Sacrifice CPU for GPU?

What resolution?
I'd go for the i5 2500 and GTX 560 Ti.

The resolution will be 1280x1024, until I have the cash to buy a monitor at 1080p or 1900x1200. I can't foresee anything more taxing than that, however.
Why the i5 and 560 ti?

i3 2120 + 570

Reason being the I3 is a decent CPU, and most games are very GPU dependent.

And of course: You can always Overclock your CPU for greater effect than overclocking your GPU.

Dual core won't suffice these days, even thoughthe i3 2120 is fast due to Hyper Threading. A Quad core will be more 'future proof'.
For a small resolution like that, there isn't really a need for a GTX 560 Ti. But since you'll be upgrading your monitor, I stick to my recommendation.

On an i3 2120?
Not really possible, and it's a non 'k' chip.

So, intel's "k" is like AMD's "Black Edition" and you can only overclock those chips? When did this happen?!

Yes.
You can OC non-k chips, but it's not recommended. 'K' series chips have got unlocked multipliers.

i3 2120 cant use the full potential of gtx570. Most game is bottleneck by cpu. So i also recommanded like my previous poster, i5-2500+gtx560ti. You can upgrade your gpu with i5-2500. It can handle more faster gpu.

I see. Like my quad which I have to put in the freezer only to reach 3 GHz?

^LOL  
Yours isn't a QX series, otherwise OCing would have been more possible.

Yeah, now I understand. I don't mind really, it still kicks ass  

And to OP: Go for 2500+560ti. The CPU is way more reliable and will give you more performance in some games like BF3, for example. Besides, you can always throw another 560ti in there when you have the money, the CPU won't mind.

Go for an i5 2400 or something, if you're not going to get the K, you're not going to get much more with a 2500 than a 2400.

BF3 is not cpu intensive game, instead its highly gpu intensive. I played on ultra setting @ 1280x1024 with my pentium dual-core E5400 smoothly. But in witcher 2, i cant get pass high setting and use custom setting. Only for my old dual core. He can get benefit from i5 for game like ME3, Skyrim, Witcher 2 etc.

i would go with the i5 + 560ti

the dual core i3 reportedly has problems in BF3 mutiplayer when the games get too big (like 50+ player). Same with WoW raids when it gets to large. Diablo 3 also reportedly uses 4 cores as well with the games mentioned above. Im sure the list will grow longer as time passes. Its a safer bet to get the i5. Also, the 560ti is more than capable of handling games

Leave the question overnight and great things happen on the forums haha.

Anyways, I'll go with the i5 2500 and the GTX 560 ti, thanks for all those that helped! The reason I'm not saving a bit more money and going with the 2400 is because right now, with a rebate, they cost the same at tigerdirect.

Good luck.  

At that resolution everything is overkill. So perhaps get a monitor as well. Newegg has a special 23" 1080 for $139 and get i3 with 6870 which is also special $129.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

This way you will get new CPU, new video card and new monitor

BF3 single player may not be that cpu taxing - multiplayer can be. This forum is full of people that have OCed their machines to great result. Get yourself a 2500k and an 212 EVO cooler with the GTX560Ti. If you want to OC later you are all set - if not the cpu will run cooler than with a stock cooler. If you can wait a short time nvidia's new cards will be available - more efficient and faster.
-Bruce
Edit^ he will not be staying with that resolution!!!

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2012-vga-gpgpu/compa...

comparison btw the two cards

Get at least an i5, no i3, dont do it!!! BF3 and Crysis both recommend a quad core as bare minimum specs!!! i5-2500 should be good much longer for gaming than an i3. I would say 15-2500 and 560ti-448 core, only like $20 bucks more right? 448 is a pretty good deal, very close to a 570. If you cant afford that get an i5-2500 and a 560ti. I believe the new z77s are 1155 socket, can upgrade later to an IVY BRIDGE!!! If you can wait for Ivy to come out, price drop FTW!!!!

Friends don't let friends game on an i3. (J/K)

560Ti will absolutely crush games at that resolution. A 550 Ti would be fine. But, with the idea of upgrading to a 1080p monitor, I think the 560 Ti is probably the way to go. An i3 is a fine CPU, but I can't see a reason to get it instead of the 2500 because when you need that extra CPU power you will have it.

I'd also say just go get the "K" version. In 2 or 3 or more years you might finally decide that you need more performance, and overclocking a 2500k is a walk in the park.

I think wolfram23 summarized this issue quite nicely.

Make sure you select a quality modern PSU. It will have full range active PFC (no little voltage switch), and some level of 80+ certification for efficiency. Seasonic, Antec, Corsair, XFX, and Enermax/LEPA are among the better brands. Five hundred watts would be a suitable size.

Crysis 2
Minimum Requirements
Core 2 Duo E4400 2.0GHz
Recommended Requirements
Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz
Battlefield 3 system requirements
Minimum requirements for Battlefield 3
Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or Althon X2 2.7 GHz

this garbage that you NEED a quad core to game is just utter bullshit! and people need to stop spreading ignorant information.



now THATS the true. well said.