What's the best bang for the buck CPU out today?

[exafro]

My current computer is getting up there in age and its really showing it. I recently added a 24" monitor to it and it tends to get bogged down and isn't running as smoothly as I'd like. I'm looking to upgrade a bit, but my budget is pretty tight right now. I don't need a crazy fast PC, just something that can handle Skyrim, and a my recording needs.

Current PC: Along the way, I upgraded to 8 gigs ram and threw in a Zotac Geforce 440 to help with gaming.

What should I be looking at?

[exafro]

I forgot to mention, my bro gave me his old 512mb ATI Radeon 4870, would a newer low end GPU be better than this?

[linthat22]

I'd suggest a better AMD video card. An HD7770 should do just fine and can be had for a little over $100 bucks.

If you're looking for a faster processor, you might want to see what's compatible with your mobo. Not to mention if you go new, that'll mean a new mobo, CPU, and possibly RAM :/

[linthat22]

What about this mobo, CPU, and RAM combo?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... bo.1245724

[linthat22]

Any decisions yet?

[Steveijobzz]

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a HUGE Intel fanboy.

Core i3 or i5 should do just fine (although you may need a motherboard swap)

[KCTigerChief]

Over 10 years ago, the difference between AMD and Intel was negligible. And AMD was remarkably cheaper, so I always used them.

When Intel came out with the Core 2 Duo, I switched to them and haven't looked back. The Intel CPU's have come a LONG way, and they aren't that much more expensive. I strongly recommend them.

Best bang for your buck right now is the Core i5...Core i3 if price is a concern.

[Steveijobzz]

Over 10 years ago, the difference between AMD and Intel was negligible. And AMD was remarkably cheaper, so I always used them.

When Intel came out with the Core 2 Duo, I switched to them and haven't looked back. The Intel CPU's have come a LONG way, and they aren't that much more expensive. I strongly recommend them.

Best bang for your buck right now is the Core i5...Core i3 if price is a concern.

This is 100% true. When I built my computer several years ago my friend build an almost identical one with an AMD processor at about the same relative price to my Core 2 Quad. Every single benchmark we ran I blew his out of the water.

In addition to that, that processor is still in my tower and he's already gone through two more AMDs.

I am ready for an upgrade though so I think I'm going pick up an i7.

Like I said, total intel fanboy.

[Harvest]

The Haswell-class core i5/i7 Intel processors were just released this week, so I'd imagine there will be price drops on the Ivybridge versions in the near future, if not already.