Sigh... Which CPU

theonlyBuster · December 11, 2014

I've been researching but it seems every time I think I find the answer, I find another version of the answer than contradicts my previous found answer.

And I know this question has been asked a ba-gillion times, but I fear it must be asked again.

Which CPU would be more worth it for me?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117449&cm_re=processor-_-19-117-449-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116950&cm_re=processor-_-19-116-950-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116999&cm_re=processor-_-19-116-999-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116949&cm_re=processor-_-19-116-949-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117374&cm_re=processor-_-19-117-374-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116998&cm_re=processor-_-19-116-998-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117449&cm_re=processor-_-19-117-449-_-Product

Obviously is a LGA1150 socket. In terms of how the computer will be used. It'll basically be a standard office computer with 3 screens (potentially 4 in the distant future).

There'll be little to no games used on it and at most, I MAY watch a downloaded movie or YouTube video. Aside from that, count on nice number of programs and screens to be open at one given point in time.

I'm trying to figure out which CPU would be the best bang for the money for my needs and maybe even learn why A is better than B spec wise. I know specs may differ slightly, but I'd like to be able to look at CPU specs and get a rough idea what they mean and how they'll benefit myself.

If you haven't guessed, I hate asking and blindly getting an answer without understanding how the answer was derived. Nevertheless, any help would be greatly appreciated. Of course if you know of another CPU with a LGA 1150 socket within my budget, that will benefit my use, feel free to recommend it.

Flyguygamer · December 11, 2014

Get the 3258 and a z97 board, get it overclocked and get great performance for not much money. If you live near a Microcenter (like me) there is a z97 pc mate and g3258 for $99.

Antibull · December 11, 2014

If you are going to use multiple programs you want more cores/threads, so go for at least an i3 with hyperthreading something like a i3-4160 if you want to go cheap and already have the motherboard. Otherwise go AMD if you want cheap and alot of cores.

d3sl91 · December 11, 2014

At that price? The 3258. Price/performance for a dual core, the 3258 outperforms the newer 3420 (roughly the same price).

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Pentium-G3420-vs-Intel-Pentium-G3258

I however would recommend an i3 or AMD APU for office work if you plan on any level of multitasking.

MLG Doge · December 11, 2014

You can get away with a G358 and a H81m Board

theonlyBuster · December 11, 2014

Keep posting guys, I'm looking and contemplating as you guys post

You can get away with a G358 and a H81m Board

This board doesn't support Crossfire. Plus I prefer an ATX size or larger.

Get the 3258 and a z97 board, get it overclocked and get great performance for not much money. If you live near a Microcenter (like me) there is a z97 pc mate and g3258 for $99.

I'd prefer to keep it in its stock shape. The computer will be used by others and I want to minimize any problems caused by others.

d3sl91 · December 11, 2014

Keep posting guys, I'm looking and contemplating as you guys post

This board doesn't support Crossfire. Plus I prefer an ATX size or larger.

Why do you need crossfire for an office computer?

I just noticed you said "plan on a goofd number of...open on the screen"

I can't reccomend an i3 with hyperthreading or a multi core AMD processor enough at that point

theonlyBuster · December 11, 2014

Why do you need crossfire for an office computer?

I just noticed you said "plan on a goofd number of...open on the screen"

I can't reccomend an i3 with hyperthreading or a multi core AMD processor enough at that point

I'll be utilizing 3 screens (maybe 4 in the future).

A while ago when I tried a similar set up. I was recommended to get a VGA VISIONTEK card and it would be able to do everything necessary. Well it supported 3 screens, BUT quality was lacking among other issues I had with the card. After researching, I discovered the next best reliable way to support more than 2 screens were via SLI or Crossfire. Well I have a Crossfire compatible card, so Crossfire it is at this point in time.

I'll likely look into an AMD board and processor. Maybe I'll get lucky and run into a good combo at a price I can live with.

And my apologies MLG Doge. I have this topic posted one a few forums and on the other I mentioned Mobo requirements, but failed to mention them here.

d3sl91 · December 11, 2014

I'll be utilizing 3 screens (maybe 4 in the future).

