I have $550 and I want to build a modest gaming rig that will be upgraded in one of two ways in 6 months. I have made two builds within my price range.
The Intel Build
[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CfLA]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CfLA/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CfLA/benchmarks/]Benchmarks[/url]
[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53570k]Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz77ds3h]Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard[/url] ($104.98 @ Amazon)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-bls4kit2g3d1609ds1s00]Crucial Ballistix 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($46.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st31000524as]Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-300r]Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-bp550plus]Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply[/url] ($54.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Total:[/b] $526.92
If I go with the Intel Build:
I'll just bare with the integrated graphics for now and I'll add a 7850 or 7870 (2gb) or whatever is powerful and sub 250 at the time. I will also OC and buy an aftermarket cooler.
The AMD Build
[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ChVt]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ChVt/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ChVt/benchmarks/]Benchmarks[/url]
[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-hdz965fbgmbox]AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($94.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-970extreme3]ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard[/url] ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-blt2kit2g3d1869dt1tx0]Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1866 Memory[/url] ($24.98 @ Outlet PC)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ears]Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-ax78502gbd5dh]PowerColor Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card[/url] ($169.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-300r]Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-bp550plus]Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply[/url] ($54.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Total:[/b] $554.89
If I go with the AMD Build:
I'll change the Phenom out for an FX 8350 or whatever processor is popular and powerful at the time and buy more ram. I will also OC and buy an aftermarket cooler.
Which build would be immediately better for gaming?
Which build would be better in the long run?