FX 6300 vs i3 4170
For gaming and raw performance wise, which CPU is better?
Technically FX-6300 is better for raw performance, but for gaming:
http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/401217-more-updated-fx-vs-intel-for-gaming/
Simple conclusions - Why Intel i3/i5 are better for gaming then competing AMD FX:
- Generally better gaming performance (see below)
- Lower power consumption
- Lower heat output, heat output that the stock cooler can actually handle, eliminating the need for an aftermarket cooler for a quiet PC
- Upgradability: Buy an i3 now and upgrade to a massively more powerful i7 later while keeping the same motherboard. Buy an FX8 now, and be stuck with it until next mobo upgrade
- Greater motherboard selection, no need for fancy VRMs (see below)
- More modern technologies: PCIe 3.0, native USB 3.0/3.1, on-die integrated graphics (in case of GPU failure, can keep using your PC), etc
- Better IPC: Every MHz does more with Intel.
More cores does not mean better, if you can't use all of them. Intel cores are not twice as powerful as FX cores (given at stock), but if you can only use half of the cores on your FX then what's the point of having so many?
And before people think it, there is no bias here, I am an AMD CPU user. I don't regret my purchase because I did it back in the day when AMD was still highly competitive with Intel's first-gen Core-i CPUs, but here today, I'm just giving cold hard facts.
Gaming performance
Grand Theft Auto V
FX6 and FX8 fall between i3 and i5
The Witcher 3
FX6 and FX8 fall behind respective i3 and i5
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
A game optimized pretty darn well for multi-threaded CPUs, still can't see the FX8 pull away from i5
Batman Arkham Knight
Even the top-of-the-line FX 9590 can't catch up to i3
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Lowest-end i3 can compete with FX, but even a 0.4GHz higher model and Intel starts to pull away
Project CARS
Once again FX6 and FX8 falling behind respective i3 and i5
Far Cry 4
I'm sure you can see the pattern here
If you note in some of these benchmarks, sometimes FX4 is actually ahead of FX6, because it is running at a higher frequency on each of the cores. These are examples of poor multi-threaded optimization in games. Many AAA titles still can't use more then 4 cores, so 4 FX cores at 3.8GHz is better then 6 FX cores at 3.5GHz.
VRMs - what are they and why are they important:
When talking about AM3+ boards you'll often hear the term VRMs. These are Voltage Regulation Modules, they are what turn the PSU's 12V into the ~1.4V (FX) your CPU will take. So the higher the power draw of your CPU, the more work the VRMs have to do. On Intel boards this isn't a big deal because at stock speeds you won't see more then 88W of CPU TDP, but you can't trust these same VRMs with the 125W FX chips. Overloading motherboard VRMs can actually lead to them burning out, causing a dead motherboard and possibly a fire hazard.
Read more about VRMs: http://www.overclock.net/a/about-vrms-mosfets-motherboard-safety-with-high-tdp-processors
Price:
(This is where the text comes in so get your English and math comprehension skills ready)
People think that FX is cheaper, and therefore is better for the money, and they'd be willing to make that sacrifice in performance for a bit of sacrifice in cost, but in reality, the difference is negligible. Take a look at these comparisons. Again this continues on the fact that you'll want a board with good VRMs for reliability on AM3+, while it's pretty much whatever with locked Intel chips. For this reason we'll be comparing using probably the best "cheap" AM3+ board, the Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P, with it's 8+2 phase VRMs, compared to a budget Intel H97 board.
FX-6300 vs i3
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($96.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $176.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 19:59 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($108.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $173.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:01 EDT-0400
$3 cheaper for the i3, and keep in mind as we proved above, the i3s are more then capable of competing with FX8 and even FX9 chips, only in the worst case scenario being around the same as FX6. On top of that, the benefits of Intel as listed above.
FX-8320 vs i5
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $214.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:03 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($166.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $231.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:04 EDT-0400
$17 more for the i5, for much higher performance and pretty much zero bottleneck with any single GPU in any game, as opposed to the struggling FX...
Cooler
Do note that these builds are NOT with an aftermarket cooler. While the stock Intel coolers are fine for their accompanying chips, the coolers bundled with 125W FX chips aren't really up to the job, and can become VERY loud under load. If you want a quiet PC you'll want to invest in an aftermarket cooler. The cheapest one worth buying to quiet down an FX chip is the Zalman CNPS5X, which is $17.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-cpu-cooler-cnps5xperforma
This eliminates the price gap between the FX8 and i5, and makes the i3 choice $20 cheaper then the FX6 choice.
But what if I don't live in the USA?
Canada
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($122.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($109.75 @ Vuugo)
Total: $232.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:12 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($136.50 @ shopRBC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($93.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $230.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:12 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($169.75 @ Vuugo)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($109.75 @ Vuugo)
Total: $279.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:35 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.00 @ Vuugo)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.00 @ Vuugo)
Total: $291.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 20:14 EDT-0400
UK
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor (£79.19 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£64.54 @ More Computers)
Total: £143.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 01:14 BST+0100
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor (£84.53 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£69.47 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £154.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 01:14 BST+0100
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor (£108.13 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£64.54 @ More Computers)
Total: £172.67
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 01:15 BST+0100
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor (£137.36 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£34.68 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £172.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 01:15 BST+0100
Kangaroo Land
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($145.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: MSI 970 GAMING ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($145.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $290.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 10:25 AEST+1000
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($152.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.00 @ IJK)
Total: $251.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 10:26 AEST+1000
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($205.00 @ CPL Online)
Motherboard: MSI 970 GAMING ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($145.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $350.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 10:25 AEST+1000
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($246.00 @ Centre Com)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.00 @ IJK)
Total: $345.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 10:26 AEST+1000
Deutschland
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor (€99.90 @ Caseking)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard (€85.09 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Total: €184.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 02:23 CEST+0200
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor (€119.95 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (€76.89 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Total: €196.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 02:23 CEST+0200
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor (€139.90 @ Caseking)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard (€85.09 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Total: €224.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 02:23 CEST+0200
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor (€189.90 @ Caseking)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (€56.18 @ Amazon Deutschland)
Total: €246.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 02:23 CEST+0200
(more to be added)
Around the world the price differences do change and often the gap grows but there is never a point where the Intel option is "overpriced" compared to Intel, considering the performance you get.
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