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i3 2100 w/ GPU combo question

Z

Zathan666

Junior Member
Goal: Highest frame rate possible for 1680x1050 120Hz (non 3D).

Dilemma:

  • i3 2100 + 6950 2GB = ($114 + $250 = $364)
  • i3 2100 + 6790 1GB CrossFire = ($114 + $210 = $324)
  • i5 2500k + 6870 1GB = ($214 + $150 = $364)
I have a tight budget and I want to keep the CPU cost as low as possible to get the best graphic card (for my budget) without experiencing a CPU bottleneck.
 
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ElFenix said:
bf3 likes quad cores a lot, get the 6870 and the quad
Click to expand...

Am I missing where he states he wants Max BF3 FPS?

Most games prefer a stronger GPU than CPU.


Personally, I'd go 1035T ($115 with Combo Code) and a 6950 2GB. 1680x1050 to 1920x1080 is not a huge jump (15% performance)

6 Core AMD that will most likely hit 4.0GHz (I have one) and a 6950 = Best Bang for Gaming

The 6790 Setup will give you better Max and Average FPS than the 6950, but in some Games lower Minimum's... So if Average FPS is more important, go for it. @ 120 Hz it may be your best bet.
 
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Ken g6 said:
That doesn't work.

I'd worry about micro-stutter with 2x6790s.
Click to expand...


6790's in Crossfire is performance wise about in the middle of a 570 and 580. (Often equalling a 580)


Me personally, I've used many SLI/Crossfire setups and have never had much of an issue with Microstuttering. I think its blown out of proportion. That being said, I've never used two low-mid range cards like that before. (Almost tried 6790's, one came DOA so I returned both, so I was close). Mind you, a 6790 is a Barts core, and is 5-10% slower than a 6850... and Tons of people have 6850 CF setups they love. 6790's in CF are only about 5% slower than 6850's in CF.

That being said, I do believe in buying the best performance card you can afford.

Right now, a 6950 is the performance to $$ king IMO.

- Adam
 
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lately the CPU importance in gaming has increased while the GPU imprtance has decreased due to the fact that 90% of the games out there are console ports.

I would definitely go for the 2500K 6870 combo. Later when you have the money grab another 6870. The highest frame rates possible depend on your game settings. You cannot expect ultra with any of the choices you have. But don't get a dual core. Think in perspective.
 
Crap Daddy said:
lately the CPU importance in gaming has increased while the GPU imprtance has decreased due to the fact that 90% of the games out there are console ports.

I would definitely go for the 2500K 6870 combo. Later when you have the money grab another 6870. The highest frame rates possible depend on your game settings. You cannot expect ultra with any of the choices you have. But don't get a dual core. Think in perspective.
Click to expand...


So your telling me a i5 2500k + 6870 is going to out perform a x6 1035T overclocked with a 6950?

I honestly thinking the later will be the better investment. We've already seen how BF3 likes the 6 physical cores too.
 
@adam_the_giant

Six-cores aren't that great for gaming, would be better off with X4 955/965 BE
than X6 1035T.

@Zathan_666

Definitely 2500K + 6870 out of those options. However, if you plan to play BF3, wait until the benchmarks are released... Presumably, NVIDIA will perform better in that title so you might be better off with GTX560 or 560 ti if you can squeeze it in.
 
Since the OP doesn't put in the price the board I assume he already has a board for Sandy Bridge and that's the advice he was looking for. If I see well he doesn't say anything about BF3 either. I didn't say either that an i5-2500K 6870 is outperforming an X6 1035T and an 6950 but honestly if you want to buy a new CPU I wouldn't recommend to anyone to buy a Phenom II against a SB.
 
adam_the_giant said:
So your telling me a i5 2500k + 6870 is going to out perform a x6 1035T overclocked with a 6950?

I honestly thinking the later will be the better investment. We've already seen how BF3 likes the 6 physical cores too.
Click to expand...

