I5-7500 System vs AMD system worth the extra $150 for my use?

[dn89lx]

I am ready to buy my parts to build my first PC. Just want to do one last check. I know the I5 system I have configured is better than the AMD system. My question is, is it worth the extra $155 for what I plan to use it for - which is mainly multiple browser web surfing and multiple Microsoft Excel files open at the same time. Basically web and productivity multi-tasking.

No games or video editing.

Here are the systems:

Intel I5-7500 System
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/H8d3BP

AMD A10-7860k System
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/b8TmKZ

Also - when buying all the components, will all necessary cables come be included or is there anything else I need to buy for assembly?

 

[johnb35]

I think the extra money would be well worth it. I would also include a 1tb HDD for storage. The FM2+ platform is dead now for any further upgrades.

 

[Deadpool]

Why I5? You could get an I3 or even a Pentium for your needs. IF you need more you can always replace it for an I5. Hey a B250 motherboard (H270 if cheaper) and a Kaby Pentium or I3.

 

[johnb35]

But I've seen people buy cheaper hardware and then realizing they should have went better so now they are stuck with what they have or spend more money to get what they should have gotten in the first place. Spend the extra now knowing you'll be happy in the long run.

 

[Deadpool]

I mean an I3 will be enough. I think we are underestimating it's power here. Pentiums and I3s are basically made for that. I5s for gaming, I7s for rendering and editing, and Celerons are for grandpas.

 

[johnb35]

I've played around with systems with I3's in them. I wouldn't be happy with them in the long run. OP's use of system may change in near future, so he would be set already.

 

[Deadpool]

I think you are overthinking this. Even if he decides to start gaming, the I3 would´t dissapoint. I would build something like this https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wPfpJV Much better than the FM2+ build there, and more adecuate than the I5 build.

I mean look at this, the 7100 is a desktop beast. http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-7500-vs-Intel-Core-i3-7100/3648vs3891 . Heck it's even good for gaming.

OP's use of system may change in near future, so he would be set already.

What kind of change? If it's gaming he'll need a GPU, so either way an upgrade will happen. Might as well upgrade the CPU too.

Also - when buying all the components, will all necessary cables come be included or is there anything else I need to buy for assembly?

Every cable comes with the PSU and motherboard included. Don't worry about that. Just buy the components and you'll be set. By the way that's a nice PSU.

 

[mistersprinkles]

Why I5? You could get an I3 or even a Pentium for your needs. IF you need more you can always replace it for an I5. Hey a B250 motherboard (H270 if cheaper) and a Kaby Pentium or I3.

I disagree you always want the best cpu you can get. User needs change over time

 

[Deadpool]

I disagree you always want the best cpu you can get. User needs change over time

Why not get what you need, and when -if- you don't need it anymore just replace it like normal people would do? What is this brainless future proofing crusade? "Just get what you can afford". It doesn't work that way.

-Hey I can afford a 1000W PSU.
-Oh yeah get that, who knows when you'll want to add another 3 GPUs?
-I can afford 32Gb of RAM too!
-Yeah do that too! Who cares if you'll never use more than 3?

Why should the CPU be any different? You can always sell what you don't need and get something newer. Maybe we've just lived different lives. "Mejor que sobre y no que falte". I don't agree with that. Still it's not our place to give opinions, just facts, so here it goes:

It is an office build. An I3 is more than good, and it's a decent gaming CPU too, so if you ever decide to do some gaming in the future, just get a decent GPU and you'll be all right.

 

[mistersprinkles]

Why not get what you need, and when -if- you don't need it anymore just replace it like normal people would do? What is this brainless future proofing crusade? "Just get what you can afford". It doesn't work that way.

-Hey I can afford a 1000W PSU.
-Oh yeah get that, who knows when you'll want to add another 3 GPUs?
-I can afford 32Gb of RAM too!
-Yeah do that too! Who cares if you'll never use more than 3?

Why should the CPU be any different? You can always sell what you don't need and get something newer. Maybe we've just lived different lives. "Mejor que sobre y no que falte". I don't agree with that. Still it's not our place to give opinions, just facts, so here it goes:

It is an office build. An I3 is more than good, and it's a decent gaming CPU too, so if you ever decide to do some gaming in the future, just get a decent GPU and you'll be all right.

You can disagree without being vicious to me.

 

[Deadpool]

You can disagree without being vicious to me.

I still haven't decided if I'm mad at you

 

[mistersprinkles]

I still haven't decided if I'm mad at you

You're a character

 

[Cisco001]

I don't see the point getting FM2+ now.

Motherboard - Do you really need all those expansion with ATX motherboard. You could consider cheaper matx instead if you don't need. May be Gigabyte GA-B250M-DS3H/
MSI B250M BAZOOKA

RAM - Is there a need of 16GB for you now? you could just get 2 x 4GB?

 

[dn89lx]

Why I5? You could get an I3 or even a Pentium for your needs. IF you need more you can always replace it for an I5.

I had looked at an I3-6100 previously but decided on the I5-7500. Your post inspired me to look again and the I3-7100 is intriguing and $80 cheaper.

