Upgrade MOBO or get an i5?

[achonez]

Hello,
I have at the moment a 960t with a 880-e45 MOBO which is not very good.

Microcenter has a better MOBO for $142

But a i5 is $169.99 with $50 off a compatible motherboard. I can get an open box and get the MOBO for about $20.

Which is a better option?

 

[djangoringo]

I would get the i5 and a new motherboard with it, since you're going to a microcenter store, grab the i5, it will be a huge boost from the 960t, cpu wise.

 

[lazyboy947]

If u didnt have that microcenter a new board would work, but at that cost get the i5. Did u attempt to unlock that x4 to an x6?