Should You Buy The Very First Core i3 CPU For $15

**The First Intel Core i3 Processor: A Retrospective**

Hello everyone and welcome to another video. Now, in January of 2010, Intel launched their line of Core i3 processors. The first and cheapest was the Intel Core i3 530, a dual-core processor clocked at 2.93 GHz. This processor offered better gaming performance than the Core 2 Duos and some quads at the time, thanks to its stronger single-core performance. It was also more power-efficient and featured onboard Intel HD Graphics 2. For a price of around $117, it was an excellent choice for those looking to build a new system with the latest support. Most reviewers would agree.

Six years later, you can find this first-ever Core i3 CPU, the desktop CPU range that is, for as little as $15 used on sites such as eBay. Some examples go as low as $10, but $15 seems to be a good average. This also applies to prices here in the UK, with the CPU being advertised for £10 to £5. There's always been something cool-sounding about the Intel Core i Series, so let's talk about whether or not at this price point it's worth getting one.

Firstly, I'd have to point out that it may seem like a no-brainer for this money in 6 years almost 90% has been knocked off the original price. But let's not forget that as an 1156 socket CPU, motherboards can be a little more expensive with used prices starting at about $40 to $50. Having said that, you could probably expect to pay under $100 for an Intel Core i3 530 motherboard, CPU, heat sink, and RAM. That does sound like a pretty good deal.

So let's talk about the performance. Let's put some gameplay up of this thing performing with a GTX 760 in the background here whilst we discuss it. The 760 will allow the i3 to reach its full potential and is also a capable GPU you can check out my video on that if you like.

Now, when compared to a modern-day Intel Core i3 such as a fourth-gen Intel Core i3 4130, the i3-530 is about 50% weaker in terms of raw performance. But it's also $80 cheaper. It probably isn't the best idea to reference a new Intel Core i3, but it should give you an idea of perspective and the difference you can expect.

Despite the 1156 socket, there is still a little bit of an upgrade path should you decide you want to upgrade to a first-generation i5 or i7. Before you go out and buy one of these 3, though, I think it's only fair to tell you why you shouldn't. As I just mentioned, the Intel Core i5 we'll start with that.

From what I've seen and experienced, the Intel Core i5-650 is one of which I own, is only about $20 more in some cases, and that would be the better option if you can stretch the extra. I used the i5 for a while with a GeForce GTX 750 Ti, and it performed on par with the AMD Radeon HD 325A I was also using at the time.

Furthermore, let's say that instead of opting for an older CPU in a motherboard Intel or AMD you could probably compile a nice combo that still costs under the $100 price point but using a newer generation of components. If you buy used, of course, I've noticed that old AMD components especially are quite well-priced and would make a fine starting point for a budget build.

So to conclude and summarize the answer to the question: Should you buy the very first Intel Core i3 processor for $15? If you're on a tight budget, then yes, it is a fairly good choice. At such a low cost, it's very hard to complain. However, wherever you live, make sure you take a good look around at other components and compare prices and performance because it's likely you may just find something a little newer for either the same price or a little bit more money when you take all of the components into consideration.

So, guys, thank you so much for watching this video. I hope you've enjoyed this little look back at the first Intel Core i3 processor. If you did, leave a like; if you didn't, leave a dislike. Thanks as always for watching and subscribe if you haven't done so already. Thanks again, guys, and I will see you all in the next one.

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**Conclusion**

The Intel Core i3 530 was a groundbreaking processor when it launched in January 2010, offering improved gaming performance, better power efficiency, and integrated graphics. Over time, its price dropped significantly, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. While newer generations of CPUs offer better performance, the i3-530 remains a solid choice for those on a tight budget. However, as with any purchase, it's essential to compare prices and performance across different components to ensure you're getting the best value for your money.

