Budget cpu i3 2100 or 2125

The only benefit to the i3-2125 is you get better integrated graphics (HD 3000) if you're not going to be using a discrete graphics card.

thanks for the feedback. I was certainly leaning towards the 2100 and saving 30 dollars. The HD 3000 is the only reason i was considering the 2125...

is the improvement from hd2k to hd3k worthwhile?
I'm definitely not buying a separate video card anytime soon.

If you want quality onboard video then you want to build around AMD Llano anyway.

Since you stated your video needs are "strictly for htpc purposes, no gaming etc. just streaming/blu ray etc. ", either HD 2000 or HD 3000 will work equally good for you. The HD 3000 would only benefit if you wanted to play some low end games. I'm assuming you are going to be using a 1920x1080 HDTV. As rolli59 suggested, the i3-2100 and $30 in your pocket is probably the way to go.

Example: I built an HTPC around a lowly Athlon II X2 245 and the outdated HD 4200 integrated graphics. Streaming from Netflix via Comcast, blu-ray, and Windows 7 x64 w/Aero turned on wasn't even a challange for it. Your choices are generations ahead of what I had.

sweet thank you all, guess I'll be saving the 30 dollars  

@rolli59,
AMD is not an option for me unfortunately. I'm going to be using Mac OSX LION on this build and there's no support for their processors.

Simply as a media media PC the HD2000 should do fine.

Best answer selected by redzoneos.