Upgrade to Intel i7 over AMD 8 core or GTX 680 over GTX 660 ti?

preacherauron · 22 Apr 2014

I have limited money to work with. So I am trying to figure out how to get the best performance for gaming within a limited budget.

Basically I can find an AMD FX 8350 4.0 hgz 8 core processor new in box for $190 vs intels i7 4770 for about $300-320. So that is a difference of $110-$130.

Where I can get the GTX 680 for about $300-$310 vs the GTX 660 ti superclocked for $160.

For gaming where would my money best be spent if I could only get one of these upgrades. I am leaning towards the 4gb video card over the 2gb vid card as being a bigger difference in visual performance than the similar processors (though I know the i7 is superior for gaming or at least that is what I have read). I would like non "fanboy" responses. Basically is the i7 sooo much better than an 8 core AMD processor that it would justify getting a lesser video card? I will have either a 750 or 800 watt power supply so I should be fine there. Basically I need to know so I can start looking for the right motherboard.

badger906 · 22 Apr 2014

Hi welcome to the forum!!

What processor do you have at the moment? For gaming a decent quad core processor is all you need, a core i5 or a 6 core AMD fx 6300 is ample for todays games. Anything higher wont give you massively higher frame rates, and youll only benifit from things outside of gaming such as video editing ect.

Now GPU is the part where you want to spend the money! a 4Gb card is overkill if your running on a 1080p monitor. youll never use the added 2gb over a normal 2gb varient.

Instead of the GTX680 look at the GTx770, they are identical cards, bar the fact the 770 supports GPU boost as well as a few other new Nvidia treats.

The 660, will mearly be Ok for now, it will play the latest games but it will soon struggle in the long run.

So if it were me id spend my money on a GTX770. Neither of those processors will struggle at playing games, so its irrelevant to which you get if your sole purpose is to play games. Save a bit of money and get a core i5, or spend the extra $150 on the i7 and gain all of about 5fps! which again wont matter as the limiting factor will be the GPU which ever you choose!!

preacherauron · 22 Apr 2014

Thanks man that was exactly what I was looking for in an answer. You da man. Rep given.