Windows 7: Out of all i5-K, which is cheapest

Just so you know, the 2500K, while being a really good CPU, is a generation old. If you get a 2500K and plan on OC'ing, you will need a better cooling solution at the very least.....and not just some extra case fans, I'm talking good CPU air cooler or one of those closed loop water coolers. Don't expect to get too far OC'ing the 2500K with the stock Intel heatsink and fan, it ain't happenin.



While I'm on the subject, the i3-2120 is also last generation architecture....Sandy Bridge. Again, nothing at all wrong with it, but if you are getting new stuff, get new stuff. The i3-3225 is only $20 higher, it has HD 4000 graphics and is the newest "Ivy Bridge" architecture. Pair that up with a new H77 or Z77 motherboard and you have a very budget friendly, well balanced backbone that can be upgraded painlessly when funds allow it.

so what if i buy a ivy bridge i5 with 4000 graphics, and get a used low - high end graphics card for cheap on ebay, then save up again for a better gpu

You would be surprised what games the HD4000 graphics will play just fine. I currently don't even have my old ATI HD5770 installed in my new rig, I am using the HD4000 graphics. I can play Diablo 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Star Wars: The Old Republic @ 1920x1080 with just about the highest settings available. SW: The Old Republic is a tad more graphic intensive and I have to lower some settings to get what I consider flawless gameplay. It scores a 6.5-6.7 on WEI depending on how much I overclock the graphics. I would use the HD4000 graphics and save up and buy a good Nvidia 600 series card later on. Also, if you do any video encoding/decoding you can use the HD4000 graphics in CONJUNCTION with a discrete graphics card, and take advantage of Intel Quicksync.

Could be a start then....i5 with HD4000 as iGPU integrated + Combined with a GPU card could well balance your system the time for you to enjoy and save for a better GPU card again, or even add the same low - high end graphics in Crossfire/Sli.

That's the specs of Intel H77 & Z77, B75 chipset on motherboard that will help a lot in this manner. Those motherboards can be pretty affordable for some models.

the thing is i i buy the 3570k it will be the price of a 2120 + a GTX 550 ti, is it really worth it? so do u mean if i had intel 4000 graphics i can kinda SLI with my old x1600 and the 4000?

To SLI you'll have to care of the motherboard specs before...

HD4000 stand alone i quite powerful graphics. Added to one graphics card it became very efficient.. SLI even better (care that's take a lot of power supply)

I am not sure if the HD 4000 graphics will work with such an older generation graphics card. I know that you can play a ton of games at relatively high settings with the HD4000 graphics alone. And when you save up for a new video card, you can use them together if your motherboard supports it.......which most Z77 motherboards do. Lucid MVP is the name of the software that allows you to use HD4000 graphics along with a discrete video card.

Also, the i5-3570K is worth every penny. It is one of the best valued CPU's out there. It is EASILY overclocked(with adequate cooling) and is a beast of a processor. Not to mention the on-chip graphics. Pair that CPU up with a good motherboard and you have a system that will be a great performer for quite a few years.

so on the motherboard features section i would look for 'Lucid MVP'?

Gigabyte GA-B75-D3V Socket 1155 looks having only Multi-Graphics Technology for AMD CrossFireX...No SLI support

Yes it does!

But it is one or the other, you cannot combined Amd and Nvidia with Lucid MVP.

Should be

HD 4000 + AMD
or
HD 4000 + NviDia