Strongly disagree, the x6 is a dead-end platform whereas the 2500k will provide a strong platform for a gaming rig for the next 3-4 years, with a possibility of an Ivy Bridge upgrade.

The difference between the 6950 and 6870 is not big enough to offset this huge CPU advantage.
 
Yeah I already have a Z68 board that I got for cheap. I might go with a i5 2400 (+x4 turbo OC) and 2x6790 1gb to keep the cost down a bit
 
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That heatsink can come a year later, when you do need the boost in performance. I think you can get a mid OC with the stock cooler anyways.
 
Zathan666 said:
27$ but a bit more if you include a better heatsink ~25$ so difference of 52$.
That 52$ would be put on a better GPU
Click to expand...
Can't argue with that. On a limited budget, the i5-2400 is a great choice.
 
Zathan666 said:
27$ but a bit more if you include a better heatsink ~25$ so difference of 52$.
That 52$ would be put on a better GPU
Click to expand...

Why would you need a better heatsink?
A stock 2500K will not bottleneck any single gpu on the market.
A 2500K @ 4.0 will run 2 gtx 580's just fine and you won't need a better cooler to reach 4.0.

A 2500k and 6870 overclocked is the best combo.
At 1600x1050 a 6950 will not outperform a overclocked 6870 by much if at all.
 
aphelion02 said:
Strongly disagree, the x6 is a dead-end platform whereas the 2500k will provide a strong platform for a gaming rig for the next 3-4 years, with a possibility of an Ivy Bridge upgrade.

The difference between the 6950 and 6870 is not big enough to offset this huge CPU advantage.
Click to expand...

I agree a 2500K is the better buy, but how is the X6 on an AM3+ motherboard a dead end platform? It has Bulldozer and the upcoming Piledriver based processors to upgrade to. Yes I do realize how much fail Bulldozer is for a gaming system, but it's not a dead end in my opinion.


OP I would go for the 6870 + I5 2500K. Even if the I3/6950 would perform better in a lot of games that don't push a quad core, once you hit a cpu bottleneck in a game like Battlefield 3 that seems to demand a quad, there is nothing you can do to add cores. However if you have a game graphically demanding you can just turn a few of the eye candy features down and it'll still run fine because you've got a strong enough processor.
 
LoneNinja said:
I agree a 2500K is the better buy, but how is the X6 on an AM3+ motherboard a dead end platform? It has Bulldozer and the upcoming Piledriver based processors to upgrade to. Yes I do realize how much fail Bulldozer is for a gaming system, but it's not a dead end in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Bulldozer is not an upgrade. With AMD's track record, waiting for Piledriver is quite foolish.
 
I can see your budget is about 350 or so. 1680x1050 gaming isn't very tough to handle. I would do this: buy i3 2100 w/ a HD 6870 right now that should handle 1680 nicely, then get another 6870 later when u need more gpu power. But my guess is not too many games would need that much more gpu at 1680 right now. You might just decide not get that second 6870 but nice to have the option. total cost: 114+150=264.
 
Another vote for the 2500k (you can hit 4.2GHz on the stock HSF) + 6870. Especially if you already have a z68 board. Best bang for the buck, and the 6950 just isnt worth the price premium at 1680x1050. It's a better card for higher res, but actually runs slower at lower rez's than a 560Ti. Get the 6870 and xFire later, if necessary.
 
aphelion02 said:
Strongly disagree, the x6 is a dead-end platform whereas the 2500k will provide a strong platform for a gaming rig for the next 3-4 years, with a possibility of an Ivy Bridge upgrade.

The difference between the 6950 and 6870 is not big enough to offset this huge CPU advantage.
Click to expand...

I understand this theory, but by the time my CPU becomes obsolete it's always time to build a whole new rig.
 
^That means you don't upgrade too often, which is all the more reason to shell out a little more money for the great overclocking potential of the 2500k. That will be a decent gaming CPU far longer than the x6 will be, and also the i5-2400.
 
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