Best CPU for $125?

[Joe270]

I'm planning to build a new PC. What's the best CPU that I can get for $125?

Thanks in Advance.

 

[SonicIce]

2600k



Knock off the trolling


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[996GT2]

I'm planning to build a new PC. What's the best CPU that I can get for $125?

Thanks in Advance.

If you run a lot of multithreaded apps, Phenom II X4.

For everything else, Core i3-2100.

 

[StrangerGuy]

If you are somehow planning to pair a $125 CPU with a $200 mobo I suggest a 2500k + $120 mobo instead.

 

[sangyup81]

it depends on how much you can put in for a mobo

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you are somehow planning to pair a $125 CPU with a $200 mobo I suggest a 2500k + $120 mobo instead.

For a tight budget gaming system, a $260 newegg combo deal on an i5-2400 with H67 motherboard would also make sense.

Joe270: It would help if you'd tell us more about your total budget, other parts you need, and your intended use of the system. See the General Hardware forum for the full list of questions you should answer.

 

[khon]

The best CPU you can get for $125 is the i3-2100.

The 2nd best is the X4 955.

You can see a comparison of the two here.

 

[Stuka87]

Like the others said, what mobo are you looking into?

You can get a Phenom II 965 for $125 with a bit of shopping. You will have a hard time finding a faster CPU for the same price. Although you can find an i3-2100T for just a bit more, which is faster in single threaded apps.

You can get AMD mobo's for less than Intel. But it really comes down to what you are going to use the system for.

So... What are you going to use it for?

 

[betasub]

The vague question smells of noob, but OP has been around long enough to know better. Hope it is not a "drop & run" posting.

 

[Gikaseixas]

Another vote for the i3 2100

 

[skipsneeky2]

My vote depending on current set up is either a used q9550 if you can find it and a used 775 mobo or x4 955 the amd platform being more "futureproof".

Usually see people just about giving away used 775 stuff on sites like craigslist.

 

[Necc]

Gaming? then i3-2100

anything else x4 955.

 

[bridito]

2600k

Dear Sonic Ice.

Please ship 1,000 2600Ks to my address at the price of $125 plus FedEx or UPS ground shipping.

Thank you.

Bridito Computer Components, Inc.

 

[richierich1212]

955 because you can overclock it.

 

[skipsneeky2]

Dear Sonic Ice.

Please ship 1,000 2600Ks to my address at the price of $125 plus FedEx or UPS ground shipping.

Thank you.

Bridito Computer Components, Inc.

Send me 4,000 of them and ill sell them to newegg for $225 and they can sell them for $275

 

[Arachnotronic]

I'd go with the AMD -- four real cores are better than two real and two fake, especially going forward.

 

[richierich1212]

People seem to forget that in many of the head-to-head reviews of the 955 vs. i3-2100 that they are at stock clocks. Once you factor in overclocking the 955 should pull out ahead. The i3-2100 is very good but limited when you need more than two cores.

 

[SonicIce]

lol trolling is a art sorry

 

[bridito]

Send me 4,000 of them and ill sell them to newegg for $225 and they can sell them for $275

I'll get 10,000 from Sonic at $125 and sell them to you for $175 so you can sell them to newegg... Deal?

 

[Arg Clin]

For a gaming system you're planning to upgrade/replace soon - Core i3 - for everything else AMD PhII 955.

I find it reasonable to assume that there'll be more and more multithreaded apps, so the AMD would win in the long run.

 

[Inspire]

I would be reluctant to have a set price on any computer part since the use of the system matters and often people may overspend or cheap out on something else critical.

Joe, I would suggest posting your whole build so we could give better suggestions and give us a little more info.

This should probably be posted in General.

 

[shady28]

Need to know more, ie are you getting a separate gpu, how important is upgradeability etc.

Micro center has the AMD x4 965 for 129, which is probably the best bang for buck right now. They also have the Llano x4 3850 if you want socket fm1 upgradeability and aren't going with a discrete gpu, cost is 139.

I3-2100 is good if price is paramount. It's available for around $99 and leaves a good upgrade path to i7-2600 later on.

 

[-Slacker-]

955BE + asrock m3a770de + hyper 212 plus if you can find it for $30 + a 4ghz overclock = effin-A

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

i3 2100 is $99 at Micro Center

If you can extend your budget, the i5-2400 goes on sale a LOT for $149. It's essentially a quad version of the 2100, so I'd get that.

 

[max347]

pick up an unlockable 555 or 550 for ~$75 and spend the extra on-
a) a good cooler
b) a good psu
c) more gpu