IVY BRIDGE VS. HASWELL new build

[justinj6]

Started buying parts as they became available for a new build for my uncle. Had intention of going with Ivy Bridge in the beginning but am now wondering if I should use the new Haswell. I am looking at putting this together around Thanksgiving when I will be in the U.S. Here are the parts we now have:
Case: CoolerMaster N200 for micro board.
main drive: Toshiba Q 128GB SSD
data drive: WD Blue 500GB
memory: Team Dark 2x4GB DDR3 1600
P.S.U.: Corsair CX430
C.P.U. cooler: Zalman CNSP 8900

Need to get by November 28:
MB, CPU, Optical Drive.

What I was originally leaning towards was
AS Rock H77M $65+tax, I3 3245 $130 + tax current price Micro Center. He lives in CA.
new option:
AS Rock H81M-HDS $57+tax, I3 4130 $120 + tax.

As far as I can tell with the existing parts we now have I can go with either MB/CPU combo. The Haswell is a bit cheaper which is better but not main criteria.
How do you feel these compare? Is one preferable over the other? Any other recommendations? Will get from usual sources, Microo center, Newegg, Amazon.
Main use will be for web surfing, Skype conversations, some photo editing, email, data base and word processing.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[atticus14]

no reason not to go with haswell. It's a hair more powerful as a cpu and since you dont have a GPU listed I guess your sticking with integrated graphics which Haswell is a good step up from Ivy Bridge. So it's cheaper and more powerful.

 

[justinj6]

no reason not to go with haswell. It's a hair more powerful as a cpu and since you dont have a GPU listed I guess your sticking with integrated graphics which Haswell is a good step up from Ivy Bridge. So it's cheaper and more powerful.

Yeah, forgot to mention about the GPU. Was planning on integrated graphics.

Comparatively speaking how do the two boards match up?

Thanks for your input.
Justin

 

[lehtv]

For those uses, a Pentium would suffice. The only real difference between a Pentium and a nearly doubly expensive i3 is the hyperthreading which doesn't noticeably benefit the uses of this computer.

E.g.:

G3220 3GHz Haswell $70
Asrock H81M $60

If you want to pay more, I would recommend an AMD APU with superior integrated grahpics instead of an i3 with just hyperthreading. An APU would be slower in terms of processor performance but that doesn't really matter for the uses you listed, none of them are very processor intensive. However what makes the Intel build a bit more appealing IMO is the upgradeability of the CPU - technically can go all the way up to a Broadwell architecture Intel i7. But here's the AMD alternative:

AMD A8-6600K with 8570D graphics $110
MSI FM2-A75MA-E33 $60

As for the rest of the components, currently I'd get:

CM N200 + Team Xtreem Dark 2x4GB $75 AR
Samsung 840 EVO 120GB $100
WD Blue 1TB + Lite-on DVD-RW $83
Antec EA-380D $35 AR

 

[vailr]

Nov. 28 is Black Friday, while the following Monday is Cyber Monday. There should be some bargains on components at that time from: Newegg, Tiger Direct, Amazon, or Fry's Electronics, Staples, etc.

 

[Blain]

Main use will be for web surfing, Skype conversations, some photo editing, email, data base and word processing.

Are you aiming for minor or full-on high pixel editing?
What editing program would you be using?

 

[justinj6]

For those uses, a Pentium would suffice. The only real difference between a Pentium and a nearly doubly expensive i3 is the hyperthreading which doesn't noticeably benefit the uses of this computer.

E.g.:

G3220 3GHz Haswell $70
Asrock H81M $60

If you want to pay more, I would recommend an AMD APU with superior integrated grahpics instead of an i3 with just hyperthreading. An APU would be slower in terms of processor performance but that doesn't really matter for the uses you listed, none of them are very processor intensive. However what makes the Intel build a bit more appealing IMO is the upgradeability of the CPU - technically can go all the way up to a Broadwell architecture Intel i7. But here's the AMD alternative:

AMD A8-6600K with 8570D graphics $110
MSI FM2-A75MA-E33 $60

Thanks for the feedback. Been more of an Intel, AS Rock fanboy and like you analysis of future upgrade ability. Was also going with the i3 for its graphics capability. How does the pentium match up?

Regards,
Justin

 

[justinj6]

As for the rest of the components, currently I'd get:

CM N200 + Team Xtreem Dark 2x4GB $75 AR
Samsung 840 EVO 120GB $100
WD Blue 1TB + Lite-on DVD-RW $83
Antec EA-380D $35 AR

Have already gotten parts mentioned in first post:
SSD Toshiba $79
HDD WD 500gb $50
CASE Coolermaster $30
MEM Team Dark $48
PSU Corsair $22
CPU cooler Zalman $32

So just need MB, CPU, Optical drive. Have W7 and office 2010

Thanks,
Justin

 

[justinj6]

Are you aiming for minor or full-on high pixel editing?
What editing program would you be using?

Minor, I think he'll do a little work with Photoshop.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Torn Mind]

Shame the i3-4340 went out of stock at the CA Microcenter. You would have been able to take advantage of the bundle savings between it and any compatible mobo.

 

[mfenn]

Yeah, forgot to mention about the GPU. Was planning on integrated graphics.

Comparatively speaking how do the two boards match up?

