Intel Core 2 Quad or AMD Phenom X4?

[sammorris]

Well, for one, the extra cache, the performance gain from using a 65nm Conroe Dual and a 65n Kentsfield Quad was substantial at the same clock speed.

[Mnia786]

Quick question guys - are all new Phenom II processors AM3? Because I have had a look at the AM2 motherboards and non seem to support the Phenom II processors, only Phenom I. This is, Phenom I motherboards can be had for about 50 quid whereas AM3 ones are around 100. Makes me want to swing towards Intel ;|

Correction: Newer ones seem to be AM3 but the 920 is AM2+

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Quick question guys - are all new Phenom II processors AM3? Because I have had a look at the AM2 motherboards and non seem to support the Phenom II processors, only Phenom I. This is, Phenom I motherboards can be had for about 50 quid whereas AM3 ones are around 100. Makes me want to swing towards Intel ;|

Correction: Newer ones seem to be AM3 but the 920 is AM2+

I thought I explained this earlier!!

Socket AM3 processors will work in both DDR2 socket AM2+ motherboards and DDR3 socket AM3 motherboards since socket AM3 AMD processors have both a DDR2 and DDR3 memory controller in the CPU itself. The first Phenom II processors such as the X4 920 and 940 only had a DDR2 memory controller so could only be used in DDR2 motherboard.

AMD processors have the memory controller in the CPU unlike Core2 processors which have the memory controller on the motherboard.

The AM3 processors can be used in a socket AM2+ motherboard.

Any 760G,770,780G,790X,790FX and 790GX motherboard with an SB700,SB710 or SB750 southbridge will work with AM2+ and AM3 processors.

If you are not into massive overclocking a 760G or 780G based motherboard will do the job nicely.

This motherboard will do the job nicely:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=998660

It will support all current Phenom II processors:

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/c...&name=M3A76-CM

[kalniel]

Well, for one, the extra cache, the performance gain from using a 65nm Conroe Dual and a 65n Kentsfield Quad was substantial at the same clock speed.

Again you're giving a good argument for going with the triple core phenom: the Phenom X3 has the same amount of cache as the Phenom X4 - the only difference is the small amount of practically exclusive cache for the 4th core.