Time for another Processor question - c2d vs i3 vs i5 vs i7 vs AMD?

[Lilwolf]

Ok.  I'm looking at buying another computer just for mame (but would also like to play sfiv pc possibly... so it would be nice if it had a decent video card.

So I don't really care about the latest/latest... but I'm not finding any really good deals on older PC's (and I want it new... so)....

So, is the i3 better then c2d?  by about how much clock to clock?  Is the onboard video good enough for mame?  How about sfiv / similar pc arcade games?

i3 vs i5?  worth the upgrade there?  I don't see a lot of differences that mame should effect mame.

i5 vs i7?  same questions.

Its seems like right now, if buying a new computer.  The i3 should be the way to go.  Am I missing something?

Thanks!

[madmatt]

What is c2d?

Next the CPU is not really going to make a difference in 97% of your MAME games.  Where it will matter is playing SF4.

My second question what is your budget?  That deside what CPU and card you get.

If money is tight get the best AMD chip u can swing.  If you got some money, go for the I5 2500k and a 6950 amd card, but understand just those two item are $500 right off the bat.

Thrid question is how bad do you want to play SF4???   

Hit me back and I can help build a good computer.

MM

out

[StriderDSO]

i5 is the best buy of the iX series, as the hyperthreading of the i7 is likely of no use to MAME (or most other common applications for that matter) and the clock speeds are basically the same. i5 systems typically out perform identical i3 systems in PC game FPS by 20-30% according to most reviews and benchmarks, but like the previous poster commented, for MAME you'd probably notice little difference... For SSFIV you probably wanna get a discrete video card as opposed to onboard+lucidlogix virtu. With boxing week sales, i5+6950 costs about $400 here in Canada.

I assume c2d means Core 2 Duo?

[jennifer]

   
         I was blown away amazed @ how much cooler the i3 ran compared to the 2core.

[Haze]

an i5 is the current sweet point IMHO.

[lilshawn]

   
         I was blown away amazed @ how much cooler the i3 ran compared to the 2core.

smaller die architecture means more power efficent = cooler temps.

32nm for i3 vs 65nm to 45nm for core2

at this rate, we won't need 1000 watt power supplies any more, 85 will be enough.