Budget Gaming PC - What CPU & Mobo?

[PetrolHead247]

I've decided to build my brother a gaming PC for Christmas seeing as i have a ton of spare parts stuffed away in boxes somewhere and i'd like to put them to good use. However, one of the parts i need is a CPU and mobo and i have no idea what to choose. I've been looking at the new i3 3220 and the FX 4300, both have their pros and cons of course. The i3 is more efficient, the 4300 can OC, generally AMD mobo's are cheaper than Intel ones, the 4300 is a quad core (kinda), the i3 is marginally cheaper (about £5) etc
etc... I'm leaning more towards the FX 4300 seeing as you can OC it but then i know nothing about AMD boards so i'd need advice on what one to choose.

Every other component is sorted, just need to decide on the CPU and mobo. Thanks in advance.

 

[jamesriley94]

I'd go for the i3.

At least then on a Z77 board he'd have the option of upgrading to an i5 or better in a year or so. Should be able to get a 2500k or something pretty cheap after Haswell comes out if he does actually get into fiddling with PCs a little more.

 

[DB006]

i3 can spank pretty much all of the AMD cpu's in gaming.

 

[dalewakelin]

I3 is more up-gradable so in a year you could upgrade to i5, as for an amd motherboard if you want to go that option i recommend the AsRock 970 Extreme3

 

[seumasbeathan]

Another vote for the i3

 

[PetrolHead247]

Went for the i3 and paired it up with the MSI Z77 G45. Gives him the opportunity to OC a K chip in the future if he finds one cheap on good old eBay

 

[CPMFW]

nice choice mate

 

[Master&Puppet]

Great choice

The problem with the AMD solution is whilst it can overclock (and to around 4.2GHz on the stock cooler) you need to put some aftermarket cooler on it and really spank it to get it to beat an ivy i3. That would have been a very inelegant solution (and power hungry).

 

[Bang]

Im curious as to which i3 you settled on.

 

[PetrolHead247]

Im curious as to which i3 you settled on.

Went for the I3 3220