AMD vs Intel?

[petrin21]

Hey everyone, I just had a quick question I'm hoping someone has the answer to. I'm just going to be getting into PC gaming and I'm buying a computer on somewhat of a budget. I'm split between two different Gateway computers.

One of them has an AMD Quad-Core A8-3820 processor with a Radeon 6550 HD graphics card.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+-+Desktop+-+6GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive/4789803.p?id=1218527811538&skuId=4789803&st=gateway%20desktop&cp=1&lp=6

The other has an Intel i3-2120 processor with an Intel HD 2000 graphics card.


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+-+Desktop+-+6GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive/3152445.p?id=1218380507379&skuId=3152445&st=gateway%20desktop&cp=1&lp=4

I believe that the AMD graphics card is better as Intel HD graphics cards are not very good in general however the one with Intel graphics has a superior processor (from what I've read).

My dilemma is which one should I pick? I'm not looking to run crysis on ultra settings or anything. I'm going to be probably playing games like Day Z, Old Republic, and maybe Guild Wars 2. I will also plan on using the HDMI output to plug into my 50" plasma. Not sure if thats a good idea. I realize I probably will have to upgrade the graphics card but I won't be able to do that right away.

What do you think?

 

[Z1NONLY]

If you intend to get a separate graphics card later, I would go with the i3.

If you intend to use on-board graphics only, then the A8-3820 would be better.

 

[petrin21]

If you intend to get a separate graphics card later, I would go with the i3.

If you intend to use on-board graphics only, then the A8-3820 would be better.

That's the thing. I'm unsure if I can afford getting an extra graphics card good enough to run what I want to run. I would only want to spend a max of like $90 and I doubt I can get something good for that price. At least better than the AMD 6550

 

[marshal11]

well, i guess your best bet would be an A8 if you don't plan on spending 100-150$ on a gpu soon. the CPU will be good enough, but it will keep high end cards down. if you get a AMD A8 for now just so you can do some gaming, then end up buying like a GTX 560 SE or something further down the road then you should be just fine. an A8 won't really slow down a mid range card like that. but you would be much better off with an i3 and a mid range card.


simple asnwer: if you don't think you can afford something in that price range soon, get the A8.

 

[noob2222]

how about an A10-5700, they are hard to find, low quanity still and OEM only, but here it is at the same price.

http://www.staples.com/HP-Pavilion-p7-1240-Desktop-PC/product_931107?cid=PS:GooglePLAscs_/_Drives_/_Accessoriesesktop_Computers:931107:H2L70AA

the A10 has a pretty big update on the GPU, the cpu is roughly the same, about 20% faster in games.

Here is a review on the a10 http://www.anandtech.com/show/5831/amd-trinity-review-a10-4600m-a-new-hope/6

keep in mind that review is with a 2.3 ghz laptop cpu, the hp is 3.4 ghz, and the I3's HD2000 isn't even on the chart (below the hd3000 obviously)

 

[simon12]

The HD2000 is not even good enough to run the games you want at all so that only leaves 1 option.

 

[petrin21]

how about an A10-5700, they are hard to find, low quanity still and OEM only, but here it is at the same price.

http://www.staples.com/HP-Pavilion-p7-1240-Desktop-PC/product_931107?cid=PS:GooglePLAscs_/_Drives_/_Accessoriesesktop_Computers:931107:H2L70AA

the A10 has a pretty big update on the GPU, the cpu is roughly the same, about 20% faster in games.

Here is a review on the a10 http://www.anandtech.com/show/5831/amd-trinity-review-a10-4600m-a-new-hope/6

keep in mind that review is with a 2.3 ghz laptop cpu, the hp is 3.4 ghz, and the I3's HD2000 isn't even on the chart (below the hd3000 obviously)

So I actually went with this computer but I'm curious if I can get a VGA to HDMI adapter for it because I would be running it on my tv. I would assume this video card supports it but I'm not sure. Anyone know?

 

[noob2222]

yes, but you will have to pull the audio through the sound card as the vga-hdmi will lose audio capability. alternatively is to find a vga-hdmi with audio cable. will look like this

 

[petrin21]

yes, but you will have to pull the audio through the sound card as the vga-hdmi will lose audio capability. alternatively is to find a vga-hdmi with audio cable. will look like this

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4898672899459337&pid=1.7&w=234&h=155&c=7&rs=1

I'm assuming that the other end is supposed to be hdmi and not a USB like in the picture. Any idea where I could find one of those?

 

[noob2222]

there are a few on amazon, but the audio is rca. the 1/8 plugs are hard to find. most of them are using an adapter box.

http://www.amazon.com/Feet-Converter-Adapter-Cable-1080p/dp/B008CC8MGW/ref=sr_1_46?ie=UTF8&qid=1347676777&sr=8-46&keywords=vga+to+hdmi+with+audio

just have to add a 1/8 jack to rca, can find them at radio shack or pretty much any place like that., possibly even walmart.

most of them are these converter boxes that you just use hdmi to hdmi cable, but more expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=vga+to+hdmi+with+audio#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=vga+to+hdmi+with+audio&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Avga+to+hdmi+with+audio

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been moved from the section CPU & Components to section Systems by Mousemonkey