Buget gaming build (i3 or i5)

[stevemanfae89]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1 - 2 weeks

Budget Range: £300 - 450
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Mainly gaming (Diablo 3, Guild Wars 2, Starcraft 2), Possible recording and audio editing

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, OS, Hard Disk, Monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Novatech.co.uk/Amazon.co.uk

Country: United Kingdom

Parts Preferences: The main components I have been looking at are:

CPU
2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i3 2120 3.3GHz Socket LGA1155
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/processors/intel2ndgencorei3,i5andi71155socket/bx80623i32120.html
or
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5 3570K 3.40GHz Socket LGA1155
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/processors/intel3rdgencorei3,i5andi71155socket/bx80637i53570k.html

Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) Motherboard
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/motherboards/intel1155z77chipsetmotherboards/ga-z77x-d3h.html

Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/memory-pc/ddr3-pc3-12800/1600mhz/cmx4gx3m2a1600c9.html

GPU would be something along the lines of a Radeon 6850 or 550 ti.

Haven't looked into PSUs too much but figured a cheap 500w would probably suffice! Cases are a bit of an afterthought as well but something cheap would be cool!

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (In future)
Monitor Resolution: Will be quite high as I plan on running it through my 50' tv

Additional Comments: I'm quite set on the motherboard choice as it opens up the possibility of possible sli/crossfire in the future as well as overclocking! (though not on the i3). The main decision comes between processors, ideally I'm aiming for something that will come under budget-range but still at least last for a fair while and provide a good base for future upgrades. I'm just wondering if the i3 will allow the budget to stay low while providing some longevity, whilst the new ivy-i5s look pretty sick with the overclocking ability but come at an extra £80 approx.

Anyway see what you guys think!

 

[obsama1]

The 2500K is only 156.84 pounds, and is faster than the i3, and very slightly slower than the 3570K, but also cheaper, The difference at most will be 10 FPS, if you cmpare to the i3. If you can wait, IB i3s will come out, and sincethe i3 is unoverclockable, you should wait. I think they come out in the summer, but I'm not sure.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Sandybridge-i5-2500K-Quad-Core-Processor/dp/B004FA8NX2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336867333&sr=8-2

Also, get 8GB of RAM.

 

[TheBigTroll]

i3 will do for most games as they hardly use more than 2 threads

 

[spentshells]

if you are sure you wont go above a 6850/6870 a 2100 is more than enough but PSU cheap is bad unless you are looking at a corsair cx 430 or earthwatts 380