Should I go with the i3 2100 with an HD 6870, or the i5 2400 with an HD 6850?

Keep in mind, I'll be gaming on a 26 inch 1366 x 768 720p monitor (Games like BF3, Deus Ex HR, Crysis 1 and 2, Starcraft 2, etc)Should I go with the i3 2100 with an HD 6870, or the i5 2400 with an HD 6850?
You'll probably have the best overall experience with the i5 and 6850. While you'll see a small performance decrease on some of the more graphically intensive games, the two additional cores will give your computer better all around performance.Should I go with the i3 2100 with an HD 6870, or the i5 2400 with an HD 6850?
I vote for the i3-2120 and the 6870. Why? Well, I have a 6850 and a quad core CPU.

My experience? Well, I have a Phenom II X4 which is actually a good bit slower than the 2400 or even the 2100. In 90% of games, it's just sitting there, twiddling it's thumbs. When it's actually stressed, only 1 or 2 cores are stressed, while the other 2 are just sitting there unable to help out. Most apps and games just aren't multithreaded, and can't make use of all four cores. This is where the i3 succeeds: 2 fast cores are better than 4 slightly slower ones.

My 6850, on the other hand, usually does fine at 720p. But it gets maxed out pretty easily. Looking back, I wish I had gone for a 6870: it's a big performance boost.

Also, WHY are you playing on a 720p screen with an i3 and a 6850? If you can, go for 1080p.


So my rec? Go for the 6870 and the 2100. Trust me, the i3 will plow through any game. The 6850, however, can get bogged down at ultra settings, but the 6870 will not.Should I go with the i3 2100 with an HD 6870, or the i5 2400 with an HD 6850?
The i5 with HD6850. It will be able to handle those graphic intensive games a lot better than the i3 would. Plus you'll have a much better gaming experience. :D