AMD Advice

[zxnet2k]

With all pre-built systems I have bought before they have always been Intel, however now that I am building my own system, and due to the fact they seem to be cheaper I have decided to go for an AMD processor.

Looking at the different models - I've settled on the following:

AMD PhenomX4 9650 Quad Core AM2+ 4MB 2.3GHz

I'm aiming for my new PC to be able to cope well with the latest games, as well as graphic design software, and for it to last me a few years.

Can anyone offer any advice, or had any experience with the above processor and know if it is still worth buying?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

With all pre-built systems I have bought before they have always been Intel, however now that I am building my own system, and due to the fact they seem to be cheaper I have decided to go for an AMD processor.

Looking at the different models - I've settled on the following:

AMD PhenomX4 9650 Quad Core AM2+ 4MB 2.3GHz

I'm aiming for my new PC to be able to cope well with the latest games, as well as graphic design software, and for it to last me a few years.

Can anyone offer any advice, or had any experience with the above processor and know if it is still worth buying?

The Phenom X4 9650 is not worth buying TBH. I would go with the Phenom II as it is at least 5% faster clock for clock than the Phenom,consumes much less power and overclocks better usually. The Phenom II processors are also usually clocked higher too.

I would go with the triple core Phenom II X3 processor - the 2.6ghz X3 710 for around £100 or the 2.8ghz X3 720(which has an unlocked multiplier for easier overclocking too) for around £115.

[scaryjim]

Do not get the Phenom X4 9650 - it is the old Phenom architecture, meaning it is very limited. Buy a new Phenom II. They have a much better architecture, clock higher, and are basically better in every way!

If you're budget is ~ £100 then your best option is the Phenom II X3 710 - it's a triple core processor clocked at 2.6GHz. If you're not budget limited then the (AM2+ only) Phenom II X4 940BE is the best value for money at the minute as it's just been price-cut to about £160.

And as usual, CAT's beaten me to the punch - so yes, everything CAT said!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

And as usual, CAT's beaten me to the punch - so yes, everything CAT said!

Muhahahahahaha!

The AM3 Phenom II processors have both a DDR2 and DDR3 memory controller so they will run in both AM2+ DDR2 and AM3 DDR3 motherboards.

Regarding what scaryjim says about the Phenom II X4 940BE this is also a great processor and Scan still have them on special offer on the Today Only webpage for £144! It is a possibility that the 940BE will start dropping in price to around £150.


Also check Ebay!

You can get an OEM 2.5ghz Phenom II X4 805 for £115 and an OEM 2.6ghz Phenom II X4 810 for £125 delivered:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMD-Phenom-II-...3%3A1|294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMD-Phenom-II-...3%3A1|294%3A50

Since they are OEM processors you will need to spend around £15 for a CPU cooler.

[scaryjim]

You can get an OEM 2.5ghz Phenom II X4 805 for £115

Nice price for the processor, but I'm not sure what AMD would think about someone selling OEM tray-only processors to the retail market... !

[GeorgeStorm]

You can buy OEM cpus almost anywhere? I dont understand what you mean.
But, if you are spending 120ish,
Get a 720BE, beast of a cpu,
Clock is high with 3 cores (4ish), or unlock the 4th, and keep it at 3.6 or so
Cant be beaten, (in my opinion)

[zxnet2k]

Thanks for all the information guys - just a couple of extra confirmation questions

Since my budget is around £100 the processor that someone suggested -

AMD Phenom II X3 710 - Would this fit into a board with a Socket AM2+ Slot?

Also if I did get the AMD PhenomX4 9650 Quad Core AM2+ -> Would it be able to play demanding games such as Crysis - or is it a very out of date processor now? Would the AMD Phenom II X3 710 perform significantly better?

[scaryjim]

You can buy OEM cpus almost anywhere? I dont understand what you mean.

True, but usually AMD / Intel have simply made batches of chips then either packaged them with a cooler or without a cooler to differentiate retail & OEM. With the Phenom IIs AMD has released some models as retail only, and some models as OEM only (I think it's meant to simplify the market, or something). So there isn't a retail version of the X4 805 - it's meant to be sold direct to system integrators. Since none of the reputable etailers have the OEM chips in their inventory, I assume there's meant to be some kind of embargo against selling the OEM version via retail channels (in a similar to vein to the old Microsoft rules that you could only buy OEM software if you bought it with a suitable piece of hardware).

Of course I don't work for AMD, nor am I one of their distributors, so this is mostly conjecture, but if I'd taken a marketing decision to supply some chips *only* to retail and some *only* to OEM, I'd put something in place to stop people selling my OEM chips through retail channels...

[scaryjim]

AMD Phenom II X3 710 - Would this fit into a board with a Socket AM2+ Slot?

YES! AM3 processors are backwards compatible to AM2+ motherboards.

Also if I did get the AMD PhenomX4 9650 Quad Core AM2+ -> Would it be able to play demanding games such as Crysis - or is it a very out of date processor now? Would the AMD Phenom II X3 710 perform significantly better?

Your graphics card is far more important in terms of what games you are able to play and how high you can have the quality settings! The 9650 is still a good enough processor to run the games, but, if all other things are equal, the X3 710 will be a little better. It runs at a faster speed, has twice as much L3 cache, and has a slightly more efficient architecture, all of which compensate for it having 1 less core.

Have a look at the comparison on AnandTech's benchmark site. The X3 710 (Orange bar) wins convincingly in all 4 gaming tests.

[zxnet2k]

I noticed that the AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE is only £20 more than the 710 - is the performance increase worth the extra cash?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I noticed that the AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE is only £20 more than the 710 - is the performance increase worth the extra cash?

The Phenom II X3 720BE is better for overclocking that the X3 710 as it has an unlocked multiplier. If you have the money buy the 720 as it will last you longer. However £20 is also the difference in price between a graphics card like an HD4670 and an HD4770 or HD4850. Either of the latter two graphics cards would be better for gaming so you need to have the best compromise for your budget.

Also £20 could go towards something like a better PSU which is also more important in the long term or even more RAM or a faster hard disk.