AMD Phenom X4 and FX 6300

[xXzombieXx]

I am looking to build my gaming PC around a cheaply priced AMD processor. I know performance lacks in comparison to Intel but this will help me get a high end video card.

Will the Phenom X4 Black Edition or FX 6300 be able to handle super heavy games? Which is a better option? I know the Intel I3 is priced roughly the same as the FX 6300, so would that be a better choice? I am kinda wanted to use AMD for my 1st low end build though and work my way up to Intel as I get more money.

 

[SPBHM]

at the moment I would recommend some core i5 (even the $180 model), the cost difference can be really insignificant when you consider the total system cost.

but if it's not possible I think the 6300 is the best choice... the PII X4 is only a good alternative to the 6300 if the price is significantly lower, and you really need to save the money...

 

[xXzombieXx]

So the 6300 will suffix until I can't put real money into a really good Intel computer?

Will it run Crysis 3 and Bioshock plus Sims 3, SimsCity, Mass Effect 3, and more?

My graphics card is Radeon HD 7950 3GB

 

[Torn Mind]

at the moment I would recommend some core i5 (even the $180 model), the cost difference can be really insignificant when you consider the total system cost.

but if it's not possible I think the 6300 is the best choice... the PII X4 is only a good alternative to the 6300 if the price is significantly lower, and you really need to save the money...

I think some Phenom IIs are going for about 100 dollars.

 

[xXzombieXx]

I went with the 6300

 

[inf64]

Good choice. Post your experience in games when you can.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I went with the 6300

Great chip. You won't regret it.

 

[OS]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2302954

From the crysis 3 benchmark the FX6300 is way ahead of the Phenom II x4.

I've had both the FX6300 and the Phenom II x4 965, I can't really tell much difference between the two myself, but I haven't run any numbers.
So far though it seems the FX6300 overclocks easy, I just overclocked the cpu to the turbo speed 4.0 GHz and it didn't even need an increase in voltage.

 

[codyray10]

So the 6300 will suffix until I can't put real money into a really good Intel computer?

Will it run Crysis 3 and Bioshock plus Sims 3, SimsCity, Mass Effect 3, and more?

My graphics card is Radeon HD 7950 3GB

Yeah you will have no problems running crysis 3. I have the FX 6300 myself @ 4.4 ghz and a Radeon 7850 and play Crysis 3 on high with 30-50fps.

 

[KingFatty]

I'll chime in and agree that the FX-6300 is quite easy to overclock.

I did a simple chip replacement upgrade, so I kept my old motherboard, and replaced my old Phenom II X4 with the FX-6300.

My personal replay used to benchmark Starcraft II saw my frames go from around 45 stock to around 70, when I overclocked the FX-6300 to 4.8 GHz. So it can still do quite decently in heavily CPU-limited games like Starcraft 2, *IF* you are willing to overclock it.

At stock voltages, the chip was happy to run overclocked at 4.0 GHz, but I wonder if it could go even higher as I haven't really dug into how it can be overclocked all the way.

Note that for comparison, I had heavily overclocked my Phenom II, near 3.9 GHz with a CPU-NB set to over 2.6 GHz on the Phenom II. That burned a lot of energy and heat, but its performance only came out about where the FX-6300 was starting out at stock 3.5 GHz for the FX-6300. When you start overclocking the FX-6300, it just walks away from the Phenom II (at least, in the CPU-limited Starcraft 2).

Anyway, my motherboard has 8+2 phase power, so I think that always helps compared to cheaper power systems on the motherboards. And man, it's been a while since I've done a simple CPU swap, but it was really convenient not having to swap out the motherboard and reinstall the software etc., and just swapping CPUs out. Plus, I had a microcenter deal where I got a free motherboard, so I can sell my old Phenom II with the new motherboard and recoup some of the $119 cost for the FX-6300.

Like you I plan to pair my system with an overclocked 7950 GPU, and I think it's a nice pairing if you overclock the FX CPU.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

I can't really tell much difference between the two myself, but I haven't run any numbers.
So far though it seems the FX6300 overclocks easy, I just overclocked the cpu to the turbo speed 4.0 GHz and it didn't even need an increase in voltage.

I'll chime in and agree that the FX-6300 is quite easy to overclock.

Interesting. Perhaps why AMD just released the 6350(3.9-4.2GHz) and 4350 (4.2-4.3GHz). Maybe the chip quality has improved to the point where AMD is confident they'll run at those clocks without issue...?

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/di...New_Six_Core_and_Quad_Core_FX_Processors.html

 

[tweakboy]

Go FX8350 or dont do upgrade at all. gl

 

[xXzombieXx]

What do I need to overclock?

 

[KingFatty]

Try a simple approach: increase the multiplier. I think right now the multiplier will by 17.5x which multiplies your base frequency (200) to get 17.5x200=3.5GHz.

Now, try increasing that multiplier from 17.5x to 20x. That seemed to work for me and other users at default/stock voltage, it should just work with no other changes needing to be made.

When you get more familiar, you can start increasing the voltage levels to support even higher values.

 

[MeldarthX]

Very Nice and king is right; overclocking just for a small part will help; if you need more you can always crank more

 

[Arkaign]

I rarely recommend AMD CPUs these days, but the 6300 is a solid choice. I'd take one over an i3 for gaming. The i3 will win in Starcraft 2 and a few others, but the 6300 will win be faster overall on average going forward.

An alternative might be to look at cheap i5-750/760 mobo/cpu combos used. I recently picked up a 760 and mobo for a buddy as a cheap upgrade from a Athlon II X3. It overclocked to 4Ghz easily and the combo was $90 including a good 120mm tower cooler.

 

[xXzombieXx]

Do you need cpu coolers to overclock?

 

[inf64]

You should have the stock HSF(heatsink fan) when you bought the boxed version of FX6300. That one should be more than enough for ~4.2Ghz OC with just multiplier and slight Vcore adjustment(if needed).

 

[xXzombieXx]

Will Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Edition 8GB work with ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA mobo?

 

[inf64]

I don't see why it shouldn't. It's seems to be optimized for intel platform (judging by the name) but if it's JEDEC standard memory then it will work on AM3+ platform too. I checked the Asus product page for M5A97 and don't see it mentioned in the docs. It doesn't mean it won't work, just that they haven't tried that memory model on that particular AM3+ board.

 

[xXzombieXx]

Returning it and getting http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226219

 

[xXzombieXx]

Back to topic I don't need to buy a cheap cpu cooler?

 

[inf64]

Back to topic I don't need to buy a cheap cpu cooler?

If you ordered boxed FX6300 ,nope, no need for aftermarket cooler. You are all set with the stock cooler which is pretty decent(even for some moderate OCing).

 

[infoiltrator]

Looks good and Mushkin is good RAM.
The FX series supports 1866, and likes overclocks, you might look for faster Ram. NOT a significant issue.

 

[xXzombieXx]

Is 8gb good or should i get 12GB OR 16GB