Torn between two builds.Need help deciding

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1

Ok this first one is a Phenom II X4 965 build, its paired with a 7770 ( light gaming so i dont need a 7850 or something like that)

[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lTa0]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lTa0/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lTa0/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] ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a97r20]Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard[/url] ($88.87 @ Newegg)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d4gbnq]G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($24.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd5000aaks]Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-112010220g]Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card[/url] ($114.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-s210e002]NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($49.99 @ Amazon)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu500cxv2]Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply[/url] ($51.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Total:[/b] $475.80
[i](Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)[/i]

This second one is a mITX i3 build also with a 7770. I wanted to got with mITX builds but with AMD i obviously cant so whatever.

[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lTaA]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lTaA/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lTaA/benchmarks/]Benchmarks[/url]

[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i33220]Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor[/url] ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p8h77i]Asus P8H77-I Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard[/url] ($99.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml4gx3m2a1600c9]Corsair Vengeance 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($27.98 @ Amazon)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd5000aaks]Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-112010220g]Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card[/url] ($114.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu500cxv2]Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply[/url] ($51.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Total:[/b] $469.92
[i](Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)[/i]

Realize there is no case for the mITX build but thats because i dont know which to choose. In the end they will both cost the same and within my budget. I want to know wich would be better for gaming mainly RTS, LOL, civ5 etc and gta 5 when it releases. There is a third build... an APU build but that cost as much as the Phenom. Just because: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lNAK

EDIT: Just realised, FX-4300 or 965 BE?

2

Your Asus board for the Intel i3 has dual channel support allowing up to 16 GB of
RAM. I would go the extra mile and put in 16GB. 2X8

I cannot tell if the case has the 20 pin harness for the USB 3.0 front header or not but the board supports it.  Well your i3 does have hyper threading which surprised me as I thought they only had that feature in i7s now it still is only a dual core processor.

   I really like the AMD processor. Even Logan gives this processor thumbs up for economical builds. The Asus board has 6, 6 Gb/sec sata connectors as well as the 20 pin USB front panel connector. The board has quad channel support for up to 32 GB of RAM. I would go the extra mile and install 4X4 (16) GB of RAM.

As far as you case goes, if you don’t mind loosing the front USB 3.0 connector I would go with a Cooler Master case. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

This case offers many options as well as great air flow at a very reasonable price.

Bottom line, I would go with the AMD system. I think the motherboard has more to offer as well as the CPU is a great little unit with 6MB of L3 cache.

 As always, this is just my opinion, make sure you get lots of other opinions from the people here. There are a lot of very tech savy folks here that will me more than willing to throw their 2 cents worth in. Good luck with your build and don't forget you will need to add the cost of an OS.

3

Oh yeah both have USB 3.0 no worrries, but how about the new FX-4300? is it wort forking out the extra 30 dollars for it?

4

If your willing to throw a few extra $ at the FX4300 then toss over $10 more and get the FX6300. Its probably my most recommended chip for sub $800 systems right now.

 EDIT: Actually scratch that, I didn't even look at your budget. If you can spend at least $180 on the GPU don't both getting the FX4300 or the FX6300 (or the i3 for that matter). For a gaming system you'll want to spend at least 1.5X as much on the graphics card as you do on the CPU unless you are going for an APU or HD 4000 graphics, since those are kinda funny, semitransitional builds anyways.

5

the fx4300 beats the 965 in most things but for budget i would go with the 965

6

Im a bit lost here but are you're trying to say dont get the new FX chips and stick with the 965?

7

I'd go with the 3220. Haven't seen any directly comparing benchmarks with the 3220 and fx-4300 but they seemed to have gained a similar percentage over bull dozer as intel gained with over sandy bridge with ivy bridge. If that holds true then intel will be faster on gaming situations. 

8

Stick and the with the phenom and 7770, you should be fine playing games and rendering with those

9

Phenom it is thanks.