intel Best i3 (or other) Option for my MSI Z170A SLI

[m3r41ck]

So I recently purchased the MSI Z170A SLI Plus for my first ever build. I bought this with the intention of getting my first rig cheap and quick so I can start playing soon while having options to expand for memory, OC (if I ever want to), SLI, m.2, etc. I know I want to go with an i3 and I was thinking of the Intel - Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor as it has good reviews and all but I thought I would check with the community on this in case there is a better i3 option (6th generation or lower). I know I could go for an i5 but I am not looking to spend ~$200 for a CPU atm. Maybe later or upgrade towards an AMD (mobo including). 

 

Also, current build. Open to any input  https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9RWpLD 

[tom_w141]

Get a Pentium G4560 it makes the i3 redundant. Best budget build is a G4560 and an RX 570.

 

EDIT: Z170 motherboard (overclocking motherboard) and a locked cpu? To make that mobo worth the purchase you need a 6600k minimum.

[Daan101]

looks good, no PSU tho?

[m3r41ck]

For some reason it's not showing through the link but its showing on my end. I was going to go with a EVGA - 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply

[Max_Settings]

Well if you are getting an i3, you don't need a Z series board, drop to an H or B series and save money

[Going_AFK]

wait for ryzen 3 or get a low end ryzen 5 

[domandric034]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI - B250M PRO-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($62.88 @ OutletPC) 
Memory: Crucial - 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($49.88 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.44 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: Asus - Radeon RX 580 4GB Dual Video Card  ($209.98 @ Directron) 
Case: Deepcool - TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case  ($35.99 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: EVGA - 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.88 @ OutletPC) 
Total: $511.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-06 17:25 EDT-0400

[domandric034]

2 minutes ago, Going_AFK said:

wait for ryzen 3 or get a low end ryzen 5 

Thats also nice option. But I don't think Ryzen will fit in $300-$500 budget until more A320 boards come out and Ryzen 3 comes out.

 

[Going_AFK]

also get a 570

 

[domandric034]

Just now, Going_AFK said:

also get a 570

 

My build is better cause he has G4560 + RX 580 4 GB. It is same budget but downgraded mb and cpu

[ARikozuM]

G4560 and some fast RAM (3000MHz) will give you all the performance you'll need until you're ready for an i5-K or i7-K.

 

You can also wait for Ryzen 3, but seeing how R5-1500X/1600 gets about the same performance with all parts being equal, it'd be up to you to step up to a 1600.

[SPARTAN VI]

The OP already bought the Z170 board. Not that returning it is off the table, but the Ryzen recommendations need to take that into account...

 

Even a highly clocked i3 7350K ($160 USD) would barely match a Core i5 non-K in gaming. A Core i5 7500 can be had for around $190 USD, but you'll be wasting the overclocking features of your board. You'd need a hefty cooler on the i3 7350K anyway just to clock it in such a way to match an i5's performance, which would evaporate its budget advantages. But if it were between an i3 2C/4T unlocked processor versus an i5 4C/4T locked processor, I'd always go with the quad.

[DocSwag]

32 minutes ago, m3r41ck said:

For some reason it's not showing through the link but its showing on my end. I was going to go with a EVGA - 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply

Get a different PSU, maybe a Seasonic S12ii/M12ii or Corsair CXM Grey sticker unit, the evga 500w 80+bronze isn't great quality.

[m3r41ck]

Which tbh I could easily return as I literally got it yesterday especially if others think there are better, cheaper options. My main concern would be to at least be able to play some AAAs decently (me being "ok" with starting medium to high on the graphics scale), along with indie games, Overwatch, Civ 6, etc. This rig will be my first steps into a whole new world, I want to make sure I start of strong, buuuuuuuuut still cheap enough to get in within a couple of months.    

[SPARTAN VI]

So I'd return the Z170 board, then spring for a Ryzen 5 1600 w/ an AB350 board. Compared to your i3 6100 + Z170 combo, something like a R5 1600 + AsRock AB350M would be a net $60 swing (27% more expensive), but result in roughly 70-85% better performance in CPU intensive tasks (disclaimer: doesn't necessarily apply the same difference in gaming). It would be a 6C/12T gaming monster. I don't have the time to spec a full rig, but I'm sure there are plenty of eager folks around here to do that for you. 

