Cpu options for first build

[mad2]

ok so im building my first pc and i need some advice from all you gurus out there. Im looking to spend no more than $850 and i have a couple options set out. However, I have a dilemma when it comes to cpu, motherboard, and gpu.

Option 1-Amd fx 4170, asus m5a97, galaxy gtx 580

Option 2-Intel i5 2500k, asrock p67 pro 3, galaxy gtx 570

I will probably upgrade some in the near future im just looking for which combo would give me the best gaming performance at this time.

Also, if anyone has other recommendations, please feel free to mention them

 

[computernewb]

For gaming you want to go with the i5-2500k. its superior to the fx 4170
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

 

[ngoy]

ok so im building my first pc and i need some advice from all you gurus out there. Im looking to spend no more than $850 and i have a couple options set out. However, I have a dilemma when it comes to cpu, motherboard, and gpu.

Option 1-Amd fx 4170, asus m5a97, galaxy gtx 580

Option 2-Intel i5 2500k, asrock p67 pro 3, galaxy gtx 570

I will probably upgrade some in the near future im just looking for which combo would give me the best gaming performance at this time.

Also, if anyone has other recommendations, please feel free to mention them

For the love of all things holy stay away from the 4100s. A 4100 is barely faster than an i3-2100 in gaming.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fx-4100-core-i3-2100-gaming-benchmark,3136-7.html
and
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/amd-fx-8120-6100-4100_6.html
and
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/amd-fx-8120-6100-4100_7.html
and I could go on and on.

The i3 at most times is equal to, and when you get to high resolutions, totally blows the 4100 out of the water. An i3-2100 runs at 3.1Ghz, vs a 4100 which runs between 3.6 and 3.8. Plus the 4100 is SLOWER at everything else. The i3 has ONLY 2 cores, runs at 65W instead of 95W, and does any day to day office/surfing/etc FASTER than the 4100. The i5 can be clocked almost 1Ghz more on air, and runs at 95W instead of the 125W the 4170 runs at.

You might get better performance from the 580/amd combo, but are you REALLY going to buy this and then get another rig in 6 months? The i5 is more "future proof" from a cpu performance standpoint, you can always get another gpu for sli if you want. Also, the new 6XX series from Nvidia is supposed to come out this week or in April, so I would wait it out a little bit, shoot for an i5 with a GTX 670.

 

[mad2]

thank you both for the responses..i think i will get the 2500k and maybe a low end gpu and wait for the 670.

 

[mad2]

Best answer selected by mad2.

 

[evang]

definitely go with the 2500k. with your budget it doesn't make sense to go the AMD route.

 

[ebalong]

Get your 2500K build going, and wait a couple more weeks to see what Nvidia does with the GTX-6xx series. Your 2500K will have integrated graphics, and while nothing special, should pull you through two weeks or so. I wouldn't spend money on a video card without first seeing if Nvidia will release Kepler by the end of this month......

If Kepler is delayed, get yerself a 570, but I would maybe go with EVGA over Galaxy. They are around $300-$320 right now for the 1280MB versions.