Thank you for watching, and we'll see you in the next video!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhello everyone and welcome to another video now in January of 2010 Intel launched their line of core I3 processors the first and cheapest was the I3 530 a dual core clocked at 2.93 GHz that offered better gaming performance than the Core 2 Duos and some quads at the time thanks to its stronger single core performance it was more power efficient and featured onboard Intel HD graphics 2 for a price of around $117 now unlike the aforementioned core2 Duos and quads it was on the 1156 socket which meant that if you were going to be opting for a new build with the latest support then this would have been an excellent choice and most reviewers would agree 6 years later you can find this first ever C I3 CPU the desktop CPU range that is for $15 used on sites such as eBay here are a few examples some go as little as $10 but 15 seems to be a good average that also applies to prices here in the UK with this CPU advertised for £10 to5 I think there's always been something cool sounding about the Intel Core i Series so let's talk about whether or not at this price point it's worth getting one firstly I'd have to point out that it may seem like a no-brainer for this money in 6 years almost 90% has been knocked off the original price but let's not forget that as a 1156 socket CPU motherboards can be a little more expensive with used prices starting at about $40 to $50 and having said that you could probably expect to pay under 100 for an I3 530 motherboard CPU heat sink and RAM which does sound like a pretty good deal so let's talk about the performance let's put some gameplay up of this thing performing with a GTX 760 in the background here whilst we discuss it the 760 will allow the I3 to reach its full potential and is also a capable GPU you can check out my video on that if you like now when compared to a modern day I3 such as a fourth gen 4130 the 530 is about 50% weaker in terms of raw performance but it's also $80 cheaper it probably isn't the best idea to reference a new I3 but it should give you an idea of perspective and the difference you can expect despite the 1156 socket there is also still a little bit of an upgrade path should you decide you want to upgrade to a first generation I5 or i7 before you go out and buy one of these 3 though I think it's only fair to tell you why you shouldn't as I just mentioned the I5 we'll start with that from what I've seen and experience the I5 650 one of which I own is only about $20 more in some cases and that would be the better option if you can stretch the extra I used the I5 for a while with a 750ti and it's performed on par with the g325a I was also using at the time furthermore let's say that instead you opted for a newer CPU in motherb board Intel or AMD you could probably compile a nice combo that still costs under the 100 price point but using a newer generation of components if you buy used of course I've noticed that old AMD components especially are quite well priced and would make a fine starting point for a budget build so to conclude and summarize the answer to the question should you buy the very first I3 processor for $15 if you're on a tight budget then yes it is a fairly good choice and at such a low cost it's very hard to complain however wherever you live make sure you take a good look around at other components and compare prices and performance because it's likely you may just find something a little newer for either the same price or a little bit more money when you take all of the components into consideration so guys thank you so much for watching this video I hope you've enjoyed this little look back at the first I3 processor if you did leave a like if you didn't leave a dislike thanks as always for watching And subscribe if if you haven't done so already thanks again guys and I will see you all in the next onehello everyone and welcome to another video now in January of 2010 Intel launched their line of core I3 processors the first and cheapest was the I3 530 a dual core clocked at 2.93 GHz that offered better gaming performance than the Core 2 Duos and some quads at the time thanks to its stronger single core performance it was more power efficient and featured onboard Intel HD graphics 2 for a price of around $117 now unlike the aforementioned core2 Duos and quads it was on the 1156 socket which meant that if you were going to be opting for a new build with the latest support then this would have been an excellent choice and most reviewers would agree 6 years later you can find this first ever C I3 CPU the desktop CPU range that is for $15 used on sites such as eBay here are a few examples some go as little as $10 but 15 seems to be a good average that also applies to prices here in the UK with this CPU advertised for £10 to5 I think there's always been something cool sounding about the Intel Core i Series so let's talk about whether or not at this price point it's worth getting one firstly I'd have to point out that it may seem like a no-brainer for this money in 6 years almost 90% has been knocked off the original price but let's not forget that as a 1156 socket CPU motherboards can be a little more expensive with used prices starting at about $40 to $50 and having said that you could probably expect to pay under 100 for an I3 530 motherboard CPU heat sink and RAM which does sound like a pretty good deal so let's talk about the performance let's put some gameplay up of this thing performing with a GTX 760 in the background here whilst we discuss it the 760 will allow the I3 to reach its full potential and is also a capable GPU you can check out my video on that if you like now when compared to a modern day I3 such as a fourth gen 4130 the 530 is about 50% weaker in terms of raw performance but it's also $80 cheaper it probably isn't the best idea to reference a new I3 but it should give you an idea of perspective and the difference you can expect despite the 1156 socket there is also still a little bit of an upgrade path should you decide you want to upgrade to a first generation I5 or i7 before you go out and buy one of these 3 though I think it's only fair to tell you why you shouldn't as I just mentioned the I5 we'll start with that from what I've seen and experience the I5 650 one of which I own is only about $20 more in some cases and that would be the better option if you can stretch the extra I used the I5 for a while with a 750ti and it's performed on par with the g325a I was also using at the time furthermore let's say that instead you opted for a newer CPU in motherb board Intel or AMD you could probably compile a nice combo that still costs under the 100 price point but using a newer generation of components if you buy used of course I've noticed that old AMD components especially are quite well priced and would make a fine starting point for a budget build so to conclude and summarize the answer to the question should you buy the very first I3 processor for $15 if you're on a tight budget then yes it is a fairly good choice and at such a low cost it's very hard to complain however wherever you live make sure you take a good look around at other components and compare prices and performance because it's likely you may just find something a little newer for either the same price or a little bit more money when you take all of the components into consideration so guys thank you so much for watching this video I hope you've enjoyed this little look back at the first I3 processor if you did leave a like if you didn't leave a dislike thanks as always for watching And subscribe if if you haven't done so already thanks again guys and I will see you all in the next one\n"