CPU recommendations?

boldpilot5 said:Hey 🙂

A few days ago, I decided to start shopping for a new build. My starting point was basically this:
HTML Code:

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/203473/intel-core-i3-10100f-processor-6m-cache-up-to-4-30-ghz.html

$358, but now it’s unavailable 😢
I had roughly balanced the price for the CPU, motherboard, and RAM... then I scrolled through this forum. Everyone seemed to be saying—not to me personally, just reading other people's threads—that stores are packed with Intel chips, that once you switch sockets you have to buy everything all over again, that AMD Ryzen is way better than Intel right now, and that market share is sitting at 75% for AMD versus 25% for Intel. So, based on what I read, I swapped the CPU and went with an AMD Ryzen 😉 instead. Now I'm confused because I see an Intel processor being offered 🙄

I actually thought about bumping up my budget, though I'm not sure by how much. One thing is set in stone: I'm paying in installments 😉. Given all that, what configuration would you recommend? We'll see how much that ends up costing. I might have set my budget too low to begin with 😉

Thanks for understanding 😉

The R5 1600af hits around 12,000-13,000 on PassMark, while the Intel i3 is just north of 9,000... plus you've got 6 cores versus 4... the only thing is the i3 has higher single-core speed, maybe 2660 compared to 2100 on the Ryzen... those numbers are rough estimates... someone should check PassMark to be sure

If your software favors more cores, the R5 is the winner. But some things will run fine on the i3 if 4 cores are enough... the whole thing really comes down to saving some $67 on the processor if you go with the i3... and you'd save money on an Intel motherboard too $67... which is basically half the cost of a used RX 580... assuming that card is even enough for you. A GTX 1070 is a stronger GPU... for $433

Benjamin Campbell55 said:Can I run a Q9550 processor with an HD 7850 on a 500W power supply (12V1 - 19A and 12V2 - 19A)?

It'll work if the PSU is new and high-quality, like a Corsair...
If it's some generic junk or a cheap no-brand unit, forget about it...

boldpilot5 said:It’s not working, and she's been sitting there for a few years now 😉 I just needed to flash a new BIOS. I think it was on the F1 version, but for a Phenom 955 you need the F6 or F7 BIOS 😉 which I obviously sorted out 🙂

The Phenom 2 955 x4 uses an AM3 socket, so it physically won't fit into an FM1 or FM2 socket... I've handled plenty of these Phenoms and I always put them into AM3 socket motherboards

So, I put together these builds based on some advice, just wondering what you guys think and if everything actually works together

First one: costs about 3 $85

Second one: costs about 4 $28

maybe this

The GPU, SSD 256GB, and RAM 2 X8GB are basically the same as the first build 😉

Third one: costs about 3 $233

The GPU, SSD 256GB, and RAM 2 X8GB are the same as the first one

or maybe without a GPU $850 (if I just stick with my old GTX 1030 2GB)

Let me know if I should fix anything, thanks! 🙂

1) If you're leaning toward Intel, don't sweat the 3200MHz RAM. Intel isn't nearly as sensitive to speed, and with that specific CPU and motherboard combo, you won't be able to push past 2667 or 2993 MHz anyway.

2) The 2700X is basically twice the processor compared to an i3 10100f. It's much better for futureproofing.

3) Between those two motherboards, I'd go with the Gaming X.

4) Honestly, the i3 10100f looks like the smarter move over the R3 3100. You're looking at a pricier B450 board which is overkill here, so the i3 10100f just makes more sense for the money.

5) For immediate gaming gains, your best bet is grabbing the i3 10100f and a new GPU. You can probably flip your old card for maybe 200-$100.
Long-term, though? Better to grab a Ryzen 1600 or a 2700X and just add a GPU later once you've actually saved up the cash.

