What CPU for my new build for gaming ?

[Randall8686]

Im interested in raising the minimum fps of my 5870.

It can dip at times of mayhem in BFBC2.

Think a 2500k will achive that?

Not sure how the 5870 compares to a 480 but my 2500k never drops below 100fps in BBC2

 

[opethdisciple]

Not sure how the 5870 compares to a 480 but my 2500k never drops below 100fps in BBC2

Well BFBC2 is a game where the 5870 does well, according to benchmarks I looked at when I was deciding to buy the card.

Well here are some benchmarks....

However the driver they are using the pre release one (10.3a)!

A big improvment came in the 10.12 drivers, so it should be a lot more than the base 60fps....

 

[Marine-RX179]

955BE can be overclocked and I believe at ~3.8GHz it matches or just beats the i3-2100.

Only if every single games out there are well-optimised for using all 4 cores well, which they don't. Most games are still only 2-3 threads, so the 2100 is a better choice as it offer better performance than Phenom II X4 in games that only use 1-3 cores, and offer similar/better performance as/than the Phenom II X4 in games that good at using all four cores.

 

[logi-cat]

The 2500k is one of the best on the market when it comes to value for money. Read any review about it and everyone says the same thing, it's one heck of a chip considering it's only intel's mainstream chip.