Please help me decide! (AMD vs. Intel build)

[rap1dcs]

So i'm making a budget build for my brother around $650 (first time build). I have done some research and i made two builds - an AMD and an Intel build. Only difference being the motherboard, CPU and GPU. Motherboards are about the same price and quality for both builds, so i need your help to pick between GPU and CPU. The PC should be optimized for gaming. Intel build is a little more expensive, but i really can't tell if it's worth it or not.

AMD build: Sapphire Radeon R7 260x and AMD FX-6300.

Intel build: ASUS GTX 750 Ti and Intel Core i3-4160.

The price difference is about $42 USD. So is it worth it? 42 dollars more for the Intel CPU and GeForce GPU? Btw. I am from Denmark, so the prices may seem odd, and that is also the reason why i can't use pcpartpicker (i am so jealous).

[Dabasepc]

I'd go with Intel Pentium G3258, and overclock the Sh*t out of it.

 

look at review also. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117374

 

Also take a look here to compare both CPU: http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Pentium-G3258-vs-Intel-4160

[theodoro]

Are you going to upgrade your system in 2 years? Go for intel. 
Are you going to upgrade your system in 4 years? Go for AMD. 
 

[STRMfrmXMN]

If you're comparing the Athlon Vs Pentium G3258 check out this video. 

[rap1dcs]

Are you going to upgrade your system in 2 years? Go for intel. 

Are you going to upgrade your system in 4 years? Go for AMD. 

 

Probably the 4 years. So the quality of the GTX 750 Ti (mainly) does not beat the AMD build for the price?

[Fatelinha]

I would go with the Fx6300 since the i3 only has 2 cores and choose an GTX750 or maybe an R9 270

[rap1dcs]

If you're comparing the Athlon Vs Pentium G3258 check out this video. 

I don't plan on overclocking so i don't think the Pentium G3258 is gonna cut it.

[Mao_Zedong]

The best budget option is getting an intel cpu and an amd gpu (in the usa and the majority of other countries).

[STRMfrmXMN]

I don't plan on overclocking so i don't think the Pentium G3258 is gonna cut it.

May I ask why no overclocking? Otherwise, if you can afford it and will not OC, get an i3.

[rap1dcs]

May I ask why no overclocking? Otherwise, if you can afford it and will not OC, get an i3.

No idea how to and with this low end-mid range i see no reason to.

[STRMfrmXMN]

No idea how to and with this low end-mid range i see no reason to.

Overclocking is easy if done right. Look up how to guides and if you overclock lower-end stuff you get much more performance for your money.

[rap1dcs]

Overclocking is easy if done right. Look up how to guides and if you overclock lower-end stuff you get much more performance for your money.

It is my understanding that overclocking on low-end CPUs is not recommended .

[s3ns3]

I'd go with Intel Pentium G3258, and overclock the Sh*t out of it.

 

look at review also. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117374

 

Also take a look here to compare both CPU: http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Pentium-G3258-vs-Intel-4160

Pls dont use a trash site like cpu boss.

---

OP get the intel build,the i3 is a better cpu for gaming.and in cpu bound games the performance increase can be more than double.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106.html

[STRMfrmXMN]

It is my understanding that overclocking on low-end CPUs is not recommended .

Think you have been mis-directed. Ask somebody who knows more than me, but I am not familiar with lower-end stuff being "bad" or "worse" to overclock (@Faceman, maybe he would understand).

[rap1dcs]

Pls dont use a trash site like cpu boss.

---

OP get the intel build,the i3 is a better cpu for gaming.and in cpu bound games the performance increase can be more than double.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106.html

 

Thats why it's such a hard choice for me. Many games benefit from a good CPU, but the GPU is just too important to skimp on.

[rap1dcs]

Think you have been mis-directed. Ask somebody who knows more than me, but I am not familiar with lower-end stuff being "bad" or "worse" to overclock (@Faceman, maybe he would understand).

I don't know man, i may have. I'm no expert  But the question is more about is it WORTH it to go for the more expensive stuff. Is it worth 42 dollars more or should i just stick with the cheaper AMD+Radeon stuff. What do you think?

[STRMfrmXMN]

I don't know man, i may have. I'm no expert  But the question is more about is it WORTH it to go for the more expensive stuff. Is it worth 42 dollars more or should i just stick with the cheaper AMD+Radeon stuff. What do you think?

I say go Intel Pentium, get a Hyper 212 EVO, overclock whatever you can get out of it then match with an R9 280(X if you can afford it).

[FSBAlston]

G3258 you will have to upgrade within a year or so as more games take advantage of multi cores (Blame devs for giving console optimization priority). For a low budget I'd say amd. If you could squeeze 100$ more go intel i5.

