Is the i3 processors usable for another 6 years ?

spiketide · 11-06-2012, 10:07 AM

Hello,
Hi I am planning to build a medium level gaming rig that can play atleast Crysis 1/Assasins Creed Brotherhood (You get the idea), on a very tight budget.

After much research based on performance and cost (cost, mainly!), I have rounded upon
CPU : i3 - 3220 3.3 Ghz
Mobo : DH61ZE / DH67BL (Please say which combo will be better)

I already have a 9500 GT graphics card.

So how does this config sound?

Also, how long do you all think it will take for the i3 processors to get outdated?

Thanks for sharing your inputs.

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*EDIT*
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Thanks for all of your inputs.
So, for a serious gaming rig, I should get atleast an i5 with a better Graphics Card.
I used to be an avid gamer, but sadly I don't find the time these days. Also, my current mobo got fried and I can't expand my budget as of now. So I guess, for now all I need is a rig to play games that were released till now (or an year or two earlier).
May be a year later I can save up and get a proper gaming PC.
So, now do you think that an i3 is a suitable (and cheap) option for me to buy right now?

SlowSpyder · 11-06-2012, 10:12 AM

I don't believe an i3 would be a good choice for a CPU for another six years. It is already a lower end part, six years is an eternity in the computer world. And a 9500GT isn't exactly a current power house, it wasn't a powerful part when it was released years ago.

I'd look at an AMD FX6300 before an i3. Otherwise I would suggest you keep saving your spare change until you can get an i5 and a better graphics card.

Just my $.02.

*edit - For the games you mentioned, an i3 is probably ok, though I still think the 9500GT is on the light side. And certainly will be almost useless in six years time, probably well before.

BD231 · 11-06-2012, 10:17 AM

A 2500k would go a lot further and you *should* be able to find one pretty cheap. I wouldn't go anything less than four cores if you plan on playing future games though, you'll get a lot more time out of a cpu you can OC properly.

Dual cores ARE already outdated so, something to consider.

2is · 11-06-2012, 10:31 AM

If you're going to play the same gaes 6 years down the line, sure. Otherwise, no

Insert_Nickname · 11-06-2012, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiketide

I already have a 9500 GT graphics card.

What kind of system are you currently using?. I would say you need a new graphics card before you need a new CPU/MB...

The 9500GT is outdated...

my 2c

IntelEnthusiast · 11-06-2012, 10:36 AM

Would an Intel® Core™ i3 processor work for 6 years? Yes but it really comes down to what you are going to be doing with that system. If you are looking for something for Internet, email, or streaming a media you are fine but if you are looking for gaming system in which you might be playing current high end games, no it won't work that long.

Jimzz · 11-06-2012, 10:38 AM

Yea I can see the AMD 6300 laster longer due to software in the future working better with quad+ than dual.

So either get a quad/six core now or save up to get one.

I think you can get 2-3 years out of a fast dual now depending on the games and also video card. But not 6 years IMO.

Magic Carpet · 11-06-2012, 10:43 AM

6 years?

An overclocked 3770K might still be adequate, who knows, not an i3 though.

Derped · 11-06-2012, 10:58 AM

Bad idea in my opinion, if you want something to age well then you can't buy from the bottom and expect it to last. My i7 920 is beginning its 5th year of duty and I think its still fine for my needs but it was the low end of the high end if that makes sense. It was $280. And I wouldn't buy anything AMD either, not just because of the slow performance but because of the high power usage. The extra money spent on power usage over six years might make the i5 3570k cheaper than something from AMD in the long run.

Eureka · 11-06-2012, 11:02 AM

Depends on what you mean by usable. My dual core rig is about 6 years old, it was using a budget Pentium Dual-Core back then. Nowadays it's basically a media pc, I can get online and watch stuff, and play the occasional low-end game. It will still run fine, but it won't be competitive in 6 years.

aaksheytalwar · 11-06-2012, 11:05 AM

Short answer NO.

frozentundra123456 · 11-06-2012, 12:04 PM

The i3 should be adequate for general use but not for gaming. I would definitely go for an i5, preferably an unlocked one. That said, the biggest weakness is the graphics card. That card is inadequate for current games, much less a few years down the road. You will need at least a HD 7850 or higher.

