FX-8350 vs i5-6402p for gaming

bchreng

Member
Aug 12, 2002
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Hey guys! I'm trying to game (possibly record/cast gameplay too via OBS) on a budget and would like your opinions. Most everything else being equal, (GPU, memory, and etc) which one would be better for gaming? Although the i5 seems to cost more upfront, I think it'll make up the difference in energy savings over the next couple years. My gaming will be limited to Blizzard games, Civ, Doom, Battlefield, Call of Duty and various racing games. Ideally, I would like to run them at 1080p with details set to high. For what it's worth, I'm planning to pair it with either an RX 480 or 1060.

Thanks in advance!

edit:

here are the two systems that I'm considering:

(hits $600 every now and then)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpo...-1tb-hard-drive-black/5615010.p?skuId=5615010

(hits $650 every now and then)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpo...hard-drive-black-blue/5641629.p?skuId=5641629
 
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LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
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I can't see buying an i5-6402P over an i5-6500. There will be no noticeable power usage difference, the price is about the same, and the 6500 is faster.

The FX-8350 is out of the question.

With Kaby Lake coming very soon, it would make sense to wait and see what that offers as far as price/performance.
 
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bchreng

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I can't see buying an i5-6402P over an i5-6500. There will be no noticeable power usage difference, the price is about the same, and the 6500 is faster.

The FX-8350 is out of the question.

With Kaby Lake coming very soon, it would make sense to wait and see what that offers as far as price/performance.

Ah okay. The reason for those 2 specific processors is because I'm deciding between 2 prebuilt systems. The 8350 system comes with a RX 480 4gb card and costs $600 (USD). The 6402p system ships with a 1060 3gb card and costs $50 more. Whichever one I decide to go with, I don't ever really intend to upgrade aside from 2x8gb RAM and a cheap SSD. This is mostly to satisfy my budget gaming itch. :)
 
Mar 10, 2006
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Ah okay. The reason for those 2 specific processors is because I'm deciding between 2 prebuilt systems. The 8350 system comes with a RX 480 4gb card and costs $600 (USD). The 6402p system ships with a 1060 3gb card and costs $50 more. Whichever one I decide to go with, I don't ever really intend to upgrade aside from 2x8gb RAM and a cheap SSD. This is mostly to satisfy my budget gaming itch. :)

I'm looking at your sig and it seems you have a very old computer. I would advise AGAINST waiting given that what you are using is so old and slow and the improvements that the new stuff will bring will be minor compared to the big leap that you'd get buying now.

I'd go with the Intel system. That CPU should offer better gaming performance and I know you said you don't intend to upgrade, but if you ever do want to put a better CPU in, there is an upgrade path from the 6402p. There is pretty much no path from the FX chip.
 
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I wouldnt buy any of them today, wait for Kabylake and AMD ZEN in January.

Kabylake is coming in January, but AMD has only committed to Q1 2017 volume shipments for Summit Ridge.

DigiTimes says volume shipments of Summit Ridge won't happen until "after February."

Following the releases of its Bristol Ridge-based desktop processors in September 2016, AMD's Zen-based CPUs and its corresponding high-end X370 chipsets will make their arrivals at CES 2017 in January. To achieve a smooth transition, AMD has begun adjusting product prices in order to accelerate inventory digestion. However, since Zen-based products are unlikely to start mass shipments until after February, they are unlikely to start contributing profits until the second quarter 2017, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20161003PD200.html

Even when Kaby Lake comes out, I get the impression that you'd have the OP wait for Zen. The OP could be without a new computer until March/April if he keeps getting advised to "wait for Zen."

If the OP were running something usable, I'd understand wanting to wait for the shinies. But with an Athlon XP 3200+, he can't play or stream until he gets a new system.
 
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superstition

Platinum Member
Feb 2, 2008
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If you have a Micro Center near you can consider the 8320E and ASUS Aura board deal for $130 after rebate (plus tax). Get a good cooler and a decent gold or better PSU and overclock it to 4.6 GHz.

The only part you'll be able to transfer from your current system is the DVD drive.