Thanks for your input.
Justin

The Pentium has 10 EUs versus 20 for the i3 and the graphics core runs at a lower clock speed. The difference honestly doesn't matter for these uses though.

 

[justinj6]

Shame the i3-4340 went out of stock at the CA Microcenter. You would have been able to take advantage of the bundle savings between it and any compatible mobo.

Don't have much experience with MC. How does the CPU bundling work? They list it as only bundling with specific limited # of boards. Will they in fact bundle with any compatible board? Can wait and see if comes back in stock.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Torn Mind]

Don't have much experience with MC. How does the CPU bundling work? They list it as only bundling with specific limited # of boards. Will they in fact bundle with any compatible board? Can wait and see if comes back in stock.

Thanks,
Justin

Just add the CPU and any socket-compatible motherboard on the website into your cart and the combo discount should be applied automatically to the mobo. It doesn't have to be one on the list. Although, the amount of the discount on the motherboard might be different; I tried the H81 board you were considering and they only give me a $30 discount to it. Still, it comes out to $163+tax.
It should also work for AMD CPUs like the A8-6600 as well.

 

[justinj6]

The Pentium has 10 EUs versus 20 for the i3 and the graphics core runs at a lower clock speed. The difference honestly doesn't matter for these uses though.

My concern was without GPU whether there was sufficient muscle to run graphics so was leaning to the i3. He has a Dell ultrasharp 2412m monitor.

Can save some bucks going with the pentium. Will consider that.

thanks,
Justin

 

[justinj6]

Just add the CPU and any socket-compatible motherboard on the website into your cart and the combo discount should be applied automatically to the mobo. It doesn't have to be one on the list. Although, the amount of the discount on the motherboard might be different; I tried the H81 board you were considering and they only give me a $30 discount to it. Still, it comes out to $163+tax.
It should also work for AMD CPUs like the A8-6600 as well.

Thanks for the help. Will give it a try if it returns to stock.

Regards,
Justin

 

[piasabird]

This makes me wonder if some sales will pop up just before Thanksgiving. Newegg has a newsletter with sales in it all the time, but to get the deal you have to sign up for the newsletter ahead of time. Then there is suppose to be some kind of sales around thanksgiving for Christmas but you want you stuff before then probably. The sales have been kind of not very good the last year. I think most things are at rock bottom now. Maybe there will be a veterans day sale on NOV 11.

 

[mfenn]

My concern was without GPU whether there was sufficient muscle to run graphics so was leaning to the i3. He has a Dell ultrasharp 2412m monitor.

Can save some bucks going with the pentium. Will consider that.

thanks,
Justin

The 1920x1200 is a standard resolution, nothing crazy high-end. For basic 2D tasks like you mentioned either IGP is equivalent.

 

[justinj6]

The 1920x1200 is a standard resolution, nothing crazy high-end. For basic 2D tasks like you mentioned either IGP is equivalent.

Thanks. Got a few weeks to make the final plunge so will see what deals come available.
Will also confirm with my uncle about his budget.
Appreciate the feedback from the members. Very helpful.

Regards,
Justin

 

[justinj6]

This makes me wonder if some sales will pop up just before Thanksgiving. Newegg has a newsletter with sales in it all the time, but to get the deal you have to sign up for the newsletter ahead of time. Then there is suppose to be some kind of sales around thanksgiving for Christmas but you want you stuff before then probably. The sales have been kind of not very good the last year. I think most things are at rock bottom now. Maybe there will be a veterans day sale on NOV 11.

Got a few weeks so will see what comes up.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[plutoclacks]

Wait...since when was Haswell less expensive than Ivy Bridge?

 

[sm625]

If the ivy bridge chip was clocked 20% faster I'd say go with that but since they are the same speed and the haswell is cheaper, there is no reason to use the ivy.

 

[justinj6]

If the ivy bridge chip was clocked 20% faster I'd say go with that but since they are the same speed and the haswell is cheaper, there is no reason to use the ivy.

Can't fault this logic. Will likely go with the Haswell. Only question is the MB. Haven't been on the market long enough to wean out problems.
Thanks,
Justin

 

[mfenn]

Can't fault this logic. Will likely go with the Haswell. Only question is the MB. Haven't been on the market long enough to wean out problems.
Thanks,
Justin

Not sure what you mean here? The boards are basically the same overall design as Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge boards.

 

[justinj6]

Not sure what you mean here? The boards are basically the same overall design as Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge boards.

Just meant like the example of the AS Rock H81M has just a few reviews on Newegg and a couple not so favorable. But it is Newegg review. Overall the Haswell boards have not been on the market for very long so not much feedback on them to help with the choice.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[mfenn]

Just meant like the example of the AS Rock H81M has just a few reviews on Newegg and a couple not so favorable. But it is Newegg review. Overall the Haswell boards have not been on the market for very long so not much feedback on them to help with the choice.

Thanks,
Justin

Ahh, see there's your problem. User reviews on retailer sites are 100% useless for determining any actual issues with a board.

The 1-egg review on the H81M is from somebody who clearly has no idea what he is doing. The 24-pin connector on that board is completely standard, he just can't plug it in. The 3-egg is more legitimate, but could have been avoided if he had done some basic thinking about the board before he bought it.