i3 4150 with ssd vs i5 4460 with hdd

[ekuhlmann23]

I plan on upgrading my PC soon and want to know what would be best, to buy an i5 4460 with a hdd or keep with my i3 4150 and spend the money on a ssd and a better gpu. I plan mostly web browsing, occacional tiny c# projects in VS and mostly gaming. I could also sell my i3 but i would be loosing some money and I do not think I can sell it alone, so I would probably need to sell the mobo and the ram with it. Also the rest of the PC is crap, I am using and old case and a crappy PSU which I would need to upgrading anyways. What do you think would give me a better experience overall?

[eelnico09]

Lol, i5 all the way.

[Tim Drake]

i5

[paprikman]

It's better to save up more and upgrade the entire system. Some companies can buy your current system, so you will save some money.

[Fate]

As much as I love SSD's, if you game most of the time you're on your computer, go i5 and HDD. 

[Stefken89]

Are you lacking in the raw performance right now (check CPU loads when doing the things you want to be doing)? Or is it just loading times and snappyness that is making your pc slow? 

 

Well an SSD vs HDD gives you the snappyness, and i5 vs the i3 gives you the raw performance.

 

oh missed that you are mostly gaming.

You should give us a complete partslist of what you have and a budget to work with. Then you will get the best options.

[ekuhlmann23]

Are you lacking in the raw performance right now (check CPU loads when doing the things you want to be doing)? Or is it just loading times and snappyness that is making your pc slow? 

 

Well an SSD vs HDD gives you the snappyness, and i5 vs the i3 gives you the raw performance.

 

oh missed that you are mostly gaming.

You should give us a complete partslist of what you have and a budget to work with. Then you will get the best options.

I think I am missing snappiness because the i3 is a capable gaming chip, and when I do something else than gaming, I never get past 50% load. At least when I have checked. Also my 4gb of ram might have something to do with that.

My budget can strech all the way to $700, but I do not need to spend them all. I cureently have an i3 4150 with a gigabyte h97m d3h, 4gb of corsair xms3 ram and an old case and an old psu. I also have a WD 2TB green drive. If I keep the i3 I can buy 4gb more ram, a 120 or 240gb ssd, a 970 or 290, a corsair 350d and an evga 750w b2 psu. If I buy the i5, I need to buy a new mobo and the i5 4460 plus 4gb of ram only, a 280x or 960, a 350d and 750w b2 psu.

[ekuhlmann23]

Also since I have the h97 chipset, I can upgrade later to a broadwell i5.

[Analog]

Also since I have the h97 chipset, I can upgrade later to a broadwell i5.

 

If Broadwell is on the 1150 chipset, which it probably will be, with a BIOS update upgrading will be possible and seamless. 

[vembutech]

Hopefully i5 as said.

[weez]

Are you using that gpu in your profile? If so thats holding you back and a new gpu instead of an i5 will see you the biggest improvements to gaming.

[SteveGrabowski]

I think I am missing snappiness because the i3 is a capable gaming chip, and when I do something else than gaming, I never get past 50% load. At least when I have checked. Also my 4gb of ram might have something to do with that.

My budget can strech all the way to $700, but I do not need to spend them all. I cureently have an i3 4150 with a gigabyte h97m d3h, 4gb of corsair xms3 ram and an old case and an old psu. I also have a WD 2TB green drive. If I keep the i3 I can buy 4gb more ram, a 120 or 240gb ssd, a 970 or 290, a corsair 350d and an evga 750w b2 psu. If I buy the i5, I need to buy a new mobo and the i5 4460 plus 4gb of ram only, a 280x or 960, a 350d and 750w b2 psu.

 

A GTX 970 isn't a great fit with an i3, and an R9 290 is a really bad fit with it. If you're in the US you can go a long way with $700. If you can deal with $45 in rebate this is a beast of a system:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($187.99 @ NCIX US) 

Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($51.89 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4GB Tri-X Video Card  ($279.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case Fan: NZXT RF-FN142-RB 50.0 CFM 140mm  Fan  ($6.99 @ Directron) 

Case Fan: NZXT RF-FN142-RB 50.0 CFM 140mm  Fan  ($6.99 @ Directron) 

Total: $696.82

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-26 14:26 EST-0500

[SteveGrabowski]

I would absolutely recommend the two extra case fans since the S340 doesn't come with intake fans. It's a beautiful case though and i5-4590 plus one of the best R9 290's is a really potent combination.

 

[ekuhlmann23]

 

 

A GTX 970 isn't a great fit with an i3, and an R9 290 is a really bad fit with it. If you're in the US you can go a long way with $700. If you can deal with $45 in rebate this is a beast of a system:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($187.99 @ NCIX US) 

Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($51.89 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4GB Tri-X Video Card  ($279.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case Fan: NZXT RF-FN142-RB 50.0 CFM 140mm  Fan  ($6.99 @ Directron) 

Case Fan: NZXT RF-FN142-RB 50.0 CFM 140mm  Fan  ($6.99 @ Directron) 

Total: $696.82

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-26 14:26 EST-0500

 

I remember watching a video by Austin Evans comparing the haswell i3 vs the i5 for gaming and it was not a huge difference, even when both paired with a 780. Considering the 290 is not that powerful when compared to that one, I think I should be fine.

