How would you rank the following new and used CPUs in the $50 to $60 range for modern AAA gaming?

[cbn]

How would you rank the following mix of new and used CPUs in the $50 to $60 range for modern AAA gaming?

(Assume CPUs will not be overclocked and will be using stock speed RAM.)


Pentium G4560, 3.5 Ghz 2C/4T Kabylake with 3MB cache and dual channel DDR4 2400, 54W, LGA 1151.

Core i5 2500, 3.3 Ghz/3.7Ghz turbo 4C/4T Sandy Bridge with 6MB cache and dual channel DDR3 1333, 95W, LGA 1155.

Xeon X5670, 2.93 Ghz/3.33 Ghz turbo 6C/12T Westmere with 12MB cache and triple channel DDR3 1333, 95W, LGA 1366.


P.S. There is also a fourth processor in this price category---> Xeon E5 1620 EDIT: Also Xeon X5677 (a fifth processor), see post #6. EDIT 2: Also Xeon W3670 (a sixth processor), see post #73.

 

[unseenmorbidity]

OOC, is it possible to OC that new Pentium?

-------------------------------

Tough question, because they could all certainly win depending on the game. Also, if you consider overall game performance, and not just averages, then it gets even more complicated.

As far as the question goes I think I would guesstimate that the x5670 > 2500 > pentium

Though if this was a new build on a low budget, then I would absolutely go with the pentium, as it's warranted, and can be upgraded. Those old boards aren't cheap or easy to come by either.

 

[TheELF]

No you can't at least not yet,not that it's expected but anyway.

I'd say it's gonna be a mix between the pentium and the i5.
For example asetto and space hulk deathwing are considered AAA right?

 

[SPBHM]

I can see each of the 3 winning or being last depending on the game... on average I find difficult to say, but I think the 2500K and 4560 will be really close and ahead the stock Xeon.

 

[cbn]

I'd say it's gonna be a mix between the pentium and the i5.

I can see each of the 3 winning or being last depending on the game... on average I find difficult to say, but I think the 2500K and 4560 will be really close and ahead the stock Xeon.

Agreed on the Pentium and the Core i5 being close based on the following results of Core i3 6300 (with DDR3 1866) vs. Core i5 2500 (with DDR3 1600):

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/60-minutes-–-cpu-performance-and-energy-consumption-in-gaming-atenra.2459963/

(^^^ Compared to the above a Core i5 2500 (as used in a pre-built) drops from DDR3 1600 to DDR3 1333 and Pentium G4560 loses 300 Mhz clockspeed (compared to the Core i3 6100), but gains memory bandwidth going from DDR3 1866 to DDR4 2400.....although keep in mind the DDR3 1866 used in AtenRA's test had tight timings. I estimated AtenRA's CAS 9 DDR3 1866 to be roughly equal to DDR4 2133 in this post)

 

[cbn]

The real wild card IMO is that Xeon X5670.....it has good bandwidth (and tight timings) with its triple channel DDR3 1333, but I wonder if games are threaded enough (yet) to compensate for its decreased single thread?

P.S. For someone wanting more single thread on LGA 1366 (at the same price as Xeon X5670) there is always the Xeon X5677. This processor sacrifices core and thread count for increased clockspeed.

Xeon X5670 ---> Xeon X5677 = 6C/12T @ 2.93Ghz/3.33 Ghz --> 4C/8T @ 3.46Ghz/3.73Ghz

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'm still using an i5-2500 non-K so stock speed, because it's worked perfectly for games up through Fallout 4. It's probably bottlenecking my GTX 980ti for some games but I don't play "Benchmarking" as a game and subjectively I haven't noticed it.

I'll probably upgrade this year but not because of any gaming issues, more to get shiny newness like 16 or 32 GB of DDR4, more USB 3 ports, other motherboard/chipset features. And for non-gaming uses like Visual Studio development.

 

[cbn]

Comparing Xeon X5670 (6C/12T @ 2.93Ghz/3.33 Ghz) vs. Xeon X5677 (4C/8T @ 3.46Ghz/3.73Ghz)......both LGA 1366 Westmere processors..... I do wonder how high the clocks would be on the X5670 if only four cores were active?

