DescentBB

Once again, I'm trying to build a box on a \"Budget\" (ie. I don't have 2K to throw at hardware.)

I've looked around a little bit and I'm eyeing the i5-650. It goes for about $190 to $208 retail, depending on where you get it.

What I want to know is this about the best \"Bang for the buck\" in this price range (about $200)

I'm anticipating the mobo to cost about the same.

Thanks Guys.



<<btw Merlin, I haven't forgotten your controller. I should be putting it together in a couple of weeks.>>

ok.. the i5 - 650 or the Q8200?

I would suggest Intel over AMD. My black 550X2 seems to run a little hot no matter what I do.

Those are both Intel chips.

the Q8200 is a lower end Quad that runs at something like 2.3 Ghz and the i5-650 is a Dual with faster memory and runs at 3.2 Ghz.

There are some technical differences in the specs I have no clue about...

if you already have an LGA755 motherboard, then go with the Core 2.

if you got with the i5 option, you need to get a new mobo and ram.

This is a complete upgrade. I'm currently running a Athlon 3500+ on an Asus A8N-E (very old).

I'm looking for the best bang for the buck which means splitting hairs sometimes. which of these two are really faster? Does it depend on application? I'm leaning toward the i5, but a quad core looks shiny! .. but it does no good if it's truly slower.

Id go with the i5. Core 2 is on its way out anyways

The 650 seems like a decent choice if you are aiming for a dual core, or for the same price you could step up to quad with the 750. The main question is what you are mostly going to use it for as to which one you want to get.

Games/older applications/etc are more likely going to benefit from the higher core clocks on the 650 instead of the quad cores in the 750 for now. Other tasks like video encoding, DVD/Blu-Ray authoring, or deceptively simple things like plain file compression and archiving and some virus scanning will benefit from the 750s extra cores more.

Eventually games will start to creep into the quad core domain too, but by then the 750 or even the 800 series parts may be a good bit cheaper and you can just drop one in any LGA1156 board for an instant upgrade.

The Core 2 quad parts and the LGA775 socket shouldn't be considered for any serous upgrade at this stage, especially since the dual core i5 parts have finally hit the market.

hmm. Ok

Also, I found This article over on AnandTech.
They seem to peg performance for money on the i3 530/540. You basically don't get the GPU and you miss out on some \"whizz-bang\", but when push comes to shove is does well for under $200. It's a long article, but a decent read.

ugh.. i was trying to avoid this kinda info overload.

thx!

*Edit*
This has to be one of the most comprehensive reviews as far as testing goes that I've seen in many years. ... but then again, this is the first time I've LOOKED in years. (about 3 really)

Ok, here's what I have in mind.

• INTEL Core i3 540 3.06 GHz Socket 1156
• INTEL Intel H55 Core i5/i7 DDR3 1333MHz ATX
• OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK 4GB PC3-10666 (DDR3-1333) Dual Channel
• XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express x16
• ANTEC TP-750 Blue TruePower New Series 750W SLI Active Power
• ZEROtherm CORE92
• MS 7 Pro (i know.. i know.. gawd i hate being a lemming)

Total = $810.00

That looks pretty good, actually. I'm not sure how fast an i3 is, but most games that will push computers these days do so on the graphics side, and the HD 5770 should handle that pretty well.

And hey, at least Win7 works with most software without arm-twisting.

For current CPU speeds, read THIS article.

It's on Anandtech and quite comprehensive on a layman's level.

x2! Pretty good setup for the price.

....dang.... After looking at this. I'm starting to get the itch for a new PC again. My current PC is only 2 years old.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820227478

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... Tpk=CORE92

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116758

=$814.89
All your parts but, pretty much the same price. You could get a cheaper power supply, but if your going to get that antec I would get an SLI board that way you can add a 2nd video card when you have the cash to do so & your power supply will be up to par to support it. Just my 2 cents.

New List:

• INTEL Core i3 540 3.06 GHz Socket 1156
• INTEL Intel H55 Core i5/i7 DDR3 1333MHz ATX
• OCZ OCZ3P1333LV4GK 4GB PC3-10666 (DDR3-1333) Dual Channel
• XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express x16
• OCZ OCZ700MXSP 700W SLI/CrossFire Active PFC Power Supply
• ZEROtherm CORE92
• Sony Optiarc AD-7241S-0B SATA DVD Burner
• MS 7 Pro

Total = $803.00
All from http://www.zipzoomfly.com

(free ground shipping too!) :woot!:

I went with a less expensive PSU and added a Sony Optical. (my old ones are IDE)