Which processor is "better"?

[Exhale]

I'm debating about the new i5

Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500

and the AMD Phenom II x6

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Black Edition Thuban 3.3GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDE00ZFBGRBOX

Both are about the same price. I'm trying to build the best gaming computer I can for my buck, and will most likely be using a superclocked GTX 570 as my video card. If I went with the AMD processor, would I also get to go with a cheaper motherboard? Also, what are the major differences between processors if any? In any case, which processor would you guys recommend?

[glc]

Gaming? The i5. The 2 extra cores don't do anything for you in games. AMD processors are only better gamers than Intel in the lower price brackets.

[Deringer]

It's also worth noting that Tom's Hardware doesn't even recommend the non-K i5-2500 processor. If you are looking to maximize and not overclock, you can downgrade to the i5-2400 and save a few bucks to spend on your video card instead.

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: March 2011 : March Updates

I expect an update for April to come out shortly too, but I doubt the recommendations would be much different.

[Exhale]

I might just go with the i3 2120, it has the same clockspeed as the 15 2400.

Unless you guys think the extra 2 cores are worth another 40 dollars. Im using this pc for gaming, and i don't do video editing, so I don't see why I need 4 cores right now or in the near future. Maybe im wrong though and need enlightenment haha. What do you think?

[glc]

I'd stick with a quad.

[Iamjosh]

I hardly think you need a quad core for gaming. Stick with a dual core and divest the savings into the most powerful gpu you can afford.

[David M]

You never mentioned an overall budget but if it is tight then go cheap on the processor and sink your money into the graphics card. For a gamer it's mostly about the graphics card.

[birddog_61]

If you can afford it get the i5, it actually makes a pretty sizable difference in modern games that can take advantage of more than 2 cores. The list of games that can use 4 cores is fairly large now and is only going to grow.
The Sandy Bridge Review: Intel Core i7-2600K, i5-2500K and Core i3-2100 Tested - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

Here is a short list I have found, it is however about a year old.
List of Quad Core optimized games. ~ Grand Theft PC - The PC Gaming Blog

[Exhale]

i5 it is then. I thought it was more about clock speed than number of cores, but I guess not.

My question then becomes, can I get away with getting the GTX 570 instead of the 580? This is going to be a heavy gaming computer, although I will only be using 1 monitor.

I don't really have a budget, other than not wanting to pay for what I don't need. Like I saw the price for the GTX 590 and "it wasn't in my budget".

The main games I am going to be playing for sure are Mass Effect 3, Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, and Shogun 2.

Thanks again guys

[birddog_61]

What resolution is your monitor? A gtx 570 will play any current game maxed out up to 1080. If you want to go higher than that resolution, or just want some extra headroom then a 580 will crush any game at 1080 except for metro 2033.
GeForce.com - Get the Most Out of Your GPU

[Exhale]

I actually dont have a monitor yet, in fact the only component I have for the PC I will build is the mouse. What is the difference between:

1080p and these measurements (1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1600)???

[glc]

1080p is 1920x1080.

[birddog_61]

It all depends on the monitor your going to get, if your gaming at 1050 then a 560 would do you fine, at 1080/1200 a 570 will be fine, and at 1600 I would go with the 580 even though a 570 would probably work fine for you. Find the monitor your going to get, or at least decide on a resolution, and then we can help with a graphics card.

[David M]

Go with the highest resolution monitor you can afford. You can always cut back on game settings, resolution settings and your frames per second. Different games of course have different demands on the graphics card and you don't want to sell yourself short on your monitors native resolution.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Exhale What is the difference between: 1080p and these measurements (1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1600)???

the difference is ratio.

4:3, 16x9, and 16x10 are the common ratios

It depends on the monitor you pick and what ratios are supported by that monior.

Your basic WS LCD is based on 16x9 (1920x1080) or (1280x720), but they do come in vareties. ie 16x10

I think 2560x1600 is a is a 4:3 ratio.

[David M]

2560/1600 = 1.6 = 16:10 ratio

[rwest]

Thanks David.
I know the concept, but I suck at the math.

BTW

Originally Posted by Exhale i5 it is then. I thought it was more about clock speed than number of cores, but I guess not.

Its a balance between clock speed, cache, # of cores, cost, and what you want to do with your PC.