Best Bang for Buck CPU?

[winston9t4]

I'm interested in a CPU/mobo combo in about the $125 range (+/-25 or so). I just picked up the watercooler deal at BestBuy, and wondering what CPU/Mobo I should be looking at. I also have some DDR3 1.5V ram I would like to use with this.

Use of the PC would be mostly surfing, with some occasional gaming like Starcraft2.

Thanks!

 

[toyota]

so you want to spend about 100 bucks for a cpu AND mobo combined? yet you just spent over 40 bucks for a cooler?

 

[winston9t4]

so you want to spend about 100 bucks for a cpu AND mobo combined? yet you just spent over 40 bucks for a cooler?

Yeah - isn't that what overclocking is about? 🙂

 

[toyota]

Yeah - isn't that what overclocking is about? 🙂

well 100 bucks is not much to work with though so I would not have spent over 40 bucks on a cooler when that could be applied to a much better cpu.

 

[GaiaHunter]

With that amount of money you would be looking at something like a phenom II x2 555 and an asrock 880GM-LE for $135.99 if you use the phenom II promo code.

With some luck you will get the 3rd and 4th cores unlocked.

 

[winston9t4]

well 100 bucks is not much to work with though so I would not have spent over 40 bucks on a cooler when that could be applied to a much better cpu.

Good point. Well, I can go up to the $150 range if I need to - really trying to find a good sweet spot in terms of price/performance.

 

[GaiaHunter]

Other CPU to consider is the AMD Phenom II X4 925 OEM for $89.99 with promo code.

Or you can spend a bit more on the motherboard.

 

[sm625]

I'd buy a BD ready mobo that can also take a sempron 130. And I'd buy a sempron 130, or any ol used amd chip that can fit in the motherboard. That's the best thing you can get for $100 lol.

 

[winston9t4]

I'd buy a BD ready mobo that can also take a sempron 130. And I'd buy a sempron 130, or any ol used amd chip that can fit in the motherboard. That's the best thing you can get for $100 lol.

That's actually not a bad idea. Should I just look at a mobo that is for an AM3+ cpu?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128504

If it doesn't mention anywhere about the ability to unlock cores, should I assume it can't do it?

 

[iluvdeal]

I'd return the H50 and apply that $40 to the CPU instead.

 

[sm625]

I havent heard anything about being able to unlock BD cores. It helps to actually have the hardware before expecting anyone to know the possibilities there. That's why I'm waiting till at least october/november. By then we will most likely know whether or not we can buy a 4 or 6 module BD and unlock it, and which motherboards can do it.

 

[winston9t4]

I'd return the H50 and apply that $40 to the CPU instead.

What would you recommend getting? I'm somewhat flexible - don't mind going used as well.

Seems like most people are recommending AMD CPUs.

 

[LoneNinja]

What would you recommend getting? I'm somewhat flexible - don't mind going used as well.

Seems like most people are recommending AMD CPUs.

Because the cheapest modern Intel processor that can be overclocked exceeds your budget. Under $100 for cpu alone and all you get from Intel are old out dated socket 775 parts, or new Sandy Bridge based Pentiums that can't overclock.

If you have access to microcenter they've also got some good AMD CPU/Motherboard combos for $100.

 

[Nemesis 1]

That's actually not a bad idea. Should I just look at a mobo that is for an AM3+ cpu?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128504

If it doesn't mention anywhere about the ability to unlock cores, should I assume it can't do it?

Yes . Its as I suspected . Another way to go would be Buy the Z68 M/B and use a celeron on it till IB comes out and pick up a cheap SB K seies for the the windfall.

 

[winston9t4]

Happy Medium sent me a PM, and asked me to post his recommendation here for any other feedback on it. Following is his text:

-----------------------------

Asus Am3+ for 65$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131728

The best dual core cpu out there will not keep up with this Phenom II x3, and the Athlon x4 's suck with no level 3 cache.
I'd grab this Phenom II x3 720 , they will hit 3.7 to 3.8 normally with overclock.

Only 75$ shipped and you can use you new cooler with it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103652

For under 150$, you have great future upgradabilty, a strong 3 core cpu for your SC2 game, with strong overclocking to test out your new cooler.

 

[GaiaHunter]

The links aren't working but seems a reasonable solution - I didn't knew there AM3+ motherboards that are so cheap (although using the 760/710 chipset).

A word of warning, for that price that motherboards seems to be using the the 760 chipset - and those models are up to 95W processors only - that may limit you OC and future upgrades.

 

[winston9t4]

Thanks for the info - how much will the 95W limit me?

Also, any thoughts on how competitive this will be with an i3-2300?

 

[toyota]

Thanks for the info - how much will the 95W limit me?

Also, any thoughts on how competitive this will be with an i3-2300?

I think you mean i5 2300 and that Phenom 2 X3 will have its butt handed to it by the new i5. even a Phenom 2 X6 oced to 4.0 would lose to the i5 2300 and use over 100 watts more trying to do so. that Phenom 2 X3 is probably fine your needs though.

 

[classy]

I have really liked my 1055T. You might be able to find close to that range

 

[GaiaHunter]

Thanks for the info - how much will the 95W limit me?

It is hard to say - Asus produce good quality motherboards. But if you check the supported CPU list the higher Phenom II X6 supported is the 1065T.

 

[sm625]

An i5-2300 is a ripoff and I'm not sure what relevance it has to any $100 cpu. That chip costs $50 more than a Phenom 2 X3 710 cpu/mobo/ram combo!

 

[winston9t4]

Oh yeah sorry, I intended to compare it to the i3-2100.

I had an opportunity to buy the i3-2100 retail with a Biostar mobo for $150.

Maybe I should just take that deal, and return the watercooler...

 

[toyota]

Oh yeah sorry, I intended to compare it to the i3-2100

well unless you come across a deal the i3 2100 is 125 bucks and then another 60 bucks or so for the H61 mobo which is scant on features. you cant oc the i3 2100 at all but really it beats the Phenom X4 in most cases while having HALF the tdp. sure you could oc the X4 but thats even more power used plus you would have to have an aftermarket cooler for best results. so IMO the i3 2100 is an okay setup since you do not need to spend anymore than cpu and mobo. its all in how you look at it.


EDIT: if you can get the i3-2100 retail with a Biostar mobo for $150 then I would do that. you are talking about a cpu that kicks butt while using about 35-40 watts so you could just return that cooler.

 

[mnewsham]

Oh yeah sorry, I intended to compare it to the i3-2100.

I had an opportunity to buy the i3-2100 retail with a Biostar mobo for $150.

Maybe I should just take that deal, and return the watercooler...

I think that would make more sense.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Oh yeah sorry, I intended to compare it to the i3-2100.

I had an opportunity to buy the i3-2100 retail with a Biostar mobo for $150.

Maybe I should just take that deal, and return the watercooler...

This is your best bang for the buck deal you'll get.
Sorry, but a SB anything is going to be better than a Phenom II.
AMD just can't compete.
And if you want to upgrade later you can just put a new SB chip in it and go. Like others said, the i5 will absolutely rape any of the AMD offerings and BD performance is not going to be anywhere near what the hype suggested.