i3 530 vs. intel g630

[hodgenutts]

Ok I'm building a small computer to take to mobile LAN parties. I already have a GTX 660 (non-ti) and an Intel i3 530.

I play W.o.W., Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, Star Wars nights of the old republic. Will be playing at 1080p.

Trying to decide weather to get a micro ATX 1156 motherboard for the i3 530, but the cheapest is around $65.

Or....

Would it be better to go with new tech. and get a cheap socket 1155 mobo for around $40 and a g620 for around $67.

Would it be better to spend extra cash for new tech, or juat go with the older i3 i already own.

Please remember this will not be my main rig. It's just for a second rig that I'm making to take to LAN parties. Thank you very much for the help.

 

[ShadowVVL]

I vote Micro atx 1156 and oc the 530.

 

[Denithor]

Socket 1156 mobo + average aftermarket cooler + i3 530 = OC beast

Those duals ran quite high GHz without breaking a sweat. Last generation of Intel chips that could be bclk overclocked (current duals cannot overclock at all).

 

[hodgenutts]

Do you think the i3 530 would bottleneck a NVIDIA gtx 660 (non-ti) video card?

 

[AtenRa]

Do you think the i3 530 would bottleneck a NVIDIA gtx 660 (non-ti) video card?

In some games yes, the majority will be fine at 1080p

I still use my Core i3 530, its a fine chip and it can become a Core i5 killer when OC at 4+GHz for gaming.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

The problem is trying to get a board that will support overclocking in socket 1156. Since the boards have been discontinued finding an P55 chipset based board is hard. So even forgetting about the chance of bottlenecking the video card, (which I think is a real possibility) I think the problem getting getting a board that may help you get the performance you are looking for out of the processor will be the hardest part.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Do not downgrade from the i3 to a Pentium.

 

[Jimzz]

Do not downgrade from the i3 to a Pentium.

You do know its a upgrade in many parts.

i.e. don;t look at the name look at the CPU design and generation.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

You do know its a upgrade in many parts.

i.e. don;t look at the name look at the CPU design and generation.

You do know it's a downgrade from 2 cores/4 threads to 2 cores/2 threads. Don't look at just the design and generation.

EDIT >> Dual core is not good for BF3

Here's a game that runs quite well on nearly all of the CPUs we tested, with one notable exception: the Pentium G2120, the only processor of the group with only two physical cores and two logical threads. The rest have at least four threads via Hyper-Threading.

 

[hodgenutts]

Actually I've found several used boards that support o.c.ing.

Won't be playing BF3.

Will be playing W.o.W., Starcraft 2 and Download 3. Please note this won't be my main rig. This is a spare compact rig I'm putting together just to take to LAN parties for the above games. I may try more later on.

 

[Jimzz]

You do know it's a downgrade from 2 cores/4 threads to 2 cores/2 threads. Don't look at just the design and generation.

EDIT >> Dual core is not good for BF3

This is a i3 530 vs a g620 (the 630 is faster)

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/118?vs=406

And here is a i3 530 vs a g850 (only 100mhz faster than the g630)
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/118?vs=405

Look at that the g620/g850 is faster in Wow and other areas the OP said he will use.


OP for the games you listed the G630 will get better framerates, make better use of your video card, and also give a upgrade path as well.

 

[AtenRa]

This is a i3 530 vs a g620 (the 630 is faster)

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/118?vs=406

And here is a i3 530 vs a g850 (only 100mhz faster than the g630)
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/118?vs=405

Look at that the g620/g850 is faster in Wow and other areas the OP said he will use.


OP for the games you listed the G630 will get better framerates, make better use of your video card, and also give a upgrade path as well.

He can OC the Core i3 530 to more than 4GHz, that will make it way faster both in Games and in MT loads.

No point getting the G630 unless you are planing to upgrade to IB Core i5/7 later on.

 

[Pedroc1999]

I suggest the i3, the 1155 will not recieve new cpus anymore so he may aswell upgrade to the i3 and then save up for a haswell build

 

[grimpr]

The dualcore with Hyperthreading all the way, it makes a difference.

 

[SPBHM]

if you overclock the 530, then it's pretty simple, it will be considerably faster in many cases, now with the default clocks, I would go with the cheapest.

 

[hodgenutts]

Since I already own the i3 530, I decided to go that route. I'm buying a lightly used MSI H57M-ED65 from a member from this site. I should be able to get a decent O.C. with that motherboard.

 

[Pedroc1999]

You are making a wise decision young Jedi. Jokes over i think that would be the best route and start saving for haswell/steamroller

 

[hodgenutts]

Thank you Master Pedroc1999 I had good trainers at the academy.

 

[Pedroc1999]

Call me Pedro...

 

[hodgenutts]

Pedro for President!

 

[Pedroc1999]

Lol

 

[hodgenutts]

The i3 O.C.ed on that MSI motherboard with a GTX 660 vid card in a small form factor case should give me a nice little mobile gaming rig

 

[Austin8868]

Get the i3, but if you can wait a little longer try and save up for an i5.

 

[hodgenutts]

I already own the i3 from a previous build several years ago....

 

[ThatsABigOne]

H57 does not overclock. Have fun.