According to CPU world X5670 would have 3.2 Ghz if 3 or more cores are active:

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Xeon/Intel-Xeon X5670 - AT80614005130AA (BX80614X5670).html

This compared to X5677 which would have 3.6 Ghz if 3 or 4 cores are active:

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Xeon/Intel-Xeon X5677 - AT80614005145AB.html

So for less threaded games the X5677 definitely wins.

But then I got to wonder if X5670 could hold 3.2 Ghz if all 6 cores were active? (re: E5 Xeons are known to keep all cores turbo'd above base clock, but then again this is only with AVX off. Westemere Xeons do not not have AVX).

 

[unseenmorbidity]

Comparing Xeon X5670 (6C/12T @ 2.93Ghz/3.33 Ghz) vs. Xeon X5677 (4C/8T @ 3.46Ghz/3.73Ghz)......both LGA 1366 Westmere processors..... I do wonder how high the clocks would be on the X5670 if only four cores were active?

According to CPU world X5670 would have 3.2 Ghz if 3 or more cores are active:

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Xeon/Intel-Xeon X5670 - AT80614005130AA (BX80614X5670).html

This compared to X5677 which would have 3.6 Ghz if 3 or 4 cores are active:

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Xeon/Intel-Xeon X5677 - AT80614005145AB.html

So for less threaded games the X5677 definitely wins.

But then I got to wonder if X5670 could hold 3.2 Ghz if all 6 cores were active? (re: E5 Xeons are known to keep all cores turbo'd above base clock, but then again this is only with AVX off. Westemere Xeons do not not have AVX).

I had the x5677 and it oc'd about the same as my current x5650 and my old e5620.

I have a 185 Bclk oc on my x5650 atm. I have no issues playing new Triple A titles at very high settings at 1440p.

 

[cbn]

OOC, is it possible to OC that new Pentium?

It can't be overclocked.

As far as the question goes I think I would guesstimate that the x5670 > 2500 > pentium

Though if this was a new build on a low budget, then I would absolutely go with the pentium, as it's warranted, and can be upgraded. Those old boards aren't cheap or easy to come by either.

For the Sandy Bridge and Westmere processors I was thinking refurbished Pre-builts, rather than builds from scratch using assorted used parts.

In the case of LGA 1366 this would be a Workstation like the Dell Precision T3500 which can be had (with Windows License) for around $150 shipped on Newegg:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...ption=T3500&bop=And&N=8000&order=PRICE&page=1

P.S. Those T3500 also come with a 525W PSU with one 6 pin PCIe power connector.....so the machine could handle a RX470 4GB right out of the box.

 

[unseenmorbidity]

Some new benchmarks have the oc'd 8350 above the i5-6500. You shouldn't dismiss the xeon here imo. And the future will only see more games utilizing more threads.

 

[cbn]

Some new benchmarks have the oc'd 8350 above the i5-6500.

Here is one where a stock speed FX-8350 beats a Core i5 6600.

 

[cbn]

Results so far:

1. Pentium G4560 1st, Core i5 2500 2nd, Xeon X5670 3rd
   7 vote(s)
   50.0%
2. Pentium G4560 1st, Xeon X5670 2nd, Core i5 2500 3rd
   2 vote(s)
   14.3%
3. Core i5 2500 1st, Pentium G4560 2nd, Xeon X5670 3rd
   0 vote(s)
   0.0%
4. Core i5 2500 1st, Xeon X5670 2nd, Pentium G4560 3rd
   0 vote(s)
   0.0%
5. Xeon X5670 1st, Pentium G4560 2nd, Core i5 2500 3rd
   1 vote(s)
   7.1%
6. Xeon X5670 1st, Core i5 2500 2nd, Pentium G4560 3rd
   4 vote(s)
   28.6%

 

[cbn]

Here is an option in the ~same price range as Pentium G4560 (which is $65 to $66 shipped. EDIT: Virtual Larry actually found G4560 for $59.99 FS here):

Xeon X5687, 3.6Ghz/3.86 Ghz turbo 4C/8T Westmere with 12MB cache and triple channel DDR3 1333, 130W, LGA 1366

P.S. Xeon X5670 (an option in the poll) and Xeon X5677 (mentioned in post #6) are actually very slightly below $50 shipped.

