i3 vs. i5 for budget build?

[N4g4rok]

Working on a cheap upgrade from an Athlon 64 X2 system. The one who will be using it wants it to be as cheap as i can get it, but be able to handle "Typical Photoshop work".

The i5 would be great, but for a machine running Adobe products almost exclusively, would the i3 work just as well for what he's doing?

 

[lehtv]

Photoshop does really benefit from faster CPUs, especially if comparing four threaded performance or lower. If the i5 can be afforded, it'll be worth it for a PC that does solely productivity / media work. However, the i3 is no slouch and if the budget calls for it I'm sure the user won't be disappointed in its performance, coming from an Athlon X2. The difference between i3 and Athlon 64 X2 is much, much bigger than the difference between i3 and i5.

Here's a general comparison between the two: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/363?vs=289. As you can see the i5 saves several seconds, being around 40% faster, in the one Adobe test.

 

[N4g4rok]

Will the i3-2100 report itself to windows as having fur cores because of HT?

By that i mean, will it show up as four cores in task manager.

 

[lehtv]

Yes.

 

[mfenn]

Photoshop does really benefit from faster CPUs, especially if comparing four threaded performance or lower. If the i5 can be afforded, it'll be worth it for a PC that does solely productivity / media work. However, the i3 is no slouch and if the budget calls for it I'm sure the user won't be disappointed in its performance, coming from an Athlon X2. The difference between i3 and Athlon 64 X2 is much, much bigger than the difference between i3 and i5.

Here's a general comparison between the two: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/363?vs=289. As you can see the i5 saves several seconds, being around 40% faster, in the one Adobe test.

Agree. The i3 is no slouch, but the quad is just plain better for productivity apps.

The goals of "i5" and "cheap as possible" are somewhat in conflict though.

 

[Ketchup]

When you say budget build, would you be willing to consider used parts? The reason I ask is a Q6600 actually outperforms both the i3 and i5 in Photoshop according to the AT Bench. I wouldn't be surprised if you could build something nice and cheap out of parts in FS/FT. Many Q6600's have the benefit of also being wonderful overclockers.

 

[DominionSeraph]

The reason I ask is a Q6600 actually outperforms both the i3 and i5 in Photoshop according to the AT Bench.

I think you missed where "lower is better." Both the i3 and i5 outperform the Q6600. The i5 is TWICE as fast.

OP, if this is just a basic internet browsing and casual image editing rig, an i3 will be fine. You can get a Vostro from Dell Outlet with an i3 for $420. i5 for $510.

 

[Ketchup]

I think you missed where "lower is better."

Ha, (Faceplalm) yes, I did. I knew that didn't look right when I saw it. Still surprised to see how well my old Q6600 is holding up against those, especially with a 1 GHz overclock. I think anything with an i in the front is going to be great for the OP.

 

[China_E_Insider]

I believe i3 should be good enough for ya, Im using a way older school CPU for HD video editing and am ok. So i3 for Photoshop should definitely be ok.