core i3 530 or AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black

[hodgenutts]

Hello, I'm currently Using a core i3 530. It's stock speed is at 2.93 Ghz with 4 MB L3 cache, but I'm currently running it at 3.4 stable on air on stock voltage. My question is now that the AMD Phenom II X2 555 black edition is out for a modest price, would I notice a difference moving to it? I've never bought an AMD processor before. The AMD runs at 3.2 Ghz and has 6MB L3 cache, and from what I've read you have about an 80% chance of unlocking additional cores with the right MOBO. I use my PC for homework, surfing the net, and I play RIFT and WoW. Any advice would be highly apreciated.

 

[bart1975]

I would stick with the i3 530 for now. Then wait 6 months or so and see what is decent then.

 

[dma0991]

I don't think it is a wise choice to upgrade to the AMD platform that uses AM3 boards now. Unlocking the extra 2 cores is a gamble as it can be a hit or miss if the unlocked cores are unstable.

If you're interested in an upgrade I suggest waiting for the AMD Zambezi 4C or AMD Llano which should be out in a months time. If you're not interested in the other side you can always upgrade to a Core i3 2100 or Core i5 2400 with a H67 board combo which should give way more performance boost. Optionally there is also Ivy Bridge early next year.

 

[fffblackmage]

I would stick with the i3 for now.

 

[hodgenutts]

My current i3 530 has 4mb cache, so how is the i3 2100 an improvement as it has one less MB of cache at only 3 MB L3 cache. Not trying to argue, just asking so I can be properly educated as I've been aaway from the building game for a while. TYVM for your time.

 

[hodgenutts]

Also the AMD has 6 MB of cache, is there not significant gain because of AMD architecture? Once again I'm not attempting to argue I'm wanting to learn

 

[Brunnis]

The Core i3-530 is generally a much faster CPU than the Phenom II X2 555 BE. Check Anand's tests here:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/120?vs=118

Also, you cannot compare cache sizes, since there are thousands of other variables in a CPU design that affect the speed. For that reason, the Core i3-2100 is faster than the Core i3-530, since it has a better architecture. See Anand's tests of those two here:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=118

 

[dma0991]

Performance of a CPU is not measured by cache size. It does bring improvement in some ways but it is not a true way of measuring performance. Take for example the Athlon II X4 635 vs Phenom II X4 805. The Athlon II does not have a L3 cache compared to the Phenom II which has 4MB of L3 cache but in the CPU bench you can see the Athlon II is on par or better than the Phenom II.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/122?vs=86

When it comes to the i3 2100 vs i3 530 you would have to consider the architecture of the CPU which the 2nd generation Core is superior. The only drawback is that Intel disabled overclocking on the 2nd generation Core without a K suffix.

 

[reallyscrued]

What apps on a daily basis do you use that could use extra power? I would start from there. If you play games, BC2 especially, then quad core or bust. Performance almost doubles.

The i3's are speedy little chips. I wouldn't jump ship either, see if an i5 would satisfy your needs.

EDIT: Use this (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html) as a start off point to decide which cpu trumps what, then go deeper and find benchmarks with the apps you most commonly use. (Ctrl + F is your friend)

 

[LoneNinja]

Phenom II X2 would be a down grade from your I3 if the cores fail to unlock, and wouldn't be a big upgrade if they do unlock. Intel has launched 2 new processing architectures since AMD has, AMD is flat out inferior to Intels latest Sandy Bridge processors. AMD also has a new architecture and new processors launching next month, hopefully it makes them competitive again.

 

[formulav8]

You can't compare caches between Amd and Intel. To many cpu differences.

The x2 555 is definitely a fast cpu. But if you want better multi-tasking as well, the $80 Athlon II x4 (2.9ghz, should be able to easily get 3.5ghz or so) is the best bang out there. (No l3 cache though). At similar clockspeed and core-count the L3 cache on a Ph2 can make about a 10% different in gaming performance. Not a bunch, but there is some gain.

In the end, if the i3 is doing ok for you right now, I would wait a couple months or so to see what AMD's new releases will bring.


Jason

 

[Zap]

I use my PC for homework, surfing the net, and I play RIFT and WoW. Any advice would be highly apreciated.

I'm not sure about RIFT, but the links below clearly indicate that WoW runs better on the Intel chips. Homework and surfing the net is not CPU limited by either of these chips. Also, I'm not sure how any extra cores (if you unlock them) will help in any of your mentioned usage patterns.

The Core i3-530 is generally a much faster CPU than the Phenom II X2 555 BE....
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/120?vs=118

...the Core i3-2100 is faster than the Core i3-530...
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=118

This should put an end to this discussion. :thumbsup:

 

[hodgenutts]

I don't see how you can admit you don't know something and then claim you've put an end too a discussion. LoL Being Rift is knew it seems there is alot to be learned at what it "craves" in terms of hardware.

 

[Zap]

I don't see how you can admit you don't know something and then claim you've put an end too a discussion. LoL Being Rift is knew it seems there is alot to be learned at what it "craves" in terms of hardware.

Okay, a quick net search finds the "recommended" specs for RIFT to be a Core 2 Duo with 4GB RAM and a GeForce GTS 250. Hardly earth shattering. Seeing as how the Intel CPUs dominate the AMD CPU in pretty much EVERYTHING that was tested, unless someone actually benchmarks these two exact CPUs in RIFT itself and publishes that information, we are left with the facts that we have now, and that fact is you are already using a better overall CPU than the AMD Phenom II x2 Black Edition.

Even if RIFT ends up running better on the AMD platform, the fact remains that WoW will run better on the Intel platform, as well as everything else listed in AnandTech Bench. Those are the simple facts. It is up to you whether you choose to believe them.

