AMD Gamer - Which CPU?

[spac3d]

Here's my current system

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ (512KB L2 Cache, Socket AM2) @ 2507MHz (228MHz FSB), 0% load

(Motherboard) ASUSTeK Computer INC. M2N32-SLI DELUXE

(RAM module 1) 2GB Corsair 6400

Budget: no more than £120

I'm looking for a new CPU to give me some much needed love. I was thinking about the X2 6000, and the 9850 Phenom. As the phenom would probably be less performance than the 6000 in games, and my board isnt AM2+, I wanted to go for the 6000. I will probably upgrade later in the year, when games actually utilise quad cores etc.

What do you suggest?

X2 6000 and O/C it or not bother?
X2 6500 and O/C it if I can find one to buy in the UK?
Phenom 9850 and O/C it?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The 2.3ghz AMD X2 6500+ is Phenom based and has far higher performance and power consumption then a X2 5600+ at 2.6ghz!

Whether it will have better performance than a 3ghz X2 6000+ is uncertain.

http://en.expreview.com/2008/09/23/a...-review.html/5

It seems that the X2 6500 is a decent overclocker!

I would also check compatability with your motherboard too as 65nm Phenom processors have high power consumption. I think that only 780G and 790GX motherboards can take the higher end 65nm Phenom X4 processors due to their 125w to 140w power consumption range which can fry other motherboards!!

Dabs sell the X2 6500+ for around £63 excluding postage but they seem to be out of stock:

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=57XZ

Have you considered going the Intel route??

For £120 you could get an E5200 and a reasonable overclocking motherboard. You should be able to get upto 3ghz with the E5200. The reviews show that the Core2 architechure is still clock for clock faster than even the 65nm Phenom.

[kalniel]

Have you considered going the Intel route??

For £120 you could get an E5200 and a reasonable overclocking motherboard. You should be able to get upto 3ghz with the E5200. The reviews show that the Core2 architechure is still clock for clock faster than even the 65nm Phenom.

We don't know if his Windows license is retail or OEM - if OEM then the cost to switch would be considerable.

[Webby]

The 6500 is an AM2+ chip so he would need a new motherboard to get the best performance anyway, I think the AM2+ chips still run in AM2 boards but at the lower hyperlink speeds they are not as quick as they should be.

My personal opinion would be to go for a (NEW) 6000+ (3.1GHz, 89W, £64) or a 5200+ (2.7GHz, 65W, £46)

Personally with the release of AM3 at some point next year (earlier rather than later) I wouldn't be rushing out to buy a new motherboard just at the moment.

[DanceswithUnix]

Why are you upgrading, what applications are you finding are running too slowly?

If it is gaming, what graphics card are you using?

You motherboard is listed by Asus as AM2+ compatible, presumably with a BIOS update. I would say that *if* you are running stuff that is quad core friendly then that is the way to go, otherwise don't bother.

Graphics cards OTOH are dated after about 10 mins

[Webby]

Why are you upgrading, what applications are you finding are running too slowly?

If it is gaming, what graphics card are you using?

You motherboard is listed by Asus as AM2+ compatible, presumably with a BIOS update. I would say that *if* you are running stuff that is quad core friendly then that is the way to go, otherwise don't bother.

Graphics cards OTOH are dated after about 10 mins

The is a difference between compatible and will run at its full potential, I think i would probably stick with a duel.

[DanceswithUnix]

The 6500 is an AM2+ chip so he would need a new motherboard to get the best performance anyway, I think the AM2+ chips still run in AM2 boards but at the lower hyperlink speeds they are not as quick as they should be.

My personal opinion would be to go for a (NEW) 6000+ (3.1GHz, 89W, £64) or a 5200+ (2.7GHz, 65W, £46)

Personally with the release of AM3 at some point next year (earlier rather than later) I wouldn't be rushing out to buy a new motherboard just at the moment.

I am assuming the "M2N32-SLI DELUXE" quoted by the OP is his current motherboard, in which case Asus say all versions of that can take a 125W Phenom 9850 (with BIOS 1903).

Linkey

[DanceswithUnix]

The is a difference between compatible and will run at its full potential, I think i would probably stick with a duel.

AM2+ is good for 8 socket servers. They need it.

I can't imagine it would make a jot of difference with most applications. Best use of genuine AM2+ HT I have seen so far is enabling integrated graphics to do better blu-ray decoding. Whoopee-doo.

[GSte]

I am assuming the "M2N32-SLI DELUXE" quoted by the OP is his current motherboard, in which case Asus say all versions of that can take a 125W Phenom 9850 (with BIOS 1903).

Linkey

Can take it yes, but most likely with limited BIOS options.

[DanceswithUnix]

Can take it yes, but most likely with limited BIOS options.

Do you think the limited BIOS options would make it slower than a dual core X2? I mean, what are we losing here?

The Cool & Quiet will only be as good as the dual core support. Fine, last I heard that was buggy and caused occasional slow frame rates anyway.

HT is limited to 1GT/sec. Same as an X2, and quite fast enough for most people.

Am I missing something?

The OP mentions an X2 overclocked to 2.5GHz, so it needs something a bit drastic for him to notice an improvement. Upping the clock 20% to 3.0GHz seems a bad use of money.

Getting the larger cache, 2 more cores and better SSE support of the Phenom *might* be worth it. It might go 2% faster on another more modern motherboard, but that doesn't preclude it might be the fastest upgrade for *this* motherboard.

OFC it might be a graphics card is a better update, or spending the money on beer is always good in my books