So, I think this would be the setup:

CPU: https://www.amazon.com/AMD-Ryzen-5-5600X-Processor/dp/B09V6S8S7W

MBO: https://www.newegg.com/p/ASUS-Prime-B450-AM4/

SSD 256GB: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/ssd-256gb/

RAM: https://www.newegg.com/p/RAM-2-X8GB/

GPU: https://www.amazon.com/GTX-1070/

and also what I have from my old build:

PSU: https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Power-Supply/dp/B00XXXX

so I guess I could use some suggestions for a case from Best Buy or maybe Amazon that fits everything above, since almost everything is new so I might as well get a new case too 🙂

And if anyone could give me some final advice on whether these parts actually work together or if there's something better for the same price, THANKS 🙂

Maybe it's better to check Best Buy, maybe they can put it together for me, and also, I wonder if my power supply will be enough for all this

boldpilot5, there’s honestly no point in picking up a 1050Ti; a single 1650 super will absolutely crush it. That card is outdated and just isn't worth your cash right now.

Also, don't go pushing for an R7 Ryzen if you can't afford a decent GPU within your budget. It’s a completely different ballgame when you're aiming for cards that sit above $1000, which means you'd have to look at other processors. Bottom line: focus your energy on the graphics card.

Here is what I would suggest:

* (It's not worth grabbing one with lower speeds since the price difference is negligible; plus, they lack a heatsink, so they'll just run at whatever speed they manage to hit.)

I see you're also looking at SSDs.

Alexander Moore67 said:Despite all the advice about buying a decent power supply,😵😵😵😵😵😵bonk :😵😵
we can talk about what they should buy all day long, but people just do whatever they want... I wonder if any kid actually listens.

I just grabbed whatever was in stock. I read that the PSU was good, and it's practically silent. My current one has lasted four years without issues. If this one lasts as long, I guess I'll be satisfied until my next upgrade.

The dual-fan CPU cooler is surprisingly quiet, too. I'm pretty happy with it.

Timothy Kim60 said:Honestly, if you're looking at budget builds, going with the i3 10100f seems like the smartest move. You can grab one for around $150, and it’s basically just a rebranded i7 7700.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=i3+10100f

Then maybe pair it with an H410 motherboard for about $167, add some RAM 2 X8GB, and put whatever you can afford into the GPU. A used GTX 1070 for roughly $433 would probably be the best buy here.

This processor is almost trivial. I looked into the i7 7700, but the prices are just terrible since they're mostly used stock.

Edward Thompson86 said:That processor is practically a steal. I was hunting for an i7 7700 and the prices were absolute garbage because they're just used units.

Honestly, people clinging to older i5s or especially i7s are living in a complete fantasy land.

Take this exact comparison between a modern i3 and an i7 7700. Those owners look at it like they dropped $2,500$1000 back in the day, so they refuse to let go for anything, but you really have to move with the times.

The i3 10100f actually beats the i7 7700 8650 on PassMark... it’s wild how much better the single-thread rating is on that i3. If you're stuck with an old motherboard, just jump to an i7, but $233 don't expect anything more than that since it's not worth the effort... if you're buying a brand new motherboard, though, the i3 is definitely the way to go.

Timothy Kim60 said:Honestly, if you're looking at budget builds right now, sticking with the i3 10100f is the smartest move. You can grab one for around $150, and it’s basically just a rebranded i7 7700.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=i3+10100f

Pair that with an H410 motherboard for about $167, throw in 2x8GB RAM, and then dump whatever's left into a GPU—a used GTX 1070 for roughly $433 would be the ultimate best buy here.

I wouldn't even call this a "budget" build; it's more like the "best value gaming" setup for 2020. The emphasis is on that value.

Alexander Moore67 said:I wouldn't just call it a budget build, I'd call it the Best Buy gaming starter pack for 2020... emphasis on Best Buy.

Look, to actually call something a "best buy," it needs to be somewhat future-proof. A quad-core processor in 2020? Doesn't cut it. It's fine if you're strictly looking at budget options, but that's it.
Ryzen 1600 and 3600 are the real best buys for their price points.

https://ibb.co/K2zvTPw
Just my thoughts on gaming performance regarding the Intel Core i3-10100 versus the Ryzen 5 1600AF.