Dark Shroud · 11-06-2012, 01:57 PM

Either the FX-6300 from AMD or go with an A10 & the FM2 socket that will get Steamroller CPU upgrade options.

aaksheytalwar · 11-06-2012, 01:59 PM

No 6 year old gpu can run today's games leave alone a low end one.

ShintaiDK · 11-06-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Shroud

Either the FX-6300 from AMD or go with an A10 & the FM2 socket that will get Steamroller CPU upgrade options.

Steamroller is currently completely missing from AMD roadmaps. And a second Pilediver CPU for FM2 inserted instead.

frozentundra123456 · 11-06-2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Shroud

Either the FX-6300 from AMD or go with an A10 & the FM2 socket that will get Steamroller CPU upgrade options.

FX-6300 trades blows with i3 now unless overclocked, and is far behind any intel quad. A10 is even slower. If you want future proof, get an i5 or i7.

SPBHM · 11-06-2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaksheytalwar

No 6 year old gpu can run today's games leave alone a low end one.

8800GTX (and you can even use in SLI) and Core 2 Quad are 6 years old...
and car run any game...

as for the I3,
I think it will be quite bad in 6 years time... it's a dual core CPU...

oh, and the 9500GT is already quite slow, it's no faster than Intel HD4000.

Zorander · 11-06-2012, 04:44 PM

I can't think of many, if any, 6-year-old computer component that is still capable of playing today's/latest games. On GPU alone, they are incapable of DX11 features and have limited VRAMs. Within 6 years, who knows how many cores are commonplace. Dual-core CPUs will probably be budget stuff or extinct by then.

If you really want to keep your CPU for that long, an overclockable quad-core (i5/i7 K-series) is really what you need to buy. Anything less will just get outdated sooner no matter how you will against it.

p.s. From personal experience, when I got my first dual-core in 2005 (A64 X2 3800+), I thought I would never need upgrade my CPU given my then normal activities of watching videos and web-browsing. By late 2008, 1080p videos rendered it impotent. Lesson learned: nothing lasts for long, esp. in the computer world.

OBLAMA2009 · 11-06-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiketide

Hello,
Hi I am planning to build a medium level gaming rig that can play atleast Crysis 1/Assasins Creed Brotherhood (You get the idea), on a very tight budget.

After much research based on performance and cost (cost, mainly!), I have rounded upon
CPU : i3 - 3220 3.3 Ghz
Mobo : DH61ZE / DH67BL (Please say which combo will be better)

I already have a 9500 GT graphics card.

So how does this config sound?

Also, how long do you all think it will take for the i3 processors to get outdated?

Thanks for sharing your inputs.

im sorry to say that probably will still be a usable machine 6 years from now. cpu's have more or less stopped getting faster and there really isnt any software that would make faster chips necessary.

Durvelle27 · 11-06-2012, 05:17 PM

nope a dual core isn't going to cut it in 6 years as you can see alot of games being released are targeting quad cores

kowalabearhugs · 11-06-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OBLAMA2009

im sorry to say that probably will still be a usable machine 6 years from now. cpu's have more or less stopped getting faster and there really isnt any software that would make faster chips necessary.

Oh? Please elaborate on why chips are not getting faster or how the bit depth / resolution of multimedia workloads is decreasing or stagnant.

grimpr · 11-06-2012, 05:38 PM

An AMD FX 6300 is a much better value proposition.

Screech · 11-06-2012, 05:55 PM

I have an old computer with an athlon 64 3000+ (introduced at the end of 2003 I believe) that still runs......but isn't good for much more than checking email.

frozentundra123456 · 11-06-2012, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimpr

An AMD FX 6300 is a much better value proposition.

Compared to what?? AMDs worst area is gaming. Look at the posting for Crysis 3 in the Video Card forums. 8 core AMD FX cant even beat a 2 generation old intel quad. Fail to see how that is a good value. Cheap does not equal good value. Some people just can seem to accept that i5 or i7 is the best choice for gaming.

grimpr · 11-06-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frozentundra123456

Compared to what?? AMDs worst area is gaming. Look at the posting for Crysis 3 in the Video Card forums. 8 core AMD FX cant even beat a 2 generation old intel quad. Fail to see how that is a good value. Cheap does not equal good value. Some people just can seem to accept that i5 or i7 is the best choice for gaming.

Compared to the dualcore i3, simple as that.