Consider your needs and budget, then choose a CPU that matches your requirements.
Consider your needs and budget, then choose a CPU that matches your requirements.
I'm assembling a budget PC for my cousin and have two CPU options: an Intel Core i7 2600 or a Core i5 3470. I'm undecided which to choose. The i7 offers more threads, while the i5 is smaller in size. I'm leaning toward the i7 because of its thread count, but the i5 has some advantages due to its nanometer design. Any advice would be helpful. It will also run with a GTX 960 and 2GB of RAM. I know newer parts are better, but these are what I already have. My main goal is just to put together a machine for him.
Do you have a motherboard ready to use? I recommend starting with a basic modern CPU; older chips often cost more for boards.
The i7 is better since the single-thread speed gap is minor, yet neither option is perfect unless you're securing a very good deal.
The i7 remains the fastest option, though the IPC improvement on Ivy Bridge was only moderate. The absence of HT is likely to become an issue for gaming now. The 2600 still performs adequately and can manage most titles, but it falls short against affordable quad-core chips such as the i3 10105 and R3 3300X. Pairing an i3+B560 or R3+B550 offers around $250 and provides significantly better performance today plus a solid upgrade route for future 8-core i7/R7 systems. Unless you're opting for a CPU+mobo under $100, I believe investing in newer parts would be more advantageous.