Intel Core i3 processor?

[CaptainZombie]

A lot of PC talk of late here on OS. My PC is about 5+ years old and I have upgraded it a few times over the last 5 years. I currently have a Core 2 Duo 2.96 Ghz E8400 processor with 3GB RAM, and Nvidia GTS 250. I'm looking at a few barebones systems on Compusa and trying to determine which is best to buy + I will need to get Win7.

I am not really a PC gamer, but every so often I might mess around with a game or two on there. I doubt I'll be doing much PC gaming. I plan to take the GTS 250 and place it in the new system that I buy.

Would the Core i3 be ok to go with or should I be looking at the corei5?

Currently Windows on my PC has been acting funky which I'm not getting a proper boot, so I plan to reformat it and place a fresh install of windows on it for my kids to use.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

If you are wanting to go quad core go with the i5-2500, i5-750 or i5-760. The i3 is kind of just the new line of duo processors.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...name=Quad-Core

If I was going through the trouble of upgrading my CPU I would hop to the i5. I have the dual core 3ghz that is about 3.5 years old as well. Finally upgraded from 2GB of ram to 6GB and went to W7.

If you are going to put Windows 7 on it. You could also look into getting some more ram and going 64 bit. If you are keeping a small budget though just going with a quad core would be a huge upgrade. I go into fantasy mode when helping others though because it's not my money

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

If you are wanting to go quad core go with the i5-2500, i5-750 or i5-760. The i3 is kind of just the new line of duo processors.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...name=Quad-Core

If I was going through the trouble of upgrading my CPU I would hop to the i5. I have the dual core 3ghz that is about 3.5 years old as well. Finally upgraded from 2GB of ram to 6GB and went to W7.

If you are going to put Windows 7 on it. You could also look into getting some more ram and going 64 bit. If you are keeping a small budget though just going with a quad core would be a huge upgrade. I go into fantasy mode when helping others though because it's not my money

How are the AMD CPU's these days? I haven't bought an AMD CPU since the late 90's/early 2000's. I always used to have some kind of issues with AMD systems, then switched back to Intel and things have been good for the most part.

So the i3 is not worth looking into then since its pretty similar to what I have now?

I do blame some of my problems on that POS Vista. LOL!

BTW, I would like to stay under $500 if I can.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

As far as issues, they are issue free.

And perform really well at cost per dollar.

Unless you are an extreme enthusiast who squeezes out every last frame in a game, you are not going to notice a difference between AMD or Intel.

And multitasking is pretty exceptional on them due to their fast memory management.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

How are the AMD CPU's these days? I haven't bought an AMD CPU since the late 90's/early 2000's. I always used to have some kind of issues with AMD systems, then switched back to Intel and things have been good for the most part.

So the i3 is not worth looking into then since its pretty similar to what I have now?

I do blame some of my problems on that POS Vista. LOL!

BTW, I would like to stay under $500 if I can.

Never used one. I did see an article that was titles something like "AMD pushing Intel to the Wall". I didn't read it though.

The i3 is gonna be slightly better just because it's newer technology, but I don't think you would be able notice a big upgrade in performance.

Under 500? For a CPU and video card or are we talking full new computer now?

And yes, vista might be part of the problem lol.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

If you want to stretch your money, get an AMD, they are cheaper usually by a $100 or more then the Intel version but yet performs just as good.

However unless you building a brand new PC all together, you should stick to the brand that your motherboard supports. They only support one or the other. Then you have to look at the socet type too for your motherboard.

Being your computer is old, it won't support some of the newer Intel chips socket types.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

Crap didn't even think of it being such an old motherboard. That might make it a pain in the butt.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

If you want to stretch your money, get an AMD, they are cheaper usually by a $100 or more then the Intel version but yet performs just as good.

However unless you building a brand new PC all together, you should stick to the brand that your motherboard supports. They only support one or the other. Then you have to look at the socet type too for your motherboard.

Being your computer is old, it won't support some of the newer Intel chips socket types.

Crap didn't even think of it being such an old motherboard. That might make it a pain in the butt.

Yeah, that is the problem, it is an old mobo and I have maxed it out when I added a new CPU to it last year. I have some wiggle room for another GB of RAM, but at this point don't really want to add anymore RAM to it.

I might try this in the interim, buying Windows 7 OEM 64bit Home Edition from CompUSA for $99 to completely reformat this system. I think that Vista has been causing me quite the issues over the years. When I get my bonus in December, I can just get a Core i5 system that I can afford instead of trying to squeeze something in a shoestring budget.

Is the Core i5 a Quad Core?

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

Depends on the series. Some are, some aren't. The 700 series and higher are quad. Anything below the 700 series are dual cores. Here are some prices for ya.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...name=Core%20i5

[untrugby]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

It's a lot cheaper to buy a premade system than building your own these days if you don't need anything special. I've got an i3 and it works well for any gaming I do.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

It's a lot cheaper to buy a premade system than building your own these days if you don't need anything special. I've got an i3 and it works well for any gaming I do.

Yeah, I built my own for YEARS... but may just buy one pre-made from iBuyPower now... Buddy's last two builds (who used to also build his own), bought from them, cost him at most $50-$100 more to buy from them, and he has had exception results the last 5 years.

To add, they use all the same off the shelf parts you would, fully warrantied by the manufacturer and them.

http://www.ibuypower.com/

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Intel Core i3 processor?

Depends on the series. Some are, some aren't. The 700 series and higher are quad. Anything below the 700 series are dual cores. Here are some prices for ya.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...name=Core%20i5

Here is the same link sorted for only quad core - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...name=Quad-Core

It's a lot cheaper to buy a premade system than building your own these days if you don't need anything special. I've got an i3 and it works well for any gaming I do.

It can come out to about to same. You lose the nostalgia of being able to un-box everything and put it all together yourself. That's a thing for me, but I know for not many others.

The i3 is fine for gaming. I game just fine on a core 2 duo. If he is gonna make the upgrade he just might as well go quad core.

Yeah, that is the problem, it is an old mobo and I have maxed it out when I added a new CPU to it last year. I have some wiggle room for another GB of RAM, but at this point don't really want to add anymore RAM to it.

I might try this in the interim, buying Windows 7 OEM 64bit Home Edition from CompUSA for $99 to completely reformat this system. I think that Vista has been causing me quite the issues over the years. When I get my bonus in December, I can just get a Core i5 system that I can afford instead of trying to squeeze something in a shoestring budget.

Wiggle room for 1 more GB of RAM? That IS an old motherboard lol.

64 bit really wouldn't be for you. The benefit of 64bit is pretty much to handle more then 4GB of RAM. 32bit will only recognize up to 4GB, which isn't an issue for you. Plus 64Bit's requirements are higher. It takes 2GB alone to run it. I went from 2GB to 6GB and upgraded from XP to W7-64bit. Even with all of my RAM I can tell only have a dual core CPU bugs it down some. I am in the same boat, my mobo only supports LGA 755. So I am limited on what I can upgrade to.