Hello! I am looking to build a PC and I am fairly new to computer to everything. I have come up with 3 PC builds, but I am not sure which to pick. The difference are in graphics cards, processors, and the prices. With a better processors comes a less powerful GPU, and vice versa. Feel free to edit any of the builds below with lower prices, better parts or anything else that can be modified to be better.
Intel i5 with 7850 - http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wqZV
AMD Phenom II x4 965 with 7850 - http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wqXf
AMD Phenom II x4 965 with 7870 - http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wprf
The Phenom II x4 965 Black edition is hands down the best processor for gaming for the money. You're not going to be able to overclock the i5, and its more. And the 7850 is the best graphics card for the money, but i'd go for an XFX with 2gb, because you get an unlimited warranty, even if you are overclocking. Love to hear what you choose.
performance wise the I5 ones gonna be the best. is there a reason you diddnt go with the 3570k? its less than $20 more and its a bit better (i dont know if its a lot but in my experience its significantly better) or is the price that tight?
I was looking at the 3570K at first, but was trying to lower the price as much a possible and still have a processor that is better than the 965. I really like the Intel option because of its upgrade path, however I think the AMD option will suit me better, as I am upgrading from this trashy laptop to a nice, custom build computer. Is there a noticable difference in performance between the 7850 and 7870?
Normally, I'd say get the 7870 over the 7850. But that MSI R7850 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC you chose looks like a really good deal at $180. A $50 dollar difference compared to the HIS 7870 you chose. Overclocking that 7850 should bring it to 7870 performance.
Not only that, it combos with a ton of RAM for $10 dollars more off: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r7850twinfrozr2gd5oc
I recommend you get this RAM combo instead of the one you have now: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/crIE It's $15 bucks cheaper and you wont notice the difference between 1600 and 1866 RAM for this build.
So for $60 dollars less, I would go for that 7850 you chose. As for CPU, the best one for gaming is the i5 3470k. A Phenom II 965, i3 3220, and FX 6300 are good budget alternatives. Best bang for the buck CPU in my opinion is the FX 6300. For $130-140 dollars you get six cores and you can overclock it.
Here's a build using that video card and CPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wwMw
(Note: that 1TB Hard Drive will be at $70 for only a couple days)
The intel has no upgrade path right now. It would be a waste of 500$ to upgrade from an i5 to an i7, and Intel is coming out with the new generation of processors (Haswell) in a new socket (1150). So the AMD would be the better option for upgrading and overclocking.
^ Maybe not the CPU upgrade path but if he Gets a 3570k or similar i5 it wont be bottlenecked or obselete until at least Broadwell or maybe even Sky Lake comes out, so then the upgrade path would only entail another Graphics card which next gen should show a huge improvements (assuming you spend as much or more then the GPU you buy now) and maybe some Memory/SSD.
The Phenom II's are good but they already are starting to Bottleneck some games, so id choose the i5.
^ Maybe not the CPU upgrade path but if he Gets a 3570k or similar i5 it wont be bottlenecked or obselete until at least Broadwell or maybe even Sky Lake comes out, so then the upgrade path would only entail another Graphics card which next gen should show a huge improvements (assuming you spend as much or more then the GPU you buy now) and maybe some Memory/SSD.
The Phenom II's are good but they already are starting to Bottleneck some games, so id choose the i5.
The i5 is so much more though. I think AMD's FX processors are very viable purchases (Piledriver, NOT bulldozer) There just as future proof if you overclock the hell out of them. FX6300 looks really nice for the money, but when i build a gaming rig i put my money in the GPU. Why get a GTX 660 with and i5 when you can get an FX with a 670? Its only preferences, i'm glad no one's fanboying.