[SPARTAN VI]

Seriously? No one's going to spec the guy a Ryzen rig? 

 

I know the moment I post one, there's going to be a dozen critics right behind me nitpicking my part choice... so here we go:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor  ($209.89 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($65.98 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($54.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.44 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Mini Video Card  ($133.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Case: Zalman - T2 Plus MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($30.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: EVGA - 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $581.27
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
 

So it's a net $60 premium over what you spec'd, but it's 60-80% more CPU performance. The case had to take a backseat to the rest of the build, but if you're really set on that Deepcool case, don't let my recommendations stop you. If you need an OS, check out kinguin.net for a cheap Windows license.

[ARikozuM]

41 minutes ago, spartanvi said:

I know the moment I post one, there's going to be a dozen critics right behind me nitpicking my part choice... so here we go:

Since you foretold!

41 minutes ago, spartanvi said:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($54.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Mini Video Card  ($133.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: EVGA - 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CX550M is around the same price and it's higher quality.

Faster RAM should always be taken since the cost isn't too high compared to higher density.

I'd skip on a GPU for a while until the OP can purchase a 480/580 or 1060 6GB.

[SPARTAN VI]

2 hours ago, ARikozuM said:

CX550M is around the same price and it's higher quality.

No, I have to heartily disagree that the Corsair CX550M is "higher quality."

 

The EVGA 500W PSU (100-B1-0500-KR) recommended has quite a few accolades considering it's in a value segment:

• JohnnyGuru - 8.4/10
• [H]ard|OCP - PASS
• Tech Power Up - 7.8/10
• Legit Reviews - Value Award

Whereas the Corsair CX550M earned a FAIL review from Hardware Insights, and I can't find a single professional review of it outside of that. The CX550M does win some style points for being modular.

 

On the RAM front, I recommended DDR4-2400 since that's the cheapest I could find on PCPPicker with a heatshield at speeds the board supports (2133 - 2667 without OC'ing). Going any higher inflates the budget and offers little in performance gains.

 

Unfortunately skipping the video card for a while isn't possible with a Ryzen build he plans to do now, unless he postpones the entire build. Ryzen doesn't have a iGPU, so he'll need something to output to a display if he builds anything Ryzen. And I wouldn't count on grabbing a RX580 anytime soon either. They're hugely popular with crypto-currency miners and are perpetually out of stock and scarcity has driven up their price beyond a logical gaming price:performance ratio. Check ebay for prices on even used RX580, 570, 480, and 470. 

[Not_Sean]

2 hours ago, spartanvi said:

Seriously? No one's going to spec the guy a Ryzen rig? 

 

I know the moment I post one, there's going to be a dozen critics right behind me nitpicking my part choice... so here we go:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor  ($209.89 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($65.98 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($54.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.44 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Mini Video Card  ($133.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Case: Zalman - T2 Plus MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($30.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: EVGA - 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $581.27
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
 

So it's a net $60 premium over what you spec'd, but it's 60-80% more CPU performance. The case had to take a backseat to the rest of the build, but if you're really set on that Deepcool case, don't let my recommendations stop you. If you need an OS, check out kinguin.net for a cheap Windows license.

I agree with this build except with the CPU, If the op was looking at a i3 originally he could grab a R5 1400 and be just as happy, plus a 4c/8t CPU is by no means updated. Yes its not best value but it would sit really well with budget. 

 

I would prob also drop the HDD for a 240 SSD, yeah you can't horde games but the improvement overall is day and night.

[SPARTAN VI]

9 minutes ago, Not_Sean said:

I agree with this build except with the CPU, If the op was looking at a i3 originally he could grab a R5 1400 and be just as happy, plus a 4c/8t CPU is by no means updated. Yes its not best value but it would sit really well with budget. 

 

I would prob also drop the HDD for a 240 SSD, yeah you can't horde games but the improvement overall is day and night.

