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Need help on i3 2100 Gaming computer

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Approximate purchase date - BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY (Your thoughts) If the items below I list could be any cheaper. I don't care when I get it. Just cheapness for quality.

Budget range - None, trying to make a sweet i3 gaming computer that I wouldn't think of upgrading.

System usage from most to leash important - Gaming (LoL, Steam, SC2), videos, normal...

Parts not required - Mouse, keyboard

Preferred website for parts - Any

Country of Origin - USA

Parts preference - The ones below / Any that are in the same category.

Overclocking - Maybe (No clue ):) 

SLI or Crossfire - Maybe (^)

Monitor Resolution - Down to get a cheap LED 1080p 20'' monitor, or a sweet dual screen setup for < 200


_________________________________________________________________________________________

Processor : Intel Core i3 2100
Motherboard : ASRock H61M-U3S3
RAM : I don't know which one to get. Difference between 4 vs 8 when gaming.
GPU : GTX 560 NO ti
Storage : Don't need past 250 GB, so I don't know which one to get.
PSU : Antec Neo ECO 520W
Case : Antec Illusion case

Please suggest anything I could improve for cheaper. Or what you think I should really improve.

Last notes I don't want to get an i5, it's out of my price range, and it offers exactly as much as I want out of the i3.

Thanks!

More about : 2100 gaming computer

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Gaming Expert

No difference you will ever be able to tell moving from 4 to 8 gig of RAM for gaming . Just make sure its 1.5 volt .

Also consider a Phenom 955 quad core for gaming . It needs a little over clocking but then it handily beats the 2100 . Generally its a little cheaper too

Alright so I changed my preferred build. And I'm more of an Intel person. If there is a HUGE difference from the Phenom 955 Quad core vs i3 2100 I'll think about it.

$100

Processor - i3 2100 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

$70

Motherboard - ASRock h61m-U3S3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

$35

RAm - 2x2 gb's, 2x4gb's if I Can get a deal.

$140
GPU - Radeon 6870 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Storage - ---------

$45

PSU - 500W Cooler master http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

$30

Case - Xigmatek http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I NEED TO KNOW IF I SHOULD BUY THAT VIDEO CARD AND IF IT'LL RUN EVERYTHING UP TO STANDARD! The sale ends today for it being $140!

So far the build cost $385. It's missing a HD.

Should I buy anything different? Should I get a different motherboard?
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Is standard for you gaming at over 30 fps with medium settings? If so, you're probably for the next year or so with a single 6870. An i3 2100 aces the PII thanks to better architecture, even games that fully utilize quadcores the i3 yields more frames in.

For ten bucks more you can get 8gbs of G.Skill Sniper RAM, not sure if that's necessary though compared to your PSU. That's really where you don't want to cut on, if that goes in a week (and it probably will @ that price) it takes your system with it.

PSU--Antec 500w Continuous
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Really you want to spend at least 80+ bucks on a PSU, but this is the second best rated one on newegg, so...

As far as the motherboard goes, if you can afford it go for one of the higher tiered boards. If not, no loss because the i3 doesn't overclock anyhow. Also, might I recommend the G860 Pentium if you're on a budget? According to this site it ranks just below an i3 and is 20 bucks cheaper.

"Standard" games like Starcraft II, League of Legends, most steam games, on high settings. As of now I'm just playing low end games like that. In the future I might want to upgrade. So basically I want a game that can play those games fairly well, and if I need to, slap on another GPU and it'll be "upgraded".

Alright since I can get a match offer I can get everything at this price. PLEASE TELL ME IF IT'S A GOOD DEAL.

i3 2100 Processor $100
Asrock h61m-U3S3 $70
PowerColor Radeon 6870 $140
Antec 550W Continous PSU $50 after rebate
Xigmatek Asgard II $30
Cheap 4 gb or 8 gb duos $20

Without HD $410. My question is Would it be futureable for gaming? Would it work now for gaming very well?

i5 2500k Processor $180
Asrock h61m-U3S3 $70
PowerColor Radeon 6870 $140
Antec 550W Continous PSU $50 after rebate
Xigmatek Asgard II $30
Cheap 4 gb or 8 gb duos $20

Without HD $490. Same questions as above. And since I'm getting a powercolor radeon, can I crossfire with a sapphire 6870? What advantages do I have of having a i5 compared to i3?

Will everything fit correctly? Will it work well, while being able to upgrade?
Gaming Expert

You wouldn't combine an H61 mb with a 2500k .

H61 boards dont let you overclock so no point paying more for a processor thats unlocked so you can overclock .
Either move to a Z68 motherboard , or just get a i5 2400 or 2500 [ with no K]

The quadcore is a better cpu with a longer potential life .Many games benefit from more than two cores .

And contrary to earlier advice the i3 2100 is not a match for the phenom .
But the i3 does have some advantages .
But keep in mind that the power of your graphics card is more important than raw cpu speed for gaming . If you have to cut costs somewhere then make it on the processor , and buy a better graphics card

Outlander_04 said:
You wouldn't combine an H61 mb with a 2500k .

H61 boards dont let you overclock so no point paying more for a processor thats unlocked so you can overclock .
Either move to a Z68 motherboard , or just get a i5 2400 or 2500 [ with no K]

The quadcore is a better cpu with a longer potential life .Many games benefit from more than two cores .

And contrary to earlier advice the i3 2100 is not a match for the phenom .
But the i3 does have some advantages .
But keep in mind that the power of your graphics card is more important than raw cpu speed for gaming . If you have to cut costs somewhere then make it on the processor , and buy a better graphics card


http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=102

That and the fact that in almost every comparison on the net the i3 wins out, including threads on this forum itself, even in situations where all four cores are being used.
Gaming Expert

Tiel said:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=102

That and the fact that in almost every comparison on the net the i3 wins out, including threads on this forum itself, even in situations where all four cores are being used.


You can benchmark to prove many things , and Im aware of the anandtech benches .

If you actually build a real computer the results can be quite different . Read the last 3 System Builder Marathons here on Tomshardware . Particularly the $500 build .
Built to a real budget the Phenom 955 kicked the i3 everywhere except gaming where it fell slightly behind .
The i3 cant be overclocked . The Phenom is EASILY overclockable by a couple of hundred Mhz at which point it spanks the i3 in gaming too .
If you have $500 to spend you get a better, faster , more upgradable computer using phenom
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