Intel or AMD and which motherboard?

bnicholls92 · 24 Apr 2013 at 16:25

Hi,
This will be my first computer build. I am mainly building this to stand up to the rigours of the software I will be using for my Masters in mechanical engineering. Whilst also having the power to play some of the latest games being a bonus.
So far I have been looking at either the AMD FX8350 or the Intel Core i5 3570k.
I will be mainly using multi threaded applications such as ansys workbench. I will also require the computer to be able to be a media server at the same time using Serviio.
Any advice would be welcomed as I am unsure of which motherboards work with the FX8350 and I have a budget of around £700. I do not need to include the Operating system or SSD in to this budget as I already have these but everything else required for the tower. I am also looking to ensure that it is expandable in future, for example being able to add a 2nd graphics card or more RAM

Leprechaun312 · 24 Apr 2013 at 16:39

in i5 all the way it beats the 8350 and its the same price http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/697?vs=701

Lemin · 24 Apr 2013 at 18:12

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £189.95
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards £164.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £112.99
1 x XFX 750W XXX Edition Modular '80 Plus Silver' Power Supply £83.99
1 x GeIL EVO Leggera 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (GEL38GB1600C9DC) £47.99
1 x BitFenix Shinobi "Core" USB3.0 Gaming Case - Black £46.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
1 x OcUK 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
Total : £708.88 (includes shipping : £12.50).

anthony566 · 24 Apr 2013 at 19:51

8350 all the way ..... See my spec below

Martini1991 · 24 Apr 2013 at 19:52

anthony566 said:
8350 all the way ..... See my spec below

You're only saying that due to personal experience, in spite of the results, which have it as the lesser CPU (For gaming) factually.

That said, I'd pick the FX8320 due to the OP's needs.

areksnumbr1sxylady · 24 Apr 2013 at 19:58

8320 for OP`S needs... and there is 50 pounds difference between 3570k and 8320..

evohicks · 24 Apr 2013 at 20:13

anthony566 said:
8350 all the way ..... See my spec below

Kei · 24 Apr 2013 at 20:37

YOUR BASKET
1 x HIS HD 7950 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (H795F3G2M) £239.99
1 x AMD Piledriver FX-8 Eight Core 8350 Black Edition 4.00GHz (Socket AM3+) Processor - Retail £149.99
1 x MSI 990XA-GD55 AMD 990X Chipset (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Seasonic S12II 620W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £64.98
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLE2CP4G3D1608DE1TX0CEU) £43.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £672.42 (includes shipping : £11.25).

Or knock the cpu back to an 8320 and gpu back to a 7850...
YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards £164.99
1 x AMD Piledriver FX-8 Eight Core 8320 Black Edition 3.50GHz (Socket AM3+) Processor - Retail £129.95
1 x MSI 990XA-GD55 AMD 990X Chipset (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Seasonic S12II 620W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £64.98
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLE2CP4G3D1608DE1TX0CEU) £43.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £576.48 (includes shipping : £10.50).

or the intel routes...
YOUR BASKET
1 x HIS HD 7950 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (H795F3G2M) £239.99
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £179.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £112.99
1 x Seasonic S12II 620W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £64.98
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLE2CP4G3D1608DE1TX0CEU) £43.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £734.52 (includes shipping : £10.50).

7850 instead of 7950...
YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £179.99
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards £164.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £112.99
1 x Seasonic S12II 620W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £64.98
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLE2CP4G3D1608DE1TX0CEU) £43.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £659.52 (includes shipping : £10.50).

ubersonic · 24 Apr 2013 at 21:25

Intel is the best option, The i5 is the better choice for games and IIRC Ansys workbench only uses two cores unless you upgrade to a more expensive licence. If you're throwing that kind of money around then the 3930K will destroy the i5 and the FX-8.

Defconluke · 24 Apr 2013 at 23:05

As an alternative CPU check out the Xeon E3 1230 V2.
Priced similarly as the 3570K it is essentially an i7 without the integrated graphics which, if you're planning on using a discrete graphics card anyway, could make it a great option.

Leprechaun312 · 24 Apr 2013 at 23:09

Kei said:
YOUR BASKET
1 x HIS HD 7950 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (H795F3G2M) £239.99
1 x AMD Piledriver FX-8 Eight Core 8350 Black Edition 4.00GHz (Socket AM3+) Processor - Retail £149.99
1 x MSI 990XA-GD55 AMD 990X Chipset (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Seasonic S12II 620W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £64.98
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLE2CP4G3D1608DE1TX0CEU) £43.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £672.42 (includes shipping : £11.25).

