Core i3-2120 vs Core i5-2500k

Before I begin, I'm discussing sandybridge. I'm aware the Core i5 series is superior. Despite the Core i3 performing so closely to the Core i5, why do people still not recommend it for gaming? The vast majority of the benchmarks leave the Core i3's real world performance trailing by a margin of 4 fps. Am I missing something?

At the end of the day what matters to me is real world performance. My question is, when you pit these processors against each other in gaming, is the bottomline performance of the 2500k truly worth the $100 more?

It should be recommended more, because it beats AMDs that are priced at a similar level for gaming. Is the $100 jump to the 2500k worth it? Hell yes, and even more if you overclock it. Is it needed? No. The i3 will handle everything you throw at it. It just can't overclock.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=288

The 2500k pulls way ahead in other tasks.

It should be recommended more, because it beats AMDs that are priced at a similar level for gaming. Is the $100 jump to the 2500k worth it? Hell yes, and even more if you overclock it. Is it needed? No. The i3 will handle everything you throw at it. It just can't overclock.

ChubbyGuy40

Its much faster for general purpose computing

Because people think just because its a dual core it's going to perform like crap even though it beats most of AMDs Phenom II X4 series and AMD FX 4100

Becuase buying a dual core right now unless your a extereme budject just isn't smart. Quads are better for normal computing and will last longer

Becuase buying a dual core right now unless your a extereme budject just isn't smart. Quads are better for normal computing and will last longer

James161324

The core i3 2120 is more powerful than quad cores in the same price range as it..............

if you dont want to overclock you shouldnt be looking at a 2500k, you should just be looking for a 2500.

the 2500k is identical to the 2500, except it can be overclocked. thats why its more expensive. from 3.3ghz to 4.5 ghz is alot of gain from overclocking, especially across 4 cores. you can probably get 25% extra performance just from overclocking quite easily.

the benchmarks you see for the 2500k are probably at stock speeds, not overclocked, which is why it doesnt seem like a good deal.

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

It should be recommended more, because it beats AMDs that are priced at a similar level for gaming. Is the $100 jump to the 2500k worth it? Hell yes, and even more if you overclock it. Is it needed? No. The i3 will handle everything you throw at it. It just can't overclock.

Mystic-G

Overclocking in sandy bridge requires even less tinkering than c2d and has more headroom as well. It's just a little different but it's easier so even if you don't plan on doing it right away, I'd say it's worth getting an unlocked i5 over an i3 so that you can do so when you need the extra performance.

if you dont want to overclock you shouldnt be looking at a 2500k, you should just be looking for a 2500.

the 2500k is identical to the 2500, except it can be overclocked. thats why its more expensive. from 3.3ghz to 4.5 ghz is alot of gain from overclocking, especially across 4 cores. you can probably get 25% extra performance just from overclocking quite easily.

the benchmarks you see for the 2500k are probably at stock speeds, not overclocked, which is why it doesnt seem like a good deal.

seercirra

^ C_Rule = The_Rule

[QUOTE="James161324"]

Becuase buying a dual core right now unless your a extereme budject just isn't smart. Quads are better for normal computing and will last longer

NoodleFighter

The core i3 2120 is more powerful than quad cores in the same price range as it..............

All this and nothing hard-hitting as to why the 2500k is worth the $100 more. The Core-i3 being hyperthreaded allows it to keep up with quad-cores. In my opinion, the Core i3 merely seems like slight step down from the 2500k stock in terms of real world performance. Does the Core i3 not hold up as well in terms of framerate? My Core 2 Duo seems to have frequent framerate dips in BF3, if the Core-i3 does the same then I can understand, but if it holds up like a quad core then I really don't see why I'm putting out $100 more for other than a 4- 5fps increase.

All this and nothing hard-hitting as to why the 2500k is worth the $100 more. The Core-i3 being hyperthreaded allows it to keep up with quad-cores. In my opinion, the Core i3 merely seems like slight step down from the 2500k stock in terms of real world performance. Does the Core i3 not hold up as well in terms of framerate? My Core 2 Duo seems to have frequent framerate dips in BF3, if the Core-i3 does the same then I can understand, but if it holds up like a quad core then I really don't see why I'm putting out $100 more for other than a 4- 5fps increase.

Mystic-G

All this and nothing hard-hitting as to why the 2500k is worth the $100 more. The Core-i3 being hyperthreaded allows it to keep up with quad-cores. In my opinion, the Core i3 merely seems like slight step down from the 2500k stock in terms of real world performance. Does the Core i3 not hold up as well in terms of framerate? My Core 2 Duo seems to have frequent framerate dips in BF3, if the Core-i3 does the same then I can understand, but if it holds up like a quad core then I really don't see why I'm putting out $100 more for other than a 4- 5fps increase.

Mystic-G

encoding stuff for youtube videos and all that kind of thing, the i5 will trash the i3 too.

Its much faster for general purpose computing

painguy1

[QUOTE="seercirra"]

if you dont want to overclock you shouldnt be looking at a 2500k, you should just be looking for a 2500.

the 2500k is identical to the 2500, except it can be overclocked. thats why its more expensive. from 3.3ghz to 4.5 ghz is alot of gain from overclocking, especially across 4 cores. you can probably get 25% extra performance just from overclocking quite easily.

the benchmarks you see for the 2500k are probably at stock speeds, not overclocked, which is why it doesnt seem like a good deal.

C_Rule