If there are no unlocked SKL under quad-core, could G3258 be better still?

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

nenforcer

Golden Member
Aug 26, 2008
1,782
24
81
I dont think any of those parts will be worth very much 5 years from now. Assuming AMD is still around, you're probably going to be able to buy a low end 2 core 4 thread Zen APU with 1000 shaders and 16GB of HBM and 128GB of HBF for around $100. It probably wont have the absolute single thread performance of a G3258 @ 4.4GHz, but it will be a so much better all around value.

I totally agree. Saving old technology parts is like buying a new car right off of the lot. You instantly depreciate some value even if you keep them in brand new condition.

In 5 years even the crappiest processor may only have equivalent performance (or slightly less) to your high end from 5 years but its almost guaranteed to use less power and just be newer overall. Electronics do wear out over time eventually.
 

waltchan

Senior member
Feb 27, 2015
846
8
81
I totally agree. Saving old technology parts is like buying a new car right off of the lot. You instantly depreciate some value even if you keep them in brand new condition.

In 5 years even the crappiest processor may only have equivalent performance (or slightly less) to your high end from 5 years but its almost guaranteed to use less power and just be newer overall. Electronics do wear out over time eventually.
That's why I'm trying to say only to look for Pentium or below if you're concerned with resale value. In fact, I have a rule to never pay over $99.99 for one Intel processor, which includes all the i5 and i7, and most of i3 w/ HD4600 graphic, since they are too expensive and you hit hard on depreciation after 2 years.

Believe it or not, CPU processor takes the majority percentage of depreciation in PC, then motherboard next. Hard drive, memory RAM, case, power supply, and fans, not really big concerns.
 

escrow4

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2013
3,339
122
106
That's why I'm trying to say only to look for Pentium or below if you're concerned with resale value. In fact, I have a rule to never pay over $99.99 for one Intel processor, which includes all the i5 and i7, and most of i3 w/ HD4600 graphic, since they are too expensive and you hit hard on depreciation after 2 years.

Believe it or not, CPU processor takes the majority percentage of depreciation in PC, then motherboard next. Hard drive, memory RAM, case, power supply, and fans, not really big concerns.

Who resells parts that are not only old but slow? I've used Celeron's and tablet Atom's and I would now never use anything slower than an i3 or equivalent for a desktop/laptop that is used daily. It doesn't have that "kick" of the higher end chips. Use a 4170 @ 3.7GHz or a 4690 @ 3.5GHz for a few weeks then a sluggish Pentium and you will feel the difference. It is there and it is noticeable. In a few years what would bog down first?
 

iiiankiii

Senior member
Apr 4, 2008
759
47
91
Good question. I'm saving and hiding all the G470s in my closet because Intel hasn't announced a single-core w/ hyper-threading successor yet (save the better later while Intel continues to put out the Braswell crap), while bidding up and using only G460 and G465 at this moment. Next year, G460 will reach $8 shipped, and that's what I desperately want right now.

You know what? That didn't explain anything.. lol. So what if that's the fastest single core w/ hyper treading? Why would that be worth more than a real pentium dual core? Again, why would you buy a G470 at $20 when you can grab a g530 for $20 right now? I'm honestly trying to follow your train of thought but I can't seem to do it.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,227
126
That's why I'm trying to say only to look for Pentium or below if you're concerned with resale value. In fact, I have a rule to never pay over $99.99 for one Intel processor, which includes all the i5 and i7, and most of i3 w/ HD4600 graphic, since they are too expensive and you hit hard on depreciation after 2 years.

Believe it or not, CPU processor takes the majority percentage of depreciation in PC, then motherboard next. Hard drive, memory RAM, case, power supply, and fans, not really big concerns.

But you have to look at the utility you get from that CPU over time. If you have a real need for it, then something like a 4670K is fully-justified, at full price ($200+). If you don't need it, then sure, aim lower.

But this fear of losing money on your "investment" in technology, is really quite paranoid. Technology is a tool, it is meant to be used, not invested in. Invest in technology stocks, if you really want to invest, and actually make a little money.

Don't go buying single-core CPUs on ebay, because you're afraid that anything higher will "lose money" over five years. Sure it will, that's the nature of technology.
 

waltchan

Senior member
Feb 27, 2015
846
8
81
Again, why would you buy a G470 at $20 when you can grab a g530 for $20 right now? I'm honestly trying to follow your train of thought but I can't seem to do it.
35W vs. 65W, my friend. Not a valid comparison. I can't take a 65W that is buried underneath behind my desk with no ventilation and no system fan installed around it.
 

waltchan

Senior member
Feb 27, 2015
846
8
81
Who resells parts that are not only old but slow? I've used Celeron's and tablet Atom's and I would now never use anything slower than an i3 or equivalent for a desktop/laptop that is used daily. It doesn't have that "kick" of the higher end chips. Use a 4170 @ 3.7GHz or a 4690 @ 3.5GHz for a few weeks then a sluggish Pentium and you will feel the difference. It is there and it is noticeable. In a few years what would bog down first?
i3-4170 is an excellent deal for only $79 sale happening at Fry's Electronics occasionally. So, i3-4170 ranks #1 by me in terms of value since it's the highest-end model (as long as it's not i3-4130, which has the worst expected resale value).
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,227
126
35W vs. 65W, my friend. Not a valid comparison. I can't take a 65W that is buried underneath behind my desk with no ventilation and no system fan installed around it.