Alexander Moore67 said:https://ibb.co/K2zvTPw
That's the deal on gaming with an Intel Core i3-10100 versus an R5 1600AF.

Like I said above, that i3 is a solid short-term pick and generally fine for gaming. But don't call it "futureproof." It's basically in the same spot as those old quad-core chips without hyperthreading—think the Intel Core i5-7400—that were great for gaming back in the day but are getting absolutely crushed now by 4c/8t or 6-core processors (though they still hold up okay in lighter titles). The difference is the i3-10100 is actually a better value right now than the i5 was then because the price is decent, making it a "good buy," just not the "best buy."

The PC is up. This is just a quick test run.
It seems to be working fine..

https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/35465297

UserBenchmarks: Gaming 98%, Desktop 90%, Work 92%
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 - 82.4%
GPU: Nvidia RTX 2070S (Super) - 113.7%
SSD: Adata XPG SX8200 Pro NVMe PCIe M.2 256GB - 245.8%
HDD: Seagate ST1000LM048-2E7172 1TB - 72.5%
RAM: Unknown 3200 C16 Series 2x8GB - 102.2%
MBD: MSI B450M MORTAR MAX (MS-7B89)

Edward Thompson86 said:

The PC is up and running; this is the test results from him.
It performs great..

https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/35465297

UserBenchmarks: Gaming 98%, Desktop 90%, Work 92%
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 - 82.4%
GPU: Nvidia RTX 2070S (Super) - 113.7%
SSD: Adata XPG SX8200 Pro NVMe PCIe M.2 256GB - 245.8%
HDD: Seagate ST1000LM048-2E7172 1TB - 72.5%
RAM: Unknown 3200 C16 Series 2x8GB - 102.2%
MBD: MSI B450M MORTAR MAX (MS-7B89)

Glad you're happy with it. We're all satisfied, just don't push it with heavy stress tests like Furmark because your power supply is budget-tier, and despite what you say, there isn't actually any serious review out for it!

Guys, your sources are unreliable and frankly, they aren't worth much. It’s highly questionable whether TechCrunch even owns the hardware they claim to be testing—they might just be making things up or cobbling together data from other reviews. Even if they weren't, the whole argument that this would theoretically outperform an R5 1600AF or 2600 is moot click. And don't even get me started on UserBenchmark. If people actually relied on that site, they'd end up buying products that are objectively slower according to any legitimate, professional review. That's why it's banned on certain forums like Reddit; it's useless and only serves to stir up unnecessary drama.

To get to the heart of the matter: starting a thread about which CPU is faster is pointless because the performance gaps are tiny, especially when you're testing them with entry-level GPUs like a 10-series $0.00. Realistically, you're better off dumping most of your budget into the GPU and picking the cheapest CPU that can still handle modern titles.

In reality, his CPU and motherboard combo will cost him $367. He'll have some fun with it for a while, but when he goes to resell it in a few years, he’s going to be looking at a loss of hundreds of dollars. Sure, in theory, a 6-core/12-thread chip is more "future-proof" than a 4-core/8-thread one because it won't start stuttering in games as early (just like we see now with pure quad-cores), but until then, he can play current games for years. Who knows what the AAA titles will require in a year or two, though.

If he were going to invest more wisely, the OP should really focus on beefing up the GPU. Instead of settling for a 1650 Super, he should go for a 1660 Super. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gtx+1660+super
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/graphics-cards

That's where you'll actually feel the difference. At the end of the day, gaming performance is almost entirely dependent on the GPU.

Which one of these two CPUs is better for just everyday stuff on a build with a 500GB SSD and 16GB of RAM? I'm not even touching games.
Ryzen is technically faster, but I’ve always had this thing about Intel, and the price is pretty much neck and neck...

Neither one. They aren't good deals, and neither has integrated graphics. You running a dedicated GPU?