Opinion time: What is the "best value" in a CPU today?

[hokies83]

Isn't best value based on personal needs?
Sure there's a lot of nice CPUs available out there for low prices but are these "best value" processors the right choice for you?

The best value for a gamer won't be the best value for a video editor or a serious student...

Sorry, i'm getting a bit too serious but I still think it depends on a lot of factors to answer this question.

If you're a gamer and already have a discrete GPU i'd say FX-8320
If you don't have a discrete GPU and want one integrated i'd say the i5 3450
If you only check your emails from time to time and write christmas invitations in Publisher or Word i'd say i3 3220

I think the Intel 2600k 2700k and 3770k are a best over all value.

Top of the hill gaming performance but at the sametime top of the hill encoding performance all in 1 300$ package.

 

[Rhezuss]

I think the Intel 2600k 2700k and 3770k are a best over all value.

Top of the hill gaming performance but at the sametime top of the hell encoding performance all in 1 300$ package.

I agree with you but for over 300 bucks for the i7 it's not for everyone and it's understandable. But yeah, it's a hell of a nice CPU

 

[hokies83]

I agree with you but for over 300 bucks for the i7 it's not for everyone and it's understandable. But yeah, it's a hell of a nice CPU

Why u wait for sales or shop used

 

[Torn Mind]

If you only check your emails from time to time and write christmas invitations in Publisher or Word i'd say i3 3220

A Celeron G540 can accomplish these tasks at a price that is one-third of an i3 3220.

 

[Rhezuss]

A Celeron G540 can accomplish these tasks at a price that is one-third of an i3 3220.

That's what i'm saying, depends on the user...simple as that.

 

[Torn Mind]

That's what i'm saying, depends on the user...simple as that.

It depends both on the user's preferences and how much money the user shelled out to get what he wanted. Or, in other words, utility(aka "happiness)/$$$$. This equation is a general guideline. There are quirky situations with regards to pleasure derived from goods and the money spent to get the goods.

 

[Rhezuss]

It depends both on the user's preferences and how much money the user shelled out to get what he wanted. Or, in other words, utility(aka "happiness)/$$$$. This equation is a general guideline. There are quirky situations with regards to pleasure derived from goods and the money spent to get the goods.

In other words: Yeah!

 

[Shephard]

A Celeron G540 can accomplish these tasks at a price that is one-third of an i3 3220.

exactly and you can game with it too.

I don't see why you would get any of those other processors over the celeron.

 

[crazymonkeyzero]

I think the Intel 2600k 2700k and 3770k are a best over all value.

2700k??? I don't think it's getting awards for "value" any time soon. 2600k was always a better alternative (price v. performance wise) and now with 3770k on the scene it would be stupid to even consider buying the 2700k at regular price...its $329!!!

 

[videogames101]

microcenter's $99 2500k was the best value on silicon, ever

 

[OCNewbie]

microcenter's $99 2500k was the best value on silicon, ever

Haha, I was about to post basically the same thing :biggrin:

 

[DominionSeraph]

Yes it would be... Except the title asked for "best value" which is also relative, not performance/price.

A -$100 C2D, repeated, is worth everything possibly purchasable, including every i5 2500k. So the value of the C2D is a superset of the value of the i5 2500k, and thus the i5 2500k cannot be worth more.

Thanks for playing.

 

[videogames101]

A -$100 C2D, repeated, is worth everything possibly purchasable, including every i5 2500k. So the value of the C2D is a superset of the value of the i5 2500k, and thus the i5 2500k cannot be worth more.

Thanks for playing.

where do i buy C2D's for -$100?

 

[2is]

A -$100 C2D, repeated, is worth everything possibly purchasable, including every i5 2500k. So the value of the C2D is a superset of the value of the i5 2500k, and thus the i5 2500k cannot be worth more.

Thanks for playing.

Except the title asked for "best value" which is also relative, not performance/price. Hard to win when you're playing the wrong game. Nice try though.

You're welcome. Now take your defeat gracefully instead of being a sore loser. Read the subject more carefully next time instead of sticking your foot in mouth.

 

[DominionSeraph]

where do i buy C2D's for -$100?

Same place you buy i5 2500k's for $99.
Nowhere.

 

[DominionSeraph]

You're welcome.

You've said nothing which addresses the point. Now take your defeat gracefully instead of being a sore loser. Read my posts more carefully next time instead of sticking your foot in mouth.

 

[Gikaseixas]

So you agree with my Intel recommendations but not with AMD because of why? You don't think that a general use computer should be able to play the occasional game? the A8 is a well balanced chip. Maybe some mom buys the kid a computer for school and that kid decides he wants to try Diablo III? It's a better experience on the A8 than on an i3 with HD2000 or HD2500 graphics. It's a good chip with good CPU speed, low idle, good graphics, and good driver support. It's a good chip for the average computer buyer and it's cheap. It's the equivalent of buying a $110 i3 and a $50 AMD 5570 for the price of that i3. Value right there. It may not be the best choice for you, but you can't deny that it is a good value for the price.

And that the FX 6300 uses more power at max load? Max load is pretty rare for most people, and even at that it's only a 50-75W lightbulb difference. Why do we care so much about power consumption these days? That 6300 has 6 cores, is unlocked, and is dirt cheap. That seems like a good value to me.

I fully agree with your recommendations (not just some due to fanboyism)

 

[frozentundra123456]

I fully agree with your recommendations (not just some due to fanboyism)

I guess toms hardware must fan boys too then, since the only recommendation they give amd is a tie at one price point.

 

[laputan machine]

I'm not counting crazy deals, of course 100 bucks for a 2500k would trump everything but if it's only for a short time and available for a few people then it doesn't matter to me.



g540(The dual core celerons gives you ridiculous amount of bang for the buck. They may not be sexy enough for many people here but there's not much they can't do. Hard to pick the exact model since many are so close in price though).
a4-5300 (2 cores at 3,4 ghz and a competent gpu for pentium and sometimes celeron prices)
FX-6300 (6 cores at a good price, plus overclocking)
FX-8320 (8 cores at a good price, plus overclocking)
i5-3330 (4 real, no module cores for around 190 bucks gives you a lot of performance)
E3-1230V2 (8 threads for 50 less than i7 price. This chip deserves to be FAR more popular).
If you don't mind the probable added expenses of an additional cooler, and the time it will take to get it stable and the risks of system crash etc, then add 3570k and 3770k to the list as well.

Now I would like to add an i3 ivy bridge since they are good chips, but paying that much more just for 2 additional threads?

 

[nforce4max]

microcenter's $99 2500k was the best value on silicon, ever

Damn I wish there was a Microcenter in my city.

 

[2is]

You've said nothing which addresses the point. Now take your defeat gracefully instead of being a sore loser. Read my posts more carefully next time instead of sticking your foot in mouth.

If your point is to illustrate that you're a kid that lacks originality and demands the last word after having been taken to school... Then yes.

 

[max347]

What is your price range and usage? Without those two things, this discussion is pretty meaningless.

If you are going to build a box for general usage and mild gaming, I would recommend the A10-5800k though-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819113280

Many users have suggested other good alternatives, but this would be a good cpu since you don't need a dedicated gpu and the whole package only uses 100w.