What CPU is better for gaming?

AMD is a huge fail in terms of CPU performance.

Intel's Sandy Bridge (2500k) or Ivy Bridge (3570k) will annihilate any AMD CPU. Mind you, these are the i5 processors--the i7's just add insult to injury.

The 3570k will beat the 2500k and 2550k. The 2500k are virtually the same--the 2550k is better at stock, but they'll overclock with the same limits. The main difference is that the 2550k lacks Intel's 3000 graphics. Furthermore, the 3570k sports HD 4000 graphics, which is a huge step up from the previous generation.

The 3570k is roughly 15% faster than the 2500k (clock for clock). This means that if both processors were overclocked to 4 GHz, the 3570k would still be 15% faster. This is due to architectural differences between the generations.

Here's where things get a little complicated;

The 2500k is capable of higher clocks (GHz) than the 3570k. The 3570k can OC to about 4.7 GHz before it starts seeing it's infamous temp spikes. Now, to be as fast as the 3570k @ 4.7 GHz, the 2500k would have to reach a clock speed of 5.4 GHz. This is simply not possible via practically cooling solutions.

So, basically, the 3570k is better (at stock, max overclock, and anywhere inbetween). It's also cheaper: Most retailers are charging a huge premium for the new processors, but the MSRP is actually lower. Sites like microcenter.com aren't charging said premium.

I hope this was helpful to you :)

i would wait do to the ivy bridges was just released and ant sure how good they are but if they r as good as they are supposed to be then id get the 3570k but if not id go for the 2550k you don't really need the built in graphics specially if your gona get a gpu

nicely by way of fact further and extra video games are being optimized for quad cores, the 965 could pull somewhat extra effective in terms of overall performance. yet asserting quad middle vs twin middle argument is extremely ignorant. by way of fact the i3 2120 is a twin middle with 4 threads, so it may technique issues as a quad middle (in basic terms doesnt have the cache supplies of an fairly quad middle, it is why a actual quad middle could beat it in quad middle optimized purposes). however the i3 is in accordance with lots extra moderen shape, so it may run lots extra effectively, so fairly tbh, they are distinctly close in terms of overall performance. With the maximum modern video games, the phenom could be somewhat extra effective. The phenom could be overclock, the place by way of fact the i3 cant. (consistent with risk one hundred-200mhz max by way of fact the multipliers are locked) yet, the i3 has lots extra effective room for progression for the destiny. amds extra moderen/destiny processors are a humorous tale. in case you have been to get the i3, you are able to improve to a i5 (i7 wouldnt help lots over the i5 in terms of gaming), and the i5-2500 is extra effective for gaming then any amd processor out. additionally intel is liberating the Ivy bridge processors in like a month or much less, which additionally use the 1155 socket. So if it have been me, i could the two get the i3 now and improve to an i5 ivy bridge processor later, or possibly get an ivy bridge i3/i5 whilst they pop out.

I perfer AMD for desktop gaming