Every cable comes with the PSU and motherboard included. Don't worry about that. Just buy the components and you'll be set. By the way that's a nice PSU.

Thank you...I do need to buy some thermal paste though correct?

I don't see the point getting FM2+ now.

Motherboard - Do you really need all those expansion with ATX motherboard. You could consider cheaper matx instead if you don't need. May be Gigabyte GA-B250M-DS3H/
MSI B250M BAZOOKA

RAM - Is there a need of 16GB for you now? you could just get 2 x 4GB?

Agree on the FM2+ - that idea is now dead. I definitely don't need a bunch of expansion, I am sure I could get away with a matx board without any issues. As far as the RAM is concerned - it was recommended in a previous post to just go with 16GB from the start and be done with it. I really don't know if I need 16GB or if 8GB would be more than enough. Especially since none of the computers in the house have had an SSD so I am sure that alone will help with the snappiness of opening programs and browser windows. I am inpatient when it comes to waiting on things to load - especially when I am trying to get 6 or 7 web browser windows loading at a time - LOL


Thank you all for the discussion! I am somewhat intrigued by the I3-7100 which would save me $80 with no other changes. I am still quite a newbie to understanding CPU performance and such. I have been relying somewhat on the CPU passmark benchmark tests, but really have no idea what the relative difference is between the 5957 score of the I3-7100 and the 7842 of the I5-7500. I know the CPUs I have replaced recently were in the 2000's for a score and my backup PC I am using until this one gets ordered and built is in the mid 2000s to low 3000s for a passmark score.

The I3-7100 only has the 2 cores but has a higher single thread rating of 2235 v 2032. SO I just don't know how all that translates into real world noticeable performance vs price.

I can afford the I5, so I don't mind spending the money as long as I will be able to notice the difference if that makes sense.

One other question - on the case - is the case I picked out a good bang for the buck or are there better options at the same or lower price point?

 

[Deadpool]

Passmark is a bit meh. Not that useful really. I use more often the website I linked before (userbenchmark). It sepparates game performance, desktop and workstation. In desktop there is only a 2% difference between the 7100 and 7500. The 7100 is a dual core with hyper threading.

For an office build, what you really want is a good SSD, enough RAM and a fast enough CPU.

You do not need thermal paste. It comes pre-applied with the CPU cooler.

About the case. First pick size (ATZ, mATX/ mid tower, full tower, etc.), with enough bays (usually there is no problem there), enough fans (can be added for cheap), and then choose decide which one you like more. Always keeping in mind your budget. Also sth that has frontal USB 3 0 ports (if your motherboard has).

 

[johnb35]

Why not get what you need, and when -if- you don't need it anymore just replace it like normal people would do? What is this brainless future proofing crusade? "Just get what you can afford". It doesn't work that way.

Because you'll spend more money in the long run to get something to just get you by now when you really wanted something that would work better for you.

-Hey I can afford a 1000W PSU.

People don't realize that they don't need that much power to power a system and a video card. Cough VCRking cough. They buy a 1000 watt psu when they really only needed 500. "oh darn, you mean I could have gotten a better cpu?"

and it's a decent gaming CPU too, so if you ever decide to do some gaming in the future, just get a decent GPU and you'll be all right.

Uh what? By who's standards?

 

[Deadpool]

Because you'll spend more money in the long run to get something to just get you by now when you really wanted something that would work better for you.

People don't realize that they don't need that much power to power a system and a video card. Cough VCRking cough. They buy a 1000 watt psu when they really only needed 500. "oh darn, you mean I could have gotten a better cpu?"

There is also the possibility that you'll buy an I5 and you won't ever need it. That is for sure spending more money. Selling a CPU is no problem.

If you never used what you got, you wasted money. Not the other way around. I guess at the end of the day it's a matter of opinion. Yours and mine are different.

Uh what? By who's standards?

http://www.pcgamer.com/intel-core-i3-7350k-review/

 

[dn89lx]

Thanks again for all the discussion. After thinking about it - I think I am going to stick with the I5 and 16GB of RAM. I don't know that I need all that RAM...but I priced out an I3-7100 with 8GB Ram and I5-7500 with 16GB Ram and am coming to a $135ish price difference. I switched cases so the total cost of the I5 system below is $712 including a full copy of Windows. Seems pretty reasonable I think.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/RRgZPs

As they say, it feels like it is time to crap or get off the pot!

I may also buy a cheap HDD for my old system, reinstall Windows 7 and try to sell it locally. Its an older AMD CPU but supports multiple monitors and has 8GB Ram - should be able to sell it for something I would think.

 

[johnb35]

I'm sure you'll be quite happy with it. If you have a lot of browser windows/tabs open, you'll need that extra memory. Chrome uses a lot of memory when you have a lot of tabs open. Firefox is beginning to be like that too. You made a good choice.

 

[dn89lx]

Thanks John!

One last question - is there any reason not to get a M.2-2280 form factor Samsung SSD instead of the 2.5" SATA? Price is $4 difference so negligible.