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[Tellemurius]

Intel still achieves highest performance rates for single threaded applications and AMD only shines very dimly when you are running something heavily threaded. Honestly the biggest difference is that AMDs are the equivalent to a space heater so if you want a cheap heater then there you go. Otherwise i5 is a good enough pick, i use an older model and had no problems with running any new games cause that all leads back to the GPU anyways. Only reason i might however consider an i7 is if i want to stream Twitch HD

[Sensei]

The FX series aren't going to get you as much per-GHZ as the i5 or i7, and basically no games use 8 cores right now.

If you're not doing heavy video editing or the like, you're probably going to just be best off getting the i5. Really serious streaming, compiling etc might justify the extra cost of the i7 but you do not need that games. Most programs right now won't use the full power of the 8-core FX series, if you're big into video editing and your program does effectively utilize 8 cores, you might consider it, but the intels will be better for gaming.

Really, the i5 is all you need right now. The i7 is really fast though, so if you want to splurge it will get you a lot of longevity.

[PyroDesu]

Games aren't the only thing - this computer will also need to be able to handle the work I'm going to have to do for my engineering degree(s) (not sure what all it will entail, but it's probably going to be a bit more than a word processor). And besides - games really don't care about the CPU, in my experience - with an old AMD Athalon dual-core running at 3GHz, the computer I'm using now can run any game I care at maximum, because I have a decent graphics card (which I do intend to transfer to the new computer if I do not upgrade).

And while I'm familiar with AMD's ability to heat a room (I am making sure to invest in a good cooling system anyway), I'm trying to get the most powerful equipment I can while it still being of halfway decent quality and somewhat cheap - the total budget for this computer is >$1500, and to be honest, the FX chips are cheaper than the i5 chips, when the motherboard cost is taken into account - totalling $350 for the end-all-be-all FX I could get (and I can go about $70 cheaper), and $370 for a moderate-power (comparatively) i5.

[Sensei]

Remember, it's important to keep in mind that more than just the clock rate matters. The i5 should be noticeably faster than the FX, even though you are paying more. Also, chances are your engineering software WILL run better on the i5 than the FX, there's just nothing outside of a few specific video editing programs that uses the 8 cores effectively right now.

You should also keep an eye on the TDP, it may be that the intel processor saves you money on the PSU front. That said if you just want something cheaper it's not like the FX is going to disappoint. I recommend this guide when trying to find a cost-effective processor.

[PyroDesu]

I'm not just looking at clock rate - I know at least enough not to do that. But it does look like the point of comparison within the chip families - the other points don't change as much in-family, at least not for the ones I'm looking at.

TDP is no issue - I ran into power problems when I got my graphics card to take over from an integrated chip - the sound of it whining and then dying wasn't fun. I (rather, my dad, who technically owns this computer, but not the current PSU (I hope he's saved the old one somewhere) or graphics card) ended up getting (my money, his choice of PSU) a 600W unit. Even with the most power-hungry chip that I'm looking at, I'd still be using less than half of my supply.

[Thief^]

Re: PSU:
I know I like to harp on about it, but PSU wattages are notoriously unreliable. You really want it to be rated as sustaining 600W and not peaking at 600W (which normally means sustaining 300W, which may be too weak). If it has an official 80+ efficiency rating sticker it will be fine (one of the requirements of an 80+ rating is >= 80% efficiency on a sustained 100% load), or if it's a decent brand, otherwise all bets are off.

[Sensei]

Yeah, just straight up never buy a non 80 Plus. Also, look at the 12 Volt Rail wattage (or the amperage of that rail multiplied by 12). It needs to exceed the sum of your GPU+CPU TDP. The wattage you see advertised on a PSU is the entire wattage, some of which is on the 5V rails and powers things like fans and disc drives.

[Skyrunner]

I forgot about this thread! Help here?


Also, I got me some compressed air, but why does it look like it sprays water? @_@

[Kadzar]

I've had that. I don't remember if it's supposed to be condensed water vapor or just the bitterant they put in the stuff, but if you spray it long enough you should see it just spraying air (but keep an eye on that, especially if the can starts to feel cold).

[Aklyon]

From my experience, compressed air cans tend to get colder the more they're used at once.

[Karkov]

The whole canned air thing getting colder and looking like water is because of the propellant that's used.  Note that if you turn the can upside down and spray it'll spray out an extremely cold substance.

Also on Skyrunner's question about PSU's being expensive, they're usually about a third or less of the cost of a newer, top end GPU. 

[Tellemurius]

625w psu for 70 bucks (in america). aAso for the air dusters, basically its like water vapor cause the gas is extremely cold enough to freeze the water in the air which gives you that white cloud. Be extremely careful if you are spraying a can upside down, instead of gas you get a liquid which will give you frostbite in seconds, i use it to flash freeze spiders in my room.

[Skyrunner]

But if it sprays water is it ok to use near electronics?

[Karkov]

People use it on electronics all the time.  Just don't flip it upside down and spray in small bursts, you should be fine.

[Tellemurius]

But if it sprays water is it ok to use near electronics?

Very fine, vapor isn't going to fry your motherboard that fast, you're more likely to give it electrostatic discharge.