 

[philosofool]

For what it's worth, the question seems pretty theoretical. Most gamers probably already have an i5 built within the last five years, so there's no need to "upgrade" to one of these.

If we're talking about a new build, the pentium is clearly the correct choice, since when the money becomes available, you can swap the processor for a genuine gaming kaby lake CPU without investing in any other component. Still, I would not advise anyone to take that route unless they literally had to replace a machine that died before there was money for a better one. Wait a month or two, save an extra $180, and get a system that will actually game through a few generations of graphics cards.

 

[Magic Hate Ball]

The only problem with 2c/4t chips is there is more often an issue with minimum frame times, or stuttering.

The averages work out fine, but I notice hitches on my i3-6100 and it drives me nuts (not my main machine, but it's paired with an RX470).

EDIT: But at the same time, the G4560 leaves upgrade room and puts you on a modern platform...

 

[cbn]

For what it's worth, the question seems pretty theoretical. Most gamers probably already have an i5 built within the last five years, so there's no need to "upgrade" to one of these.

Yes, when I wrote this question I was thinking of someone who might already own a tablet or non-gaming laptop and who is deciding on a low budget desktop PC vs. Console.

If we're talking about a new build, the pentium is clearly the correct choice, since when the money becomes available, you can swap the processor for a genuine gaming kaby lake CPU without investing in any other component. Still, I would not advise anyone to take that route unless they literally had to replace a machine that died before there was money for a better one. Wait a month or two, save an extra $180, and get a system that will actually game through a few generations of graphics cards.

Another alternative to buying (or building) the new Pentium machine and then upgrading the cpu in a few years would be to simply buy a refurbished machine that already has a better processor in it.

In fact, I am thinking simply trading up from one refurbished workstation to another newer, more modern workstation every few years might work out better than buying (or building) a new mainstream desktop and then upgrading the CPU in the same time frame.

 

[cbn]

The only problem with 2c/4t chips is there is more often an issue with minimum frame times, or stuttering.

The averages work out fine, but I notice hitches on my i3-6100 and it drives me nuts (not my main machine, but it's paired with an RX470).

EDIT: But at the same time, the G4560 leaves upgrade room and puts you on a modern platform...

Yes, that is a good point. In fact, I had brought that up in a previous post here.

P.S. The test of G4560 and RX470 4GB I linked used DDR4 3000 RAM, not the slower DDR4 2400 mentioned in this thread and used with non-Z boards.

 

[Magic Hate Ball]

Yes, that is a good point. In fact, I had brought that up in a previous post here.

P.S. The test of G4560 and RX470 4GB I linked used DDR4 3000 RAM, not the slower DDR4 2400 mentioned in this thread and used with non-Z boards.

I'm curious now, I might install BF1 on my i3-6100 machine and see how it runs, while keeping an eye out for stuttering.

 

[cbn]

I'm curious now, I might install BF1 on my i3-6100 machine and see how it runs, while keeping an eye out for stuttering.

What speed is your RAM? DDR4 2133 or something faster (via a Z board).

 

[Mercennarius]

I like how currently the two most popular orders are completely opposite of each other.

 

[walk2k]

why guess? go on 3dmark, results, advanced, select whatever video card you intend to use and then compare the scores of the 3...

actually let me.. I used a GTX 1050 Ti as the video card

G4560 = 5800-6200
i5 2500 = 5900-6200
X5670 = 6200-6300 (only 3 results)

so basically, about the same? slight edge to the Xenon
probably choose whatever is cheaper, and sink the extra money into the video card, which is going to affect game performance about 10x more than cpu..

 

[crashtech]

I screwed up and imagined the 2500 was a 2500K. I'd put the Pentium first if there is no overclocking.

 

[Magic Hate Ball]

What speed is your RAM? DDR4 2133 or something faster (via a Z board).

ASRock H110M ITX board with max 2133 DDR4 (But has 2x 8gb DDR4 2400 in there). Low budget build as you'd probably want to do with a G4560 anyway.

 

[cbn]

I screwed up and imagined the 2500 was a 2500K. I'd put the Pentium first if there is no overclocking.

The poll does allow a forum member to change their vote.