Which CPU is right for me?

[Austin126936]

I've recently decided upon building my first PC. Having picked out most of my parts, I'm still not sure on which processor would best suit me and is well worth the price tag. The tasks I'm intending on using the computer for (most of which at the same time) are: Skype calls, a few internet tabs, YouTube videos, screen recording, and games such as Minecraft, DayZ, and Metal Gear Solid 5. I'd like the PC to be able to perform these tasks without delay or lag. Any help is welcomed and I thank you in advance.

 

[myocardia]

Which processor you should buy depends on how much money you have to spend. Prices start at less than $50, and go as high as $1,000, for the CPU alone. The more you spend, the more performance and features you gain. Oh, and welcome to Anandtech.

 

[Yuriman]

The minimum I'd recommend for you is an i3 4160 (~$120), paired with a relatively cheap (~$50-65) motherboard. Your listed tasks would perform very well on an Intel Pentium, but some games run poorly on chips that can only handle 2 threads, and they're likely to become more common as time goes by. An entry-level i5 at ~$190 would likely have a greater lifespan, but the i3 is no slouch.

 

[tweakboy]

i5 OCed is a great chip for you.