[rap1dcs]

G3258 you will have to upgrade within a year or so as more games take advantage of multi cores (Blame devs for giving console optimization priority). For a low budget I'd say amd. If you could squeeze 100$ more go intel i5.

Unfortunately i can't spend more money (i would have liked an i5). What about the FX-6300? It has 6 cores, keeping me at a low budget. On http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html it's even ranked higher than both the i3-4160 and G3258.

[FSBAlston]

Unfortunately i can't spend more money (i would have liked an i5). What about the FX-6300? It has 6 cores, keeping me at a low budget. On http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html it's even ranked higher than both the i3-4160 and G3258.

AMD is the final answer for me then.

[rap1dcs]

AMD is the final answer for me then.

Alright, thanks for helping me out

[s3ns3]

Unfortunately i can't spend more money (i would have liked an i5). What about the FX-6300? It has 6 cores, keeping me at a low budget. On http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html it's even ranked higher than both the i3-4160 and G3258.

Stop using those type of sites . They are pure garbage

I3 4340 same ghz as the 4160

http://www.hardcoreware.net/intel-core-i3-4340-review/2/

Even a low power i3 is better for gaming than an fx

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8774/intel-haswell-low-power-cpu-review-core-i3-4130t-i5-4570s-and-i7-4790s-tested/5

[theodoro]

Probably the 4 years. So the quality of the GTX 750 Ti (mainly) does not beat the AMD build for the price?

I wasn't talking about GPUs (when i compare AMD vs Intel i obviously talk about CPUs).  

For the GPU you can chose whatever you want. They are both good options. 

The 750Ti has lower TDP which means lower heat, low power consuptions and low noise. The 260X is a tiny bit faster if you don't OC, but if you do OC then the 750Ti is the clear winner. 

Now again (for your systems), i would suggest to pick the FX6300 because is a faster CPU for multitaksing and it won't cause any bottleneck to the 750Ti or the 260X. Since you are going to keep a processor for about 3-5 years, then the 6-core CPU is a better choice than a dual core CPU.

My suggestions though, would be :  the FX6300 + 750Ti or the Pentium G3258 + R9 280. 

The 2nd build will be MUCH faster for gaming, but it won't be that fast at some other applications. (i recommend the 2nd)

I don't know the prices at your country but to my country both systems will cost 250 euros.

 

Stop using those type of sites . They are pure garbage

I3 4340 same ghz as the 4160

http://www.hardcoreware.net/intel-core-i3-4340-review/2/

Even a low power i3 is better for gaming than an fx

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8774/intel-haswell-low-power-cpu-review-core-i3-4130t-i5-4570s-and-i7-4790s-tested/5

While i do agree the cpubenchmark doens't help at all, i just wanted to say that the anandtech benchmarks were done with a GTX770. 

A better CPU will help much more if you have a 770 instead of having a 750Ti. The 750Ti will be the major bottleneck, not the FX6300. 

Also, in my experience, while 2 cores are enough for gaming, they're not enough for other applications. The FX6300 is still a great CPU even that it doesn't perform just as good as most intel CPUs in games.

[rap1dcs]

I wasn't talking about GPUs (when i compare AMD vs Intel i obviously talk about CPUs).  

For the GPU you can chose whatever you want. They are both good options. 

The 750Ti has lower TDP which means lower heat, low power consuptions and low noise. The 260X is a tiny bit faster if you don't OC, but if you do OC then the 750Ti is the clear winner. 

Now again (for your systems), i would suggest to pick the FX6300 because is a faster CPU for multitaksing and it won't cause any bottleneck to the 750Ti or the 260X. Since you are going to keep a processor for about 3-5 years, then the 6-core CPU is a better choice than a dual core CPU.

My suggestions though, would be :  the FX6300 + 750Ti or the Pentium G3258 + R9 280. 

The 2nd build will be MUCH faster for gaming, but it won't be that fast at some other applications. (i recommend the 2nd)

I don't know the prices at your country but to my country both systems will cost 250 euros.

Great reply! I am a bit of a newbie at building PC's, and i just don't want to do any overclocking at all. I know i should but im not brave enough and i can't really be bothered. I am looking for something that just runs solid out of the box.

 

So im pretty sure that i'll pick the FX6300, but with a non-overclocked GPU, would you say the 260x is the best choice among these we discussed?  The R9 280 is too expensive for me.

[s3ns3]

The FX6300 is still a great CPU

So is the i3 and its better for gaming which is what the OP wants.and i say it again in cpu bound games the performance can be more than double