i3-3225 or Pentium G3258

[IceScreamer]

So I',m building a secondary PC since I had some spare parts lying around. I sold some of the old parts and now I'm looking at getting some used CPU+MBO+RAM combos.

I found a Pentium G3258+AsRock Z97-Pro3 and an i3-3225+ECS X77H2-A3, both around 100$. I don't plan to overclock yet (i know i know, G3258 was made for it) and don't plan to upgrade the CPU anytime soon. I can get the G3258 with a lower-end MBO for less, but I figured I'd choose the Z97 if I ever get a better PSU.

PC would mostly be used for Dota 2 or older LAN games. I also had a third option, sitting on the money to save up a bit more and get Pentium G4400+H110 MBO, it's more expensive and just an option.

Would the i3, even though older, be more worth it?

 

[little cat]

Keep your current FX 6300 !

i3 3225 - 4336 points , Pass Mark
FX 6300 - 6338
http://cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

single core
i3 3225 - 1775
FX 6300 - 1407

 

[IceScreamer]

I'm keeping the FX6300 for the forseeable future, I'm building this PC as a secondary setup.

 

[FYFI13]

If you aren't going to overclock, then i3 is the way to go. I own 3258 myself, at 4.5GHz it performs really well, even in latest AAA titles but keep in mind - during gaming it will be fully utilized most of the time so you will need a decent CPU cooler to keep it at reasonable temps. This little thing is hot when overclocked. At sock clocks i3 will beat it hands down and you could use even stock Intel cooler with no issues.

 

[Hood]

The i3-3225 is the older 2012 Ivy Bridge architecture, and the ECS board has the H77 chipset, but the i3 will perform better than a stock or overclocked G3258, because of Hyper-Threading (2 "real" cores + 2 "virtual cores", seen by games and programs as a quad-core). I have built systems with both CPUs, and while the (overclocked) Pentium G3258 performs very well for it's price, it can't keep up with any i3 CPU, except maybe using a single-threaded application.
Then again, the Ivy Bridge system is possibly 4 years old, while the Haswell system is only 2 years old, so longevity may be a factor to consider.

 

[IceScreamer]

The i3-3225 is the older 2012 Ivy Bridge architecture, and the ECS board has the H77 chipset, but the i3 will perform better than a stock or overclocked G3258, because of Hyper-Threading (2 "real" cores + 2 "virtual cores", seen by games and programs as a quad-core). I have built systems with both CPUs, and while the (overclocked) Pentium G3258 performs very well for it's price, it can't keep up with any i3 CPU, except maybe using a single-threaded application.
Then again, the Ivy Bridge system is possibly 4 years old, while the Haswell system is only 2 years old, so longevity may be a factor to consider.

Yea the longevity part is the thing I'm "worried" about, I know about the i3's HT but the fact it's older makes me want to reconsider. Also, are ECS boards any good nowadays, I remember that their older boards were decent?

 

[little cat]

Perhaps this
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M PRO3+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($43.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $115.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-31 05:56 EDT-0400

 

[Vayra86]

Yea the longevity part is the thing I'm "worried" about, I know about the i3's HT but the fact it's older makes me want to reconsider. Also, are ECS boards any good nowadays, I remember that their older boards were decent?

Older and then what? Even if you run this 24/7 you'll run it for at least 4-6 more years.

These things are tough as nails. Other components will be dying before either CPU and that is mostly storage and perhaps at some point your mobo (which is quite unlikely with non OC'd and lower budget parts with lower TDPs).

I think it's a no brainer if you have twice the threads at your disposal. i3.

 

[P4-630]

remember that their older boards were decent?

I have had an Acer desktop with socket 775 board from ECS, was pretty decent. I don't see why they would be no good anymore.

 

[IceScreamer]

Older and then what? Even if you run this 24/7 you'll run it for at least 4-6 more years.

These things are tough as nails. Other components will be dying before either CPU and that is mostly storage and perhaps at some point your mobo (which is quite unlikely with non OC'd and lower budget parts with lower TDPs).

I think it's a no brainer if you have twice the threads at your disposal. i3.

Not older as in "it's old and it will break" I know these things are durable (got and old K5 that still works), I meant older as in instruction support etc. Now that I look at it I should just go with the i3, thanks.

