I need to build a new system for college, my current thing is...slow...dying...slow...
I have almost all the parts, all I need to get now is a case and CPU
But I can't get a 8350 FX cpu as of right now due to budget restraints-
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I hoping that there would be a recommendation for a cpu that I can OC for the time being until I upgrade to a newer one?
From the looks of it, my options include the Athlon II 6xx, Phenom II 8xx, and Phenom II 9xx.
It seems like these are the traits of those cpus:
- Athlon II 6xx have no L3 cache
- Phenom II 8xx have 4MB L3 cache (except the 840, which has none)
- Phenom II 9xx have 6MB L3 cache
I'm not 100% sure of my max price...but I think $75 sounds about right.
The compatibility list is here http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=4417 and it looks to support pretty much any AM3cpu...
It doesn't have to be a black-edition, I am decent enough at overclocking to do it through the base clock.
What would be my best bet? Are the Athlons and the 840 best avoided and go for a model with L3 cache?
Does L3 cache truely make much a difference? I don't plan on gaming on this and would be doing "art" in applications like photoshop elements, Sketchbook pro, and Open Canvas.
If I can, Should I jump for an FX-4xxx series cpu instead?
i think the Phenom II X4 945 would be your best bett. with such a low budget.
When the Athlon II first came out, many games weren't optimized to utilize L3 cache, as it was still expensive, and not widely adopted. As a result, the Athlon II could achieve ~90-95% of the performance of their Phenom II brethren at a fraction of the cost. However, ever since, L3 cache seems to be a necessity for gaming. Tom's Hardware did an article pitting older K10 architecture (such as the Athlon and Phenom) vs Bulldozer Architecture (Piledrive), and the Athlons fell way behind, even when overclocked, compared to a stock Phenom II.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/piledriver-k10-cpu-overclocking,3584-18.html
With that said, if you can find any 900 series Phenom II in your price range, go for it. I'd take note of the minimums for the Phenom, especially when overclocked, as it will give the lower-tiered FX series a serious run for its money, provided you can still get a good deal on the Phenom II. The 800 series would make an okay runner-up, as some L3 cache is better than none, as you can see by the Athlons getting torn up by a stock Phenom II x4 965; and OC'd 750k beats the stock 965, but at 4.3GHz the 750k also has a 900MHz advantage, almost 1GHz! And only narrowly beats out the stock 965 (+7% min FPS; +10% avg FPS) across the series of games. That's just disappointing.
Okay, So L3 cahce does make quite a difference.
So the best option would be to get Phenom 9xx CPU an Overclock it-
Oh Wow! I almost missed that model!
I was looking at a 920 for the same price...that would have...been a disappointing moment...
Okay, I looked around and was able to find some FX 41xx chips for the same price as most of the Phenoms in my range.
Would that become my better option as the FX chips clock a little higher
-thought, the FX only has 4MB L3 cahce compaired to the Phenom's 6MB
The phenom is much better clock for clock, but AMD did a pretty good job of tapping those Phenom II's out, and many don't go much past 4GHz, while the FX series are OCing beasts, getting 4.8 - 5GHZ on air.
This comparison may help shed some light
I'd go Phenom. One of the biggest reasons Bulldozer bombed upon release was it struggled to surpass the Phenom in performance, especially in per core performance, which is still important to today's gaming. I think it's just salt in the wound that the Phenom II does better in multi-threaded performance as well in this particular case. But really, both would do the job just fine, so get whatever is cheaper.
Okay, I will more than likely buy the phenom as it seems to be better for my usage (they cost relatively the same)
What would you suggest to cool the cpu? I was looking at a 212 Evo, but I fear of throttling as that isn't the best cooler.
how do these look? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709019 http://www.amazon.com/NZXT-HAVIK-Cooler-Dual-140MM/dp/B005869XYK http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-CPU-Cooler-NH-U12P-SE2/dp/B002TG3K14 http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NH-U12-Sockets-Heatpipe-Cooling/dp/B00C9EYVGY
Well all those coolers are basicly fine.
If i have to choose between those you have listed, i would go for the NZXT Havik, the reason is simple, its a very decent aircooler, and it is the only one with 140MM fan, of those you have listed, 140MM fans running on much lower rpm, then 120mm fans, so often they are more silent, and press more air.. I also read good reviews about that NZXT havik cooler.
My Vote goed for the NZXT Havik 140MM.
Grtz Angel ☺
But yeah on the otherhand, the havik is $60 + $75 for the phenom II X4 945. you can get a FX6300 for that money.
Okay, so that cooler...
...oh...so I could! Sure, I would be stuck on the stock cooler for a little...but I would have the benefit of more cores and a newer architecture...
...I could just get Nzxt Havik at a later date...
The 6300 would probably be the smarter move, coming with a good-enough heatsink.
I will more than likely get the 6300, It makes more sense, even on the stock heatsink I could probably get away with a small overclock.
Thank you for mentioning the price! Getting the phenom would have probably been a rather silly idea..
The Phenom could be preferable in some way, but all things considered, I would spend less money in the long run and I can stay on the FX until something better is released...
If you live near a micro center and don't mind driving to the store. This is a nice place holder for super cheap.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/428114/FX_4130_Black_Edition_38-39_GHZ_Quad-Core_Tray_CPU
Well i runed my FX8350 on the stock cooler for over a year, okay it was terrible load, but at stock 4.2 ghz it wasn´t that bad in terms of cooling performance. as long as you keep it clean from dust, and a good airflow inside the case. it isn´t that terrible.
Cooler can allways be upgraded later on.
i think the FX6300, cost arround $120 would be better for you yes. 6 cores so yeah
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286
I never bought a cpu, I had to spend money on other things. And because of that, my budget is even more constrained (those thing that sneek up on you...ugh...)
...so...
Phenom II x4 810 for $15 and PRIME SD1484
or Phenom II x4 955 for $40-50 with original heatsink?
The 810 may not be BE, but I can still overclock from the FSB/base (or what ever it's called...seems to have many names, probably using the wrong name :/)
I actually may get the cooler for free...a used one...but still...free...
don't live near a microcenter...sucks living in east jesus...
i would buy them both they are well below what they go for on ebay.
but the I wouldn't have a MB to slap them in :P
I can't get both either...only one.
(but damn...those prices)
get the Phenom II x4 955 then
In less your going to school for graphic design you don't need the fx 6300 or 8350. Get the cheapest am3 socket you can find.
When you start gaming and editing more the new fx 8300 will be out and it won't even break the bank.
Digital animation, both 2d and 3d (since it is more generalized)
By cheapest AM3, you mean Athlon x2 ...haha..n-no...not even for light use...
I settled with a Phenom x3 720, as the 810 was sold...so...I'll just overclock the hell out of it for now...multitasking might suffer, but it's decent enough and I'll upgrade at a later time.
I don't game and probably never will, I'm on the horrible FM1 platform and this thing is probably 100% all the time.
Gaming and editing aren't the only things that can use a lot of power.