[SteveGrabowski]

Also, that i5-4590 will run at 3.5GHz on full load if you select the Performance power profile in Windows. The Has well Refresh CPUs seem to be really good about cooling well enough to always enable the turbo boost if you set your power profile for that.

[ekuhlmann23]

Are you using that gpu in your profile? If so thats holding you back and a new gpu instead of an i5 will see you the biggest improvements to gaming.

Yes. I could buy both but it if I go with the i5 I could buy a 960 or 280x where as with the i3 I could stay with the 290 and an SSD.

[ekuhlmann23]

 

 

A GTX 970 isn't a great fit with an i3, and an R9 290 is a really bad fit with it. If you're in the US you can go a long way with $700. If you can deal with $45 in rebate this is a beast of a system:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($187.99 @ NCIX US) 

Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($51.89 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4GB Tri-X Video Card  ($279.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case Fan: NZXT RF-FN142-RB 50.0 CFM 140mm  Fan  ($6.99 @ Directron) 

Case Fan: NZXT RF-FN142-RB 50.0 CFM 140mm  Fan  ($6.99 @ Directron) 

Total: $696.82

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-26 14:26 EST-0500

 

Also, I live in Costa Rica so I have to pay 13% tax on the total of my purchase, plus approximately $100 for the shipping from the US to CR ( for all items, not for each one)

[SteveGrabowski]

I remember watching a video by Austin Evans comparing the haswell i3 vs the i5 for gaming and it was not a huge difference, even when both paired with a 780. Considering the 290 is not that powerful when compared to that one, I think I should be fine.

A 290 is more powerful than a 780 and the AMD driver overhead is horrendous on an i3. If you don't believe me google Eurogamers review of the GTX 960 where they show an i3-4130 + GTX 750 To combination outperforming an i3-4130 + R9 280 even though the 280 is miles better than the 750 To when combined with an i5 or i7. Austin Evans is wrong when he says CPU doesn't matter.

[ekuhlmann23]

A 290 is more powerful than a 780 and the AMD driver overhead is horrendous on an i3. If you don't believe me google Eurogamers review of the GTX 960 where they show an i3-4130 + GTX 750 To combination outperforming an i3-4130 + R9 280 even though the 280 is miles better than the 750 To when combined with an i5 or i7. Austin Evans is wrong when he says CPU doesn't matter.

 

I hereby stand corrected.

 

[IP man]

i5 imo SSD for OS, HDD for games, ect.

[SteveGrabowski]

Also, I live in Costa Rica so I have to pay 13% tax on the total of my purchase, plus approximately $100 for the shipping from the US to CR ( for all items, not for each one)

I'd stick with your i3 then and get a GTX 960, as that's a pretty balanced combination and you won't have to worry about bottlenecking with it. It will still be a really nice gaming system. I'll assume you have $530 to spend since with 13% tax and $100 shipping that's $700. Give me a minute and I'll recommended something.

[SteveGrabowski]

Freaking autocorrect changing 750 Ti to 750 To lol.

[ekuhlmann23]

I thought of buying this:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/y9vnFT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/y9vnFT/by_merchant/

Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($69.99 @ Micro Center)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($282.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $557.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-26 14:46 EST-0500

 

but given that the i3 is not a great match for the 290, I am thinking about the 960 or saving more money for the i5.

[weez]

I thought of buying this:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/y9vnFT

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/y9vnFT/by_merchant/

Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($39.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($69.99 @ Micro Center)

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($282.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($74.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $557.95

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-26 14:46 EST-0500

 

but given that the i3 is not a great match for the 290, I am thinking about the 960 or saving more money for the i5.

 

Getting an i5 will do nothing if you dont get a new gpu. Keep the i3 and get a 960, you'll save money and gain a ton of gaming performance.

[i_build_nanosuits]

I think I am missing snappiness because the i3 is a capable gaming chip, and when I do something else than gaming, I never get past 50% load. At least when I have checked. Also my 4gb of ram might have something to do with that.

My budget can strech all the way to $700, but I do not need to spend them all. I cureently have an i3 4150 with a gigabyte h97m d3h, 4gb of corsair xms3 ram and an old case and an old psu. I also have a WD 2TB green drive. If I keep the i3 I can buy 4gb more ram, a 120 or 240gb ssd, a 970 or 290, a corsair 350d and an evga 750w b2 psu. If I buy the i5, I need to buy a new mobo and the i5 4460 plus 4gb of ram only, a 280x or 960, a 350d and 750w b2 psu.

you need 4 more GB of DDR3 RAM (8GB total required for gaming) and a new GPU for better gaming experience (R7 240 is shit), i suggest an R9 280 GPU to match with your i3...if you have some more money after those 2 upgrades then get an SSD.

 

Also, the i5-4460 is a direct drop in into your current motherboard if you want it you don't have to swap your motherboard.

I'd get a good quality 600W PSU or something like that...and case is fine provided it has at least an intake and an exaust fan it could be made of cardboard it would be fine.