 

[little cat]

Will any dGPU be used or iGPU ?

info on the mobo
https://www.techpowerup.com/165342/ecs-x77h2-a3-motherboard-pictured

Is clear that i3 would be better , the question is the ECS mobo . Looks well-done . Personally not my brand . But "No risk , no gain" ..

 

[Frick]

I'd too would go with the i3. I actually feel the limitations of dual core at times, when multitasking.

 

[IceScreamer]

Will any dGPU be used or iGPU ?

info on the mobo
https://www.techpowerup.com/165342/ecs-x77h2-a3-motherboard-pictured

I'll be using an HD7750

I'd too would go with the i3. I actually feel the limitations of dual core at times, when multitasking.

Oh thanks for the feedback, this will be replacing an Athlon X2 4200+ so anything would be an upgrade really.

 

[Caring1]

I have had an Acer desktop with socket 775 board from ECS, was pretty decent. I don't see why they would be no good anymore.

Mine still runs with no problems, I fire it up for crunching challenges.

 

[Sempron Guy]

the i3 will give you that extra headroom when it comes to multitasking

 

[peche]

Core i3, why?
you are not going to overclock, also mutlitasking is great on this one,
Ill also replace the motherboard, even the "BXXX" chipset based board, or also "HXXX"could be a great option for you since the rig its not going to be upgraded or modified,

 

[eidairaman1]

If youre worried how about a core i5

 

[IceScreamer]

If youre worried how about a core i5

At first money was an issue, but now I plan to sell of some older parts and i spotted an i5 3570 for around 90$ and now I'm saving up for that.

Core i3, why?
you are not going to overclock, also mutlitasking is great on this one,
Ill also replace the motherboard, even the "BXXX" chipset based board, or also "HXXX"could be a great option for you since the rig its not going to be upgraded or modified,

Actually the mentioned ECS board is actually H77 Expres chipset, they just named it X77.

 

[silentbogo]

I'd go i3 even if it is a couple of generations older.
Both CPUs can handle all MOBA/MMO games (including new titles), but even an older i3-2120 will outperform 3258, including underwhelming situations when you stick it on a low-end H61 motherboard and forget about overclocking.
I recently sold a combo with i3-2120 + ASUS P8H61M-LX and the new owner built a gaming PC for his youngest kid with some extra budget for a decent GPU (he was initially planning to buy Pentium G4400 + H110 board).

 

[thebluebumblebee]

I'd go for the Z97 (don't overlook Z87) based system because it's newer, and therefore finding upgrade CPU's should be easier in the future. Then I'd keep an eye out for an i5-4440/4460.

 

[Kursah]

The Pentium G3258's are fun to OC, but being limited to 1333 RAM speeds is an annoyance along with having only 2 cores. But they do go a ways to building cheap office/kid gaming PC's, and when you can pick upa G3258 for $40 or less it's a helluva deal. But, performance-wise an i3 hyperthreaded will allow for better multitasking and will definitely last longer. If as suggested above, you can manage to get a newer Haswell-generation platform and CPU you'll be set even further into the future.

Ultimately depends on budget at the time of being ready to purchase.

 

[DiamondMines]

I'm keeping the FX6300 for the forseeable future, I'm building this PC as a secondary setup.

I think you should keep it too. I have the FX-6300 as well and it still keeps up in games.

 

[eidairaman1]

He is

I think you should keep it too. I have the FX-6300 as well and it still keeps up in games.

Building a secondary machine, he is keeping the 6300

 

[redeye]

The Pentium G3258's are fun to OC, but being limited to 1333 RAM speeds is an annoyance along with having only 2 cores. But they do go a ways to building cheap office/kid gaming PC's, and when you can pick upa G3258 for $40 or less it's a helluva deal. But, performance-wise an i3 hyperthreaded will allow for better multitasking and will definitely last longer. If as suggested above, you can manage to get a newer Haswell-generation platform and CPU you'll be set even further into the future.

Ultimately depends on budget at the time of being ready to purchase.

if you have a z-series MB you can oc'd the memory on g3258.

i think a i3-6300 and ddr4 memory with a amd/nvidia card is a smarter choice. (the speed of the i3-6300 compared to a 4890k on single threaded task is impressive. and if you get a z170 you can oc'd it to 4.4Ghz easily.

my thoughts on the i3-6300... start at post 36 in https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/buying-new-cpu-for-my-pc.222532/page-2#post-3462105

 

[Jetster]

The only benefit to a G3258 over an i3 is the price