Build 1 vs Build 2 HTPC/Steam/Dolphin Box comparison - Help please

[Gohdan]

Hi guys, looking for some help comparing these two systems below. Both have 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM along with the BitFenix Prodigy case and other HTPC goodies.
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/19SbA - i3-3200, HD7750
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/19Tt1 - i5-3750k, HD7850

Long story short, I'm comparing the two builds. I've settled on the case and Intel for CPU. It'll be primarily an XBMC box but I've also decided I want some Dolphin and pcsx2 goodness which leads me to believe I might want the second build. I considered the AMD A8 or A10 APU series without a GPU but I honestly think that with the TV I'll be using it on [1080p 60" Samsung Plasma] I'd be disappointed if I had to play anything at 720p.

Am I going to see much difference in overall performance between the two builds to justify the ~$250 price difference, particularly on Dolphin and Steam games? I know this isn't the best place to ask for Steam games comparisons but I imagine some of you have experimented as well.


Thanks for your help. I'm open to suggestions on the other components as well but I definitely want a Micro ATX or Mini-ITX build, preferably the latter.

[admin89]

newegg.ca :
i5 4670k (250$)
Gigabyte Z87 mini ITX with 15µ gold plated CPU socket (115$)
Sapphire 7850 (165$) .
Seasonic S12II 520W 80 Plus with all Japanese solid caps - modular PSU (82$)
Edit : Forgot to add this : Cooler Master GeminII M4 Ultra Slim Fan (37$) . You will need this aftermarket cooler for overclocking
Arctic MX-4 Thermal Compound (10$)

[Gohdan]

I appreciate the response but I'm mostly looking for a comparison between the builds. Unfortunately at the moment I don't know that I'm willing to spend the extra money for Haswell i5-4670k, despite the improved performance.

[admin89]

Quote:I appreciate the response but I'm mostly looking for a comparison between the builds

A8 , A10 are out of the question even if you overclock these CPUs .
i3 3200 is too weak for demanding games
i5 3570k stock speed won't cut it
You will need to overclock i5 3570k to 4.5GHz to run most demanding games full speed
i5 4670k @ 4.0->4.2GHz should be enough for most demanding games

[pauldacheez]

While a 4670K would be more fun, a 3570K clocked at 4.2-4.7 GHz should be enough for even the most demanding games. You'll need a decent aftermarket cooler for that, though, like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo that admin89 always recommends: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2

Make sure your PSU can accommodate an overclocked CPU with the rest of your hardware. PCPartPicker's estimate in the upper-right doesn't account for overclocks, so use this one: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

[Gohdan]

Thank you for a realistic answer! Looks like the Hyper 212 will fit in the Prodigy case, albeit tight, so I'll probably pick one up as well.

Will the GPU I selected bottleneck Dolphin at all?

[admin89]

Quote:Will the GPU I selected bottleneck Dolphin at all?

It will if you use insane resolution such as 4xInternal Res + 4xSSAA(Direct3d9) ~ 8xIR (5120x4224)
If you use 4xIR , no AA , 16xAF then 7850 will be ok

Quote:Looks like the Hyper 212 will fit in the Prodigy case,

It won't fit that Bitfenix Prodigy
Get ultra slim version like I mentioned

[cluthz]

You can get a cheap AIO water cooler like Corsair H55 or Antec 620, they fit just fine in the Prodigy.
They will be better than the 212, but not as good as the best air coolers.

I dunno if admin89 has used i5-3570k, but it's faster than my i5-2500k, and with turbo boost on 3 cores (or less) to 4.4Ghz I could run THe Last Story full speed. I have seen like 27FPS in Lazulis, but in all game play related zones i do have 30 FPS all the time.

[admin89]

Quote: I dunno if admin89 has used i5-3570k

@Venomx1 said Zelda TP - Hyrule Field (later in the game) need i5 3570k @ 4.5GHz to run full speed with LLE
GTX 760 is released
Edit : I thought GTX 760 would cost 150$ but it cost 250$ . It's slower than GTX 670 , faster than 7950 Boost which cost higher
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7103/nvidia-geforce-gtx-760-review/10