AMD Gaming Build VS Intel Gaming Build

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?

here is a nice AMD build i dont recommend the intel build since you are on a budget

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Ci5O

add and remove as needed but that 7870 card is a boss

 

I don't have a hard drive handy.

The amd build is a really solid and cheap platform the phenom X4 is a great cpu i used it for years and its still running in my old rig that i sold to my roommate. That rig is running an old gtx 460 and plays anything at high settings so your amd build will thrast everything. the only suggestion i might make is co with the 200r case it has great features and is $15 cheaper than the 300.

ok let me re edit it with a HDD

 

 

It's only $7 cheaper for me and the 300R is supposed to be a really good case

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Cihq

 

there is a cheaper build and its under budget :D

Not to be ungrateful, I appreciate your help but I thought the whole point was making a build that had a better GPU than the one I already have :o

The Intel build will be better in the long run, but the amd will obviously be better for gaming in the short term, and it will be better once you upgrade the cpu. 

what GPU are you currently running what is your current system

 

PS you can put what ever GPU you want i was just trying to stay under budget right now i recommend the Saphire 7870Xt its tathitan that performs above a standard 7870 but below a 7950

Thanks

 

My Current system is a laptop

the 200r was on newegg for $44.99 with a $20 rebate but it looks like they sold out so ya the 300 will be your best bet either way for a sub $600 build that phenom is pretty solid

yes the i5 is better its also twice the price so obviously you get what you pay for but since the goal is a budget build the amd will still do great

Well considering that the Intel build doesn't have a graphics card, it's not going to perform very well in games. He'd have to grab one later down the road. With the AMD build, he has a nice graphics card, but the CPU is lack luster. If he upgraded to the FX-8350, though, it would be about even with the Intel build with the same graphics card.

A 6300 seems like the best of both worlds in this situation to me.