Help me pick between i3 2100 and i5 2500k

[gamefreakgcb]

Hello AT, finally moving onto SB (have a C2D E6600 right now which is 4+ years old), Now, I picked up an i3 2100 and an i5 2500k (whichever one I don't use will be used for rigs which I sell to friends and family). I am interested in mini-itx, to that end I picked the Gigabyte H67N-USB3-B3 mini-itx motherboard. And I am looking at the Antec ISK 300-150 or the 310-150 (can't decide if I want that faux brushed aluminum look yet), they come with a decent enough 150 watt PSU. Other parts of my build include a 2x 4gb Ripjaws, 1 64GB SSD (most likely the newer SATA 3 ones) and 1 2.5" 500GB platter and a slim 5.25" DVD-RW. No discrete graphics. I only need it for browsing the web (heavy browsing many a times with over 15 windows open), infrequent video conversions and document editing.

I am frankly leaning towards the i3 but is a quad core i5 2500k going to make a difference in my relatively light use? I need this build to last me atleast 4 more years (future proofing), I also am not sure whether I should swap out the included PSU (with the Antec ISK 300-150) for a more efficient DC-DC one yet.

 

[LagunaX]

The i5-2500k is a total waste with an H67 motherboard - it can't be overclocked.
i5-2500ks were made to pair with P67's so they can overclock to 4.0-4.8ghz.
For what you are doing and the psu/mini-itx format, stick with the i3-2100.

 

[bleucharm28]

I just finished building my HTPC yesterday, and I love the Asus mobo. It has everything on it. The CPU cooler from Thermaltake fits nicely in my APEX mini itx case.

My HTPC:
Thermaltake Slim X3 CLP0534 80mm CPU Cooler
Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core
ASUS P8H67-I DELUXE (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX
APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 LT CMSO4GX3M2A1333C9
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive and Window 7 Home 64

 

[gamefreakgcb]

.......

My HTPC:
Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core
ASUS P8H67-I DELUXE (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX
APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply

Window 7 Home 64.......

I looked at the many mini-itx cases but I dislike the cuboid cases. I wanted something that would stand vertically and be slim. The Antec ISK seems perfect. The ASUS mobo uses SODIMM's and frankly has nothing more I'd want that the Gigabyte does not give which I bought for $96 shipped from the egg. Core i3 I have, and Win 7 Pro 64 bit (student discount for $30)

Its amazing how much performance you can cram into a tiny space nowadays.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I would go the i5 2500K route just for the resale value alone down the road and if you want to keep your temps cool just underclock it.

 

[Vette73]

The i5-2500k is a total waste with an H67 motherboard - it can't be overclocked.
i5-2500ks were made to pair with P67's so they can overclock to 4.0-4.8ghz.
For what you are doing and the psu/mini-itx format, stick with the i3-2100.

False. Yes you lose the overclock feature on the h67 BUT the k chips are the only desktop chips with the HD3000. All the others have the 2000 video. That and he wants it to last a long time so the 2500k will last longer IMO than the weaker i3.


Now if the OP could have waited another month the z68 is supposed to be out. That will allow use of the HD3000 and overclocking as well. But even with the H67 the 2500k is still the better buy in the long run.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

False. Yes you lose the overclock feature on the h67 BUT the k chips are the only desktop chips with the HD3000. All the others have the 2000 video. That and he wants it to last a long time so the 2500k will last longer IMO than the weaker i3.


Now if the OP could have waited another month the z68 is supposed to be out. That will allow use of the HD3000 and overclocking as well. But even with the H67 the 2500k is still the better buy in the long run.

How much longer for the z68 mini-itx to show up after initial launch? I say because my current system is becoming a nuisance due to it screwing up at launch (USB problems). I may also upgrade to Z68 down the road. So I'll probably keep the 2500k (for the HD3000) I also do not understand why they do not give the higher iGP to all the procs. seems a waste since any enthusiasts wouldn't be satisfied with an iGP.

 

[fuzzymath10]

Intel 2000 graphics will be fine for any accelerated use like browsing and video. Even the 3000 in K series won't be THAT great for gaming anyway so the difference isn't really worth talking about unless you plan to use quicksync a lot.

With a small unit like the ISK heat is your worst enemy since to control it you'd need noisier fans too. You might want a 2500k if you plan to later use it in a bigger case where overclocking might give it more life, but now you'd run it at stock and undervolt. They are quite efficient so it would probably work reasonably well. Double check that the stock heat sink fits.

 

[Vette73]

How much longer for the z68 mini-itx to show up after initial launch? I say because my current system is becoming a nuisance due to it screwing up at launch (USB problems). I may also upgrade to Z68 down the road. So I'll probably keep the 2500k (for the HD3000) I also do not understand why they do not give the higher iGP to all the procs. seems a waste since any enthusiasts wouldn't be satisfied with an iGP.

I would think they would be out within a month after it comes out. But hard to say.