Budget system benchmarks

[amantes]

Hello!
I'm running into trouble choosing a CPU and GPU for my new system. I've almost settled on an i3-2120 and GF 550ti, but I can't find any benchmark charts that put them together. I don't understand why every review of a "budget" component has to use a high-end test system. Pairing an i3 with a GTX 580 or a 550ti with an overclocked i7 defeats the purpose for me. I'm trying to build a moderate gaming system that can run Skyrim smoothly on at least high details.

 

[C12Friedman]

Without benchmark charts available (it appears there are none), an option may be to (I cringe to say this) read reviews (argh, I said it) on retail sites of the 550ti and see what those owners who play skyrim have to say - may be a few in there with i3's bragging about their frame rates. Take those reviews for what they are since many are uninformed, opinionated and scary worthless. Once in a while though, there are useful reviews. I'm going to do a rant about that one of these days... I digress.

 

[amantes]

Thanks! I guess I don't have many other options.

 

[geekapproved]

I doubt your going to be able to play on high with a 550ti.

I'm not sure what kind of benchmarks your hoping for. There are plenty of i3 benchmarks and plenty of gpu benchmarks on this site, what else could you possibly need?

 

[obsama1]

Go for a 6850. Beats the 550Ti anyday.

 

[amantes]

Well I explained that already. According to this chart http://media.bestofmicro.com/T/X/326373/original/skyrim%201920.png I can make it playable even on Ultra. But this was taken using a system with i7-3960X (Sandy Bridge-E) 3.3 GHz at 4.2 GHz. You see my problem? All charts are like this...

 

[amantes]

Go for a 6850. Beats the 550Ti anyday.

That it does, but also costs significantly more. Is the performance gain worth the price?

 

[geekapproved]

Newegg has a 6850 for $120 right now on special.

 

[geekapproved]

The i3 will be fine, get a 6850 or GTX560 at LEAST though.

By the way Tiger Direct has the i3-2120 for $102 shipped right now .

 

[amantes]

Both of those sound like great deals, but unfortunately I'm not from the US, so I would need a european equivalent of those shops. And hardware is sadly a lot more expensive in europe :/

 

[geekapproved]

You should tell us that information in your first post....

 

[amantes]

My bad ^^ My post was more about finding benchmarks, I hadn't considered the price difference in regions...