a pure gamig machine.

 

[rolli59]

The 960T is a good option and can possibly unlock into X6 with luck on individual chip.

 

[esrever]

try a A8-3870k, very good for a low end budget and the gpu allows for very good video and image editing if the software supports it. It will also allow for a lot more gaming than an i3 or any other normal cpu without the need of a graphics card.

 

[hpdeskjet]

Here is a version of a build that esrever recommended.

AMD A8-3870K Unlocked Llano 3.0GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6550D AD3870WNGXBOX $144.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106001

Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1609DS1S00 $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

ASUS F1A75-M LE FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131769

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM $18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

You can save a few bucks by changing to this processor:

AMD A6-3650 Llano 2.6GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6530D AD3650WNGXBOX $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103943

Also didn't include Windows 7 64-bit, monitor, or any peripherals like (mouse+keyboard, wireless adapter, etc). Not sure if you have them or not.