If you really want to buy the AMD setup to play around with unlocking the cores and overclocking using the multiplier, then go for it! Computers are my hobby and I can certainly appreciate wanting to try out new parts even if they aren't the best choice - yes I've done that many times myself.

Just remember, if you end up buying the AMD CPU and a matching motherboard, I've got $75 in PayPal to pay for your old Core i3 530 with your old motherboard.

 

[jiffylube1024]

I'd strongly recommend keeping the i3 as well. The i3 530 out of the box is similar/a tiny bit faster than the Ph II X2 555. Overclocked at 3.4 GHz, it would smoke the 555, even if you overclock that chip to 3.6-3.8.

There is a chance to unlock extra cores, but if it isn't successful then you end up with a system that's no faster and actually may be 20-25% slower in things like encoding, etc.

If you want a faster system, you could always sell your CPU for $80-100 ish, and pick up an i5 750.

 

[hodgenutts]

Ok, ill just sell my current i3 for $75, and buy an i5. Tyvm everyone for your time.

 

[KayVeeEmm]

FYI, if you successfully unlock a Phenom II 555 to a quad core, it scores noticeably higher than an i5 530 in benchmarks (4k vs 2.7k in Passmark). An unlocked x4 555 (B55) is between Phenom II x4 965 and 955 in performance.

Upgrading to an i5 750 is a fine choice, but your computing habits aren't exactly CPU intensive. If you want more FPS for gaming, get a (better) video card. Plus, you can always use that card on your next motherboard, unlike a CPU upgrade to Sandy Bridge or Bulldozer.

 

[nenforcer]

The upgrade to the LGA 1156 i5 is currently the better choice instead of an entirely new motherboard and CPU.

I would, however, consider waiting another month or so until AMD announces their Bulldozer and Llano cores which are intended to compete with the Core i3 / i5 2K series chips.

You might get a better deal on a quad core for either platform then.

 

[SolMiester]

FYI, if you successfully unlock a Phenom II 555 to a quad core, it scores noticeably higher than an i5 530 in benchmarks (4k vs 2.7k in Passmark). An unlocked x4 555 (B55) is between Phenom II x4 965 and 955 in performance.

Upgrading to an i5 750 is a fine choice, but your computing habits aren't exactly CPU intensive. If you want more FPS for gaming, get a (better) video card. Plus, you can always use that card on your next motherboard, unlike a CPU upgrade to Sandy Bridge or Bulldozer.

If the OP successfully unlocks the remaining cores on the 555 it will still lag the i3 in half the benchies of Anand bench..The OP is running the i3 at 3.4. AMD Phenom has no comparative CPU in the 2nd gen core architecture pure and simple.

 

[KayVeeEmm]

If the OP successfully unlocks the remaining cores on the 555 it will still lag the i3 in half the benchies of Anand bench..The OP is running the i3 at 3.4. AMD Phenom has no comparative CPU in the 2nd gen core architecture pure and simple.

I happen to have an unlocked x4 555 as well as an i5 530, and there is no way an i3 530 beats it in half of AT's benchmarks. Again, an unlocked x4 555 performs similarly to a Phenom II x4 965 and 955 (both ahead of i5 530 in many of AT's benchmarks) seeing that the only difference with the three are clock speeds, and the chart by Passmark that actually includes the unlocked x4 555 (B55 in this chart). What's to stop the OP from overclocking the 555 as well?

 

[StrangerGuy]

I happen to have an unlocked x4 555 as well as an i5 530, and there is no way an i3 530 beats it in half of AT's benchmarks. Again, an unlocked x4 555 performs similarly to a Phenom II x4 965 and 955 (both ahead of i5 530 in many of AT's benchmarks) seeing that the only difference with the three are clock speeds, and the chart by Passmark that actually includes the unlocked x4 555 (B55 in this chart). What's to stop the OP from overclocking the 555 as well?

1. i3-530 easily OCs over 4GHz.
2. 555 BE does not always unlock to 4 cores, besides you need a board that supports unlocking.
3. 555 BE is inferior to i3-530 w/o unlock.
4. 555 BE will be difficult to break 3.8GHz let alone 4GHz.
5. 555 BE consumes more power than i3-530.

It's a downgrade at worst and a sidegrade at best, with BD just over the horizon OP shouldnt even bother.

 

[KayVeeEmm]

1. i3-530 easily OCs over 4GHz.
2. 555 BE does not always unlock to 4 cores, besides you need a board that supports unlocking.
3. 555 BE is inferior to i3-530 w/o unlock.
4. 555 BE will be difficult to break 3.8GHz let alone 4GHz.
5. 555 BE consumes more power than i3-530.

It's a downgrade at worst and a sidegrade at best, with BD just over the horizon OP shouldnt even bother.

I know all of that. The unlock is a gamble, which is the real deal breaker between a i3 530 and 555. I'm just fetching in that an x4 555 performs better than i3 530 with or without the overclock.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Stick with the i3. LGA2011 will smoke everything else in less than a year. Then you can either upgrade to that, or buy something for cheap.

 

[Arg Clin]

+1 for sticking with the current i3.

The difference would at best be minimal. Depending on what gpu you are using, there'd likely be more potential for improved gaming performance in upgrading that.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Upgrading to the next step up in 1156 chips doesn't seem like a good investment.
If you want better responses while surfing the net, doing homework ect, and a small boost in games, spend $100 on a 64GB SSD.

If the OP has a Microcenter near by go there and pick up a H67 board and an i5 2400. You can be out the door for around $250 after tax.

I went from an Athlon II x4 640 (3.0ghz) to an i5 2400 with an SSD and the difference is night and day. I know my boot up times increased because of the SSD, but in the tasks I do the most (video encoding) I'm getting 2x the performance out of the Intel setup.