A while ago when I tried a similar set up. I was recommended to get a VGA VISIONTEK card and it would be able to do everything necessary. Well it supported 3 screens, BUT quality was lacking among other issues I had with the card. After researching, I discovered the next best reliable way to support more than 2 screens were via SLI or Crossfire. Well I have a Crossfire compatible card, so Crossfire it is at this point in time.

I'll likely look into an AMD board and processor. Maybe I'll get lucky and run into a good combo at a price I can live with.

And my apologies MLG Doge. I have this topic posted one a few forums and on the other I mentioned Mobo requirements, but failed to mention them here.

Visiontek? I didn;t know they were even still around Which card is it?

Modern cards, and modern onboard (built in) graphics is enough to run even games on low settings. And single modern cards can run 4+ 1080P screens with no issues.

-rascal- · December 11, 2014

A single AMD graphics (HD 5000 series or later) card can drive 3 monitors on its own. Some specialized cards can run (4?) -- Sapphire FleX Edition cards.

NVidia has the same thing going with their more recent generation of graphics cards as well.

With AMD's new Omega drivers you can drive up to 6 displays per card....though I don't know about the details of it in terms of requirements, conditions, etc.

You don't need a CrossfireX / SLi certified board if you won't use the cards in CrossfireX / SLi. Running the cards independently to drive multiple displays =/= CrossfireX / SLi. As long as it has the expansions slots available for multiple graphics cards, you are good to go. CrossfireX / SLi essentially means you are combining the cards together to work as one powerful whole.

You can have a graphics card in a PCI-E X16 slot to run...3 displays, and a old PCI (or AGP, PCI-E x1, whatever) card to drive another 2 if you wanted.

If you are going to be performing tasks that may work more efficiently with more cores (multi-thread / multi-core supported programs), then spend a extra on a Core i3, inexpensive Core i5, FX-43XX, or FX-63XX processor instead.

But...assume that you won't be overclocking, I don't see the point in getting a G3258 and Z97 board (as some has recommended) -- given that it will be plain and simple office tasks (i.e. Word documents, e-mails, etc) and occasionally movies. Between the different processors you've listed, they only difference between them is the frequency. All Intel did was increase / decrease the multiplier.

The G1850 is a bit differnet from the rest is it has 2MB of cache versus 3MB on the other G3XXX CPUs.

The price difference between the G3250 and G3220 is $25 for essentially extra 0.2 GHz. Not work.

My pick goes to the G3220.

theonlyBuster · December 12, 2014

Alright, well since I already have the video cards and such I'm either stuck with spend about $150 on a new board and CPU or using the existing and spending $300 on a newer card that can support 3+ screens.

I hate to say it, but I'll likely just grab the CPU and swap for an AMD compatible Mobo and save myself some cash and go from there as opposed to the GPU.

I figure I can sell my current board so it wouldn't be a total lost.

A10-FTW · December 12, 2014

I've been researching but it seems every time I think I find the answer, I find another version of the answer than contradicts my previous found answer.

And I know this question has been asked a ba-gillion times, but I fear it must be asked again.

Which CPU would be more worth it for me?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117449&cm_re=processor-_-19-117-449-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116950&cm_re=processor-_-19-116-950-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116999&cm_re=processor-_-19-116-999-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116949&cm_re=processor-_-19-116-949-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117374&cm_re=processor-_-19-117-374-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116998&cm_re=processor-_-19-116-998-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117449&cm_re=processor-_-19-117-449-_-Product

Obviously is a LGA1150 socket. In terms of how the computer will be used. It'll basically be a standard office computer with 3 screens (potentially 4 in the distant future).

There'll be little to no games used on it and at most, I MAY watch a downloaded movie or YouTube video. Aside from that, count on nice number of programs and screens to be open at one given point in time.

I'm trying to figure out which CPU would be the best bang for the money for my needs and maybe even learn why A is better than B spec wise. I know specs may differ slightly, but I'd like to be able to look at CPU specs and get a rough idea what they mean and how they'll benefit myself.

If you haven't guessed, I hate asking and blindly getting an answer without understanding how the answer was derived. Nevertheless, any help would be greatly appreciated. Of course if you know of another CPU with a LGA 1150 socket within my budget, that will benefit my use, feel free to recommend it.