Futureproof Intel CPU for up to $ 220?

Hardware Hub CPU
1

Good day everyone.

I am currently looking for a futureproof quad-core Intel CPU that won´t cost me more than 220 US dollars.

Things that you need to know before posting any suggestions.

1. The CPU should support PCIe 3.0

2. Main usage is for gaming

3. Socket 1155

4 It should support at least 1333 MHz system RAM.

5. I don´t intend to overclock so a K-version is probably obselete. I other words, just a waste of money.

Also, I am a total newbie when it comes to Intel CPUs since I´ve been using AMD only for years.

Now that the Bulldozer was a major disappointment and the Piledriver is not going to cut it either, obviousely because AMD decided to stick with the same modular architecture, I decided to build an Intel-based system.

I´ve found an Intel CPU which looks very promising. It´s an Intel Core i5 3350P @ 3,1 GHz. The advantage of this CPU is that the GPU-core is deactivated because it´s defective. Therefore the power consumption of this CPU is also lower and it probably will produce less heat. Priced at 158 € which is approx. $ 204.

Then there´s an Intel Core i5 3570K @ 3,4 GHz for 199 € which is approx. $ 256.

NOTE: The prices mentioned above are german/european prices. From what I´ve seen so far american prices are approximately 15% lower. This means that if something cost $ 220 in the U.S.A. it´s going to cost around $ 255 here depending on deflation/inflation. That´s why I am asking you to recommend me the best possible, futureproof Intel CPU for $ 220 according to american prices.

Any questions, suggestion, heck, any kind of help is welcome.

2

I would just go for the 3570K.

3

You could probably find a 2500k for around that price.

4

"support PCI-E 3" and he's not overclocking, Ivy is the way to go

look at Ivy i5s try looking at the 3330, 3350p, 3450, 3470, 3550, and 3570(non) K I listed them from least amount of performance to fastest, get the fastest one in your price range

5

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. I could even afford the 3570K but, like I said, it would just be a waste of money since I don´t intend to overclock. By the time I need more performance I will most likely just build a new system. Therefore the non-k version, as gigabusterEXE pointed out, would be the best choise and it doesn´t cost much more than the 3350P that caught my interest.

One more thing. Will I be able to play games such as GTA 4, Battlefield 3 and alike, maybe even the upcoming GTA 5 with the 3570? What do you think? Also, I´ve mentioned that I want to buy a Z77 motherboard. Which brand would you recommend and why? Is ASUS still number one quality-wise? I´ve read that Gigabyte is on par with ASUS but costs a little less.

Since I am converting from AMD to Intel, I wanted to know whether Intel based motherboards have something similar to Hyper Transport Bus. If so what is it called, what is it for? What features should I be looking for when it comes to Intel-based motherboards? I am totally new to them so I am uncertain.

Thanks for your support so far.

 

6

Games are a lot more dependent on graphics cards than they are on CPUs, so you're going to want to get a nice graphics card if you're planning on playing those games. The 3570 will be able to play any game as long as you throw a graphics card in the system.

ASUS and Gigabyte are probably the two best manufacturers at this point. MSI is good too. They're not as great when it comes to overclocking, but that won't be an issue for you since you're not overclocking.

The main thing to look for when it comes to motherboards is the chipset, and you've already got that down since you want Z77. Other than that just make sure the board has all the features you want it to have. Normally you'd be having a look at how many power phases there are or if the power phases are good quality, but that has more to do with overclocking, so it doesn't really apply here. Another thing to look for would be sufficient PCI-Express bandwidth for graphics cards. Not to mention USB 3.0 and SATA III support, how much ram the motherboard supports, whether or not it has a RAID controller built in, how many fan headers it has, and onboard audio if you're not getting a sound card.

7

Nice. That´s good to know. So there´s basically no difference between Intel & AMD motherboards when looking for certain features.

Thank you all very much for your help.

8

I'd go with ASUS, they are my new favorite brand, they have Digi-VRMs as a standard for all their motherboards, (not really important to you) high quality components and QA, Almost All their Motherboards have USAP USB 3 which is "real" USB 3, watch the videos on newegg.com on Asus boards, even though you can't buy from them, its still a great information Resource

9

Necroing this thread as I have decided to stick with AMD. I´ve decided to buy an AMD FX-6300 and be done with it. After all of the benchmark results, especially game benchmark results which is what I am building my computer for, the FX-6300 performs very well and it´s cheap.

Now since I don´t want to use the stock cooler I´d like to know whether you could recommend a high quality after market cooler for a reasonable price. Logan keeps recommending the Cooler Master Hyper 212. He´s also recommended this one in his latest video for a mid-range build for "Deutschland" when going for the FX-6300.

Now I´d like to know how well it cools. Also I´d like to know whether there´s are altinatives performance-wise which are smaller than this one. It seems pretty big and I doubt that it will fit into my case.

10

3570 non K is your best bet then. but for a small difference in price at least the K version has options. You might change your mind in 18-24mths and decide to OC it.