Hello Marine-RX179,
sorry to chop your quote up into smaller pieces but it just helps address all the different things you said . . . .
One thing that your result doesn't include...the minimum frame rate
I'd like to point out that they are not my results but rather a compilation of bench results understaken by Anandtech, I'm not sure how accurate they are but quite a few folk use this data base for quick reference so all I've done is collect the relevant data and publish it as an easy to read large image (which you quoted?)
Please feel free to share your data on minimum frame rates if you feel there is a performance difference worth discussing further?
Because the 1156 dual-core CPU has better architecture, it's minimum and average frame rate would be higher than Athlon II X4 or Q6600 in most situation
The Anandtech test results show that Fallout 3 and Dragon Age Origins run at almost identical frame-rate? and that Batman: Arkham Asylum is actually a few frames faster? . . . . so much for the "better architecture"
Also not to forget it can overclock to 4.0GHz+ comparing to Athlon II X4 or Q6600 overclocking to 3.6GHz~ average.
Indeed, I did actually publish a Intel® Core™ i3 530 @ 4GHz screenie above? as you can see even clocked at 3.5GHz the AMD® Athlon™ II X4 has no problem outperforming the HyperThreaded DualCore in Fritz?, which is a pretty good benchmark tool for showing MultiThreaded Performance . . .
if it's just a 5770 and going to be used for a long time not going to upgrade anytime soon, a faster dual-core would be a better performer for majority of the games (less a few that are optimised for Quad)
I kinda understand what you are saying but the advantage of a faster clocked DualCore is starting to vanish as more and more games get support for MultiThreading, even today we can see the AMD® Athlon™ II X4 matches the performance of the i3 530 and is faster in some titles? . . . .
I feel that simon22 will get a better deal and a better overall system in the long-run by going with an full AMD® QuadCore today . . . the Intel® Core™ i3 530 is a nice chip (and OverPriced!) but I think it's better suited to a Hybrid HTPC/Gaming machine that will be running 24/7
If it was i3 530 vs Phenom II X4 965BE, the Phenom II 955BE would probably be a better choice as both deliver similar frame rate at 4.0GHz in dual-threaded games
The Phenom™ II X4 is an option but it's a tough call in a budget that is meant to be set at £500 . . . to shoehorn a Phenom™ II X4 into this budget would mean sacrifices in other components? . . . I believe the Athlon™ II X4 is an ideal processor for simon22's project, from what he has been using I'm sure it will blow him away and along with nice ASUS AM3 motherboard that allows him the option of running a CrossFire rig in the future or allowing him a multitude of Drop-In Processor replacements? . . . . FastForward 12-18 months and that AMD spec above could be upgraded easily to CrossFire and HexCore should the need arise? . . . . For someone who builds a computer to last 3-5 years I'm convinced the AMD® AM3 machine will adapt to the needs of the future a lot better than the Core™ i3 530 machine could?
I just don't see any reason for people to pick a Athlon II X4 over a i3 530 for using with a 5770, unless they do both video encoding as well as gaming.
Ok I'll try and explain my viewpoint on this . . . . I think the Intel® Core™ i3 530 is a specialist Beta Chip which is best suited to a lounge Style HTPC, on average in the Anantech benchmarks above the Intel® chip is only 6.1% faster . . . some games its slightly faster and some games its slower . . . there isn't a lot in it . . . however as we advance into the Multi-Threaded era I fully expect to see the four actual cores of the AMD® Athlon™ II X4 perform better in games than the two HyperThreaded Core of the Intel® Core™ i3
The real selling point of the AMD® system and the main point that I feel it's a better investment for the same money is the machine itself is more "versatile" and offers in general more processing power for the future . . . In 12-18months time should simon22 requirements change and he needs more even more processing power it would be so easy to upgrade to a Phenom™ II X6 . . . or if he became really hooked on gaming and wanted to dabble with CrossFire then he can just pop in a second card? . . . He may not be interested in this today but should we spec him a system that at least gives him the option? for no extra cost?
I personally cannot understand why someone who has an Approx budget of £500-£560 and wants to build a gaming system that will last for 3-5 years would consider anything other than the AM3 platform?
Which motherboard would you prefere in a £560 Gaming PC built to last many years and allow unrivalled expansion?