Or knock the cpu back to an 8320 and gpu back to a 7850...
YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards £164.99
1 x AMD Piledriver FX-8 Eight Core 8320 Black Edition 3.50GHz (Socket AM3+) Processor - Retail £129.95
1 x MSI 990XA-GD55 AMD 990X Chipset (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Seasonic S12II 620W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £64.98
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLE2CP4G3D1608DE1TX0CEU) £43.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £576.48 (includes shipping : £10.50).

or the intel routes...
YOUR BASKET
1 x HIS HD 7950 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (H795F3G2M) £239.99
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £179.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £112.99
1 x Seasonic S12II 620W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £64.98
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLE2CP4G3D1608DE1TX0CEU) £43.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £734.52 (includes shipping : £10.50).

7850 instead of 7950...
YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £179.99
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards £164.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £112.99
1 x Seasonic S12II 620W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £64.98
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £49.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLE2CP4G3D1608DE1TX0CEU) £43.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £659.52 (includes shipping : £10.50).

the g-cards in these arent great, the specced 7950 has a base lower clock speed than all the other 7950s and the msi card isnt great (i have had to rma 2/3 of my msi cards) for a 7950 this would be better http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-065-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673 and 7850 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-052-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=411

areksnumbr1sxylady · 25 Apr 2013 at 00:05

Defconluke said:
As an alternative CPU check out the Xeon E3 1230 V2.
Priced similarly as the 3570K it is essentially an i7 without the integrated graphics which, if you're planning on using a discrete graphics card anyway, could make it a great option.

great lil cpu... shame ocUK dont sell it... but it cant overlock

ubersonic · 25 Apr 2013 at 00:18

Lazder said:
great lil cpu... shame ocUK dont sell it... but it cant overlock

Will over-clock to about 4GHz (plus whatever you can squeeze out of the BCLK) which on an Ivy Bridge 4C8T CPU should be enough for most people.

uzairzaidi · 25 Apr 2013 at 00:23

Definitely recommend the i5. I recently upgraded to it and am VERY happy with the results

bnicholls92 · 25 Apr 2013 at 09:49

Sadly I am only using an academic licence of Ansys. So I am unsure as to whether it will use more than 2 cores as when using the uni computers which have 4 cores. They were still usable so I imagine it is only a 2 core licence

Leprechaun312 · 25 Apr 2013 at 10:01

bnicholls92 said:
Sadly I am only using an academic licence of Ansys. So I am unsure as to whether it will use more than 2 cores as when using the uni computers which have 4 cores. They were still usable so I imagine it is only a 2 core licence

that sucks having anything above an i3 with that would be pointless you might be better just throwing in a copy of windows home premium

Martini1991 · 25 Apr 2013 at 10:03

bnicholls92 said:
Sadly I am only using an academic licence of Ansys. So I am unsure as to whether it will use more than 2 cores as when using the uni computers which have 4 cores. They were still usable so I imagine it is only a 2 core licence

I'd get the i5 then, core for core performance will be more important.

Leprechaun312 said:
that sucks having anything above an i3 with that would be pointless you might be better just throwing in a copy of windows home premium

Can't clock the i3 like you can an i5K, so it'll be much less core for core performance.

Leprechaun312 · 25 Apr 2013 at 10:10

Martini1991 said:
I'd get the i5 then, core for core performance will be more important.

Can't clock the i3 like you can an i5K, so it'll be much less core for core performance.

but if it is a core locked license then he won't be able to make use of the i5 and either would be better geting an i3 or an i5 and throwing in a copy of win 7 home premium

ubersonic · 25 Apr 2013 at 10:27

Leprechaun312 said:
but if it is a core locked license then he won't be able to make use of the i5 and either would be better geting an i3 or an i5 and throwing in a copy of win 7 home premium

He may be only able to use 2 cores but the i5 being about 1GHz faster as stock plus overclock-able is a big bonus, plus he wants to run a media server in the background.

Leprechaun312 · 25 Apr 2013 at 10:28

ubersonic said:
He may be only able to use 2 cores but the i5 being about 1GHz faster as stock plus overclock-able is a big bonus, plus he wants to run a media server in the background.

fair enough, but i still recommend a copy of home premium thrown in