Sure, I could get behind the idea of a R5 1400 and swinging the $50 toward a better GPU; it would indeed serve him better for gaming at least. IMO Ryzen's competitive advantage is its multicore performance though, so I'd personally lean toward a Core i5 7400 + B150 build. But in keeping with the spirit of competition:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1400 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($158.79 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($65.98 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($54.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.44 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB GAMING Video Card  ($179.99 @ B&H) 
Case: Zalman - T2 Plus MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($30.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: EVGA - 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $576.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

Before I get jumped for recommending the 3GB model of a GTX 1060, check the reviews on its 1080P performance. Cliff notes: it's identical to the 6GB model and $60 (33%) cheaper.

[Guest]

27 minutes ago, spartanvi said:

I have to heartily disagree that the Corsair CX550M is "higher quality."

 

The EVGA 500W PSU (100-B1-0500-KR) recommended has quite a few accolades considering it's in a value segment:

• JohnnyGuru - 8.7/10
• [H]ard|OCP - PASS
• Tech Power Up - 7.8/10
• Legit Reviews - Value Award

Whereas the Corsair CX550M earned a FAIL review from Hardware Insights, and I can't find a single professional review of it outside of that. The CX550M does win some style points for being modular.

Because you are limiting yourself with only 550w version of it

Hardware insgight? Who are they anyway?

 

Tomshardware for the 650w unit http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/corsair-cx650m-psu,review-33693-11.html

Johnyguru for the 750w unit, scores better in performance http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=486

 

 

@STRMfrmXMN

 

@Energycore

[Energycore]

31 minutes ago, spartanvi said:

Whereas the Corsair CX550M earned a FAIL review from Hardware Insights,

If you read the review, the guy scores it a fail on the basis of a slightly short hold-up time, a performance metric much less relevant than voltage regulation or ripple suppression.

 

Here's why the CXM 550W is better than the EVGA 500B:

 

It's made on a newer platform, with LLC resonant and DC-DC (this kind of topology is way better at mantaining voltage on crossloads)

It has a 5 year warranty compared to 3 years on the 500B

Has better performance in voltage and ripple (gathered from the review of the 650W version which is the same but with higher rated switching FETs / maybe other things)

[STRMfrmXMN]

11 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

Because you are limiting yourself with only 550w version of it

Hardware insgight? Who are they anyway?

 

Tomshardware for the 650w unit http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/corsair-cx650m-psu,review-33693-11.html

Johnyguru for the 750w unit, scores better in performance http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=486

 

 

@STRMfrmXMN

 

@Energycore

Well he's wrong for thinking the mediocre EVGA unit he's suggesting (which is group-regulated and of worse build quality than the Corsair) is a better unit, though the fail score is because of the bulk capacitor not passing Hardware Insight's hold up tests which 99% of users will never have to worry about. He talks about the electrical performance being fantastic and then fails it which is like getting a perfect score on a school History class essay but being failed for a grammatical error.

 

However, it is unfair for you to compare the 750W version of the CXM in this thread. It's a different unit entirely and is much better, though weird from a value perspective when the EVGA B2 is about the same price and better.

[SPARTAN VI]

There's also the problem that its voltage doesn't stay within the specification: 

"...because of a too lowly-rated bulk input capacitor, the power good signal does not, and upon further testing with a precise AC supply interruption, it is clear to me that the voltage doesn’t even stay in spec unless the hold-up time is much shorter. So short in fact that it may pose a risk of instability even if you actually use a UPS in conjunction with the power supply." I personally do use a sine wave UPS.

 

16 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

Because you are limiting yourself with only 550w version of it

Hardware insgight? Who are they anyway?

 

Tomshardware for the 650w unit http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/corsair-cx650m-psu,review-33693-11.html

Johnyguru for the 750w unit, scores better in performance http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=486

 

 

@STRMfrmXMN

 

@Energycore

But are the build quality and internals identical or comparable to that of the 650W and 750W units? I see Corsair sources CWT units for all three, but the CX750M is "DSAIII series."

[Energycore]

18 minutes ago, spartanvi said:

There's also the problem that its voltage doesn't stay within the specification: 

The voltage goes out of spec only for 2ms and only in the event of a brown-out. In which case what will happen is that your computer would shut down if a brown out of power cut happens. Is that good? No. Is it enough to consider it a bad PSU? Hell no.