Arcade machine CPU

[PudgyAstronaut]

I am considering 3 processors for a machine I am putting in a mini cabinet to play arcade games, possibly will install MAME and some steam games like Super Hexagon, Audio-surf 2, Race the Sun, etc. I am going LGA1150, but please don't tell me how stupid this is, I got a $16 motherboard with an i5 from micro-center for a buddy's build. I would consider either the Celeron G1840 or the Pentium G3258 which are $35 and $50 respectively at Microcenter. I am also slightly tempted to grab the i3-4170 instead for $100 since I think it would allow for the best ability to re-purpose the rig, or use it for other things.

 

So, does anyone have any opinion about the Celeron vs Pentium for this light use case. I wouldn't be doing much overclocking honestly, so the G3258 would perhaps only have it's better resale value. Is there any other advantage besides being unlocked and having 3.2GHz stock vs 2.8GHz? Are there any other compelling reasons to get the i3 for this style machine or would that only be useful if I throw in a GPU and re-purpose it?

[Guest]

Just get the cheapest thing if its gonna be strictly for arcade games.

[KemoKa]

There aren't really that many advantages to the pentium over the celeron other than that you can overclock the absolute shit out of it. I don't think you'll notice any differences seeing as anything you could possibly want to emulate is easily within the capabilities of even a Raspberry Pi 2.

[PudgyAstronaut]

There aren't really that many advantages to the pentium over the celeron other than that you can overclock the absolute shit out of it. I don't think you'll notice any differences seeing as anything you could possibly want to emulate is easily within the capabilities of even a Raspberry Pi 2.

 

 

Just get the cheapest thing if its gonna be strictly for arcade games.

 

 

Well, that's why I mentioned the Steam games. Race the Sun for instance can't run at 1080p 60fps on my laptop. I am probably getting a 1600x1200 monitor for this cabinet, but I think that will be about the iGPU and not the CPU anyway. I figured the Celeron would be adequate, it's just not as good of a discount since it's so cheap anyway.

[Oberon.Smite]

The celeron might struggle in just normal use. Go with the G3258, it's a better CPU overall, and it can be repurposed down the road.

[KemoKa]

Well, that's why I mentioned the Steam games. Race the Sun for instance can't run at 1080p 60fps on my laptop. I am probably getting a 1600x1200 monitor for this cabinet, but I think that will be about the iGPU and not the CPU anyway. I figured the Celeron would be adequate, it's just not as good of a discount since it's so cheap anyway.

It'd probably run fine if you strapped a 5450 or a FireMV to it.

[PudgyAstronaut]

It'd probably run fine if you strapped a 5450 or a FireMV to it.

 

Actually have an HD 5570 I could steal from my mom, since I don't think it actually makes any difference for her usage. I'll probably try just integrated graphics first though.

 

The celeron might struggle in just normal use. Go with the G3258, it's a better CPU overall, and it can be repurposed down the road.

 

Hmmm, I wouldn't re purpose it probably but miiight sell it. Although disregarding overclock I doubt the difference between 2.8GHz and 3.2GHz matters that much. Are the iGPUs the same?

[KemoKa]

Are the iGPUs the same?

Most likely, seeing as they are at the same sort of end of the spectrum.