If you want high settings I suggest finding a 1070 on sale (search/watch slickdeals.net). It's a lot better card than the 480 or 1060.
 
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ZimFreak

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Aug 31, 2016
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Ah okay. The reason for those 2 specific processors is because I'm deciding between 2 prebuilt systems. The 8350 system comes with a RX 480 4gb card and costs $600 (USD). The 6402p system ships with a 1060 3gb card and costs $50 more. Whichever one I decide to go with, I don't ever really intend to upgrade aside from 2x8gb RAM and a cheap SSD. This is mostly to satisfy my budget gaming itch. :)

I know I would pay the extra $50 for the Intel/Nvidia system. It's a better computer
 
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Rifter

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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Building a computer takes a lot of time time and can be a hassle for people who don't enjoy doing it. There's also the risk of screwing it up if you haven't done it before.

I agree with it possibly being a hassle for people who haven't done it, but it doesn't take alot of time, 20 min max start to finish. Maybe 30 if you have to read instructions for anything because you haven't done it before.
 
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I agree with it possibly being a hassle for people who haven't done it, but it doesn't take alot of time, 20 min max start to finish. Maybe 30 if you have to read instructions for anything because you haven't done it before.

Seriously??? Including installing windows and all the drivers? Especially for someone who hasnt done it before, it could easily take a few hours, not to mention the possibility of damaging a part.
 
Aug 11, 2008
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Building a computer takes a lot of time time and can be a hassle for people who don't enjoy doing it. There's also the risk of screwing it up if you haven't done it before.
Agreed. People on this forum grossly underestimate the difficulty of building a computer and installing all the software for someone who has never done it before and doesnt have someone on hand to help in person should he run into a problem.
 
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I agree with it possibly being a hassle for people who haven't done it, but it doesn't take alot of time, 20 min max start to finish. Maybe 30 if you have to read instructions for anything because you haven't done it before.

Takes me a lot longer than that to put together a system, especially when I have to install Windows, get the latest drivers for stuff, etc.
 
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Theres gotta be better prebuilt options outthere for 600$ ?
Actually, those two systems seem quite reasonably priced for prebuilts with a 480/1060. Just price it out: 200 dollar video card, a hundred for windows, another 150 for the cpu. Then you have ram, motherboard, case, psu. Not sure you could build one much cheaper. It is just too bad though that the intel system does not have at least a 6500. I never even heard of the 6402e before.
 
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whm1974

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Agreed. People on this forum grossly underestimate the difficulty of building a computer and installing all the software for someone who has never done it before and doesnt have someone on hand to help in person should he run into a problem.
I guess most of us have been building our own for so long that we could so it blindfolded. In my case I'm also spoiled by using Linux.
 
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Actually, those two systems seem quite reasonably priced for prebuilts with a 480/1060. Just price it out: 200 dollar video card, a hundred for windows, another 150 for the cpu. Then you have ram, motherboard, case, psu. Not sure you could build one much cheaper. It is just too bad though that the intel system does not have at least a 6500. I never even heard of the 6402e before.

OEMs get parts and Windows licenses for cheaper than us plebeians do, so building your own isn't THAT much more cost effective.

I build my own because I like to.
 
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bchreng

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Aug 12, 2002
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Thanks for all the replies! I need to edit my sig as I don't have that system anymore. My current system is a i7 6700HQ HP notebook with integrated graphics. XD

Going off your responses, I think I'll either stick with the Intel system, or wait another 3 months or so for Kaby Lake. If anything, it'll push the prices down even further. I could put together my own system, but I'm too lazy and these particular prebuilt models cost less than if I were to buy the parts separately. I was trying to keep things below $650.

Here are the ones I'm considering

This one drops down to $600 every now and then
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpo...-1tb-hard-drive-black/5615010.p?skuId=5615010

This one hits $650 every once in a while
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpo...hard-drive-black-blue/5641629.p?skuId=5641629
 

cytg111

Lifer
Mar 17, 2008
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If only the Intel system had the 480 with 8gigs .. I dont see a video option I'd actually want.

That notebook? Does it sport USB-C? Thinking external gfx options here.