Which CPU should I buy?

What exactly is the performance gap between an Intel Core i5-3470 and an Intel Core i5-4590? I'm wondering if it's worth shelling out the extra cash for the Intel Core i5-4590 to ensure things run smoothly for another three or four years—or if the Intel Core i5-3470 can still hold its own for a bit longer. Any thoughts?

Let's just say the price gap is maybe $100-$67. But since they don't share a socket, their actual value changes depending on what you're looking at. You might see a 5-10% performance bump, or maybe not even that much.

That isn't really a reason to upgrade; you're basically just looking at a sidegrade. If any Intel Core i5 3rd Gen struggles to keep up with a task, an Intel Core i5 4th Gen won't be able to handle it either.

Would you say the Intel Core i3-6100 is a better choice than the Intel Core i5-4460? Both are brand new and come with a 3-year warranty

Kenneth Green2 said:Would you say the Intel Core i3-6100 is a better choice than the Intel Core i5-4460? Both are brand new and come with a 3-year warranty

Well, the i3 is on a newer socket—meaning a more recent processor generation—but that i5 is technically "older." It really just depends on what you're planning to do with it. If you're looking to get into gaming, you're going to want as many cores as possible, and in that case, the Intel Core i5-4460 takes the win.

An i3-6100 might give you a 10% bump in those strictly single-threaded apps, but honestly, the i5 is way better overall. It really comes down to what you're actually trying to do and what kind of budget we're talking about here. You probably don't have two different motherboards just sitting in a drawer so you can swap them out depending on your mood.

Kenneth Green2 said:Would you say the Intel Core i3-6100 is a better choice than the Intel Core i5-4460? Both are brand new and come with a 3-year warranty

I guess the i5 wins either way.

Greetings. Please forgive my intrusion into this thread—I realize my question is somewhat tangential—but I am in need of some swift guidance. Would it be more prudent to opt for the Intel Core i5-4460 or the Intel Core i3-6100? My intention is to utilize the machine for both programming tasks and modern gaming titles. Best regards.

Kimberly Gomez34, your posts on this forum are consistently off-topic. We’ve even gone as far as opening specific threads and moving your comments just to keep things organized, but it feels like a losing battle! Please, stick to the appropriate threads.

Regarding your question, you seem to be spinning your wheels. You need to pick a budget first; once you do, we can actually suggest something that fits your specific needs. Comparing one CPU against another based solely on price points and generations doesn't get you anywhere. You've bounced from Pentium chips to i5s, and from Sandy Bridge all the way to Skylake... Think of a processor as just one single piece of a larger puzzle. At this rate, none of the hardware we've discussed would even work for you because they wouldn't fit within your actual budget.