You do know that those are just generic classes, used to specify the size of the heatsink and the amount of chassis cooling for OEMs, right? That the CPUs themselves don't take that, they often take much less power.

For example, the E3200 Pentium Dual-core 45nm C2D CPU. It's a 65W-class CPU. But according to the XbitLabs review, it actually only consumes like 32W. And that's before Intel's power-gating technology, for lower idle power, present in all Sandy Bridge and newer chips.

Edit: Referring to the bolded. That's right, you're the guy that buys el-cheapo 65% efficient PSUs, and removes their fan, to make them "silent", rather than buying an 80+ Gold PSU with a better fan curve.
 
Last edited:

waltchan

Senior member
Feb 27, 2015
846
8
81
But this fear of losing money on your "investment" in technology, is really quite paranoid. Technology is a tool, it is meant to be used, not invested in. Invest in technology stocks, if you really want to invest, and actually make a little money.

Don't go buying single-core CPUs on ebay, because you're afraid that anything higher will "lose money" over five years. Sure it will, that's the nature of technology.
You're right. Pentium G3258 is the lowest-risk Intel CPU you will find in life. Period. It can easily jump up to $99.99 or more if Intel decides to end production today (currently, average price is $65 shipped on eBay). Some eBay sellers hint at $129.99 if they are in no hurry to sell.

There's plenty of dual-cores available at pocket-change price. AM3 socket is looking rather interesting right now, because boards are still available and far cheaper than LGA775. We can now get Athlon II X2 for $8 starting.
 

waltchan

Senior member
Feb 27, 2015
846
8
81
Edit: Referring to the bolded. That's right, you're the guy that buys el-cheapo 65% efficient PSUs, and removes their fan, to make them "silent", rather than buying an 80+ Gold PSU with a better fan curve.
Valid only with Bay-Trail boards, like ASRock Q1900M. Works great. :biggrin:
 

CHADBOGA

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2009
2,135
833
136
I just bid and won a used Celeron G460 (slowest LGA1155 w/ HT) for $12 shipped, thank you for that reminder. Processor depreciation continues to kick in fast for LGA1155, and it's best not to pay more than $15 right now. I don't pay attention to the dual-cores because they have been succeeded to G1820, and now G1840/G1850 today. It's a separate group (I do buy it sometimes, and it's great).

I'm more interested in the starter group at this moment (G470 > J1800 > N2840 > N3050), and it's nothing but downhill (and headache) for me every year.
What are you doing with all these CPU's you are buying? :confused:
 

Essence_of_War

Platinum Member
Feb 21, 2013
2,650
4
81
So he isn't building up systems and selling them off or giving to relatives?

From what I've gathered from waltchan's responses, that sounds like exactly what waltchan is doing. Buying parts, and potentially spare parts, for extremely low-cost systems to sell or give away.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,227
126
From what I've gathered from waltchan's responses, that sounds like exactly what waltchan is doing. Buying parts, and potentially spare parts, for extremely low-cost systems to sell or give away.

I was starting to wonder, if perhaps he wasn't an IT guy at a non-profit. That's the only way that I could figure, that it made sense to "economize" on CPUs, to the point of going with a single-core with HT, rather than a dual-core for $10 more.

It sure does make me curious. I wish I did the volume that he apparently does. I don't advertise my services, so I don't have a huge clientèle. I do build some budget rigs to give away, I gave away a couple of Linux Mint 17.1 rigs, with G1610 and G540 CPUs, 2GB DDR3, and 60/64GB SSDs, to a charity a month ago. (One of them had a problem, that when shutting down, would power-on again. So unsellable.)
 

iiiankiii

Senior member
Apr 4, 2008
759
47
91
35W vs. 65W, my friend. Not a valid comparison. I can't take a 65W that is buried underneath behind my desk with no ventilation and no system fan installed around it.

Serious? Now why would you do such a thing. No vents? Like a box with no holes for air to leave or enter like an oven? If that's the case, I don't think a "35 watt" CPU will do much better. Why would you do that to a computer. C'mon, now. You should know better.

Oh, by the way, I have a g530 in an Xbox 360 chassis (did it for kicks and giggles) with a pico psu. The power draw at the wall is no more than 35 watts for the entire system. It idles at ~15 watts for the entire system. Granted, it has one 80mm exhaust fan where I drill some holes on top of the chassis. It has been running fine for over 2 years. It probably doesn't even need the fan. You might be overestimating your power consumption draw.
 

waltchan

Senior member
Feb 27, 2015
846
8
81
From what I've gathered from waltchan's responses, that sounds like exactly what waltchan is doing. Buying parts, and potentially spare parts, for extremely low-cost systems to sell or give away.
Actually, my goal is the buy all the sale processors there are available with at least 30% off from eBay prices. Some great deals I purchased at Fry's Electronics include Pentium G3470 for $44 ($85 on eBay), G3258 for $39 ($65 on eBay), and i3-4170 for $79 ($120 on eBay).

That way, I get a big head-start gain and not to worry about depreciation 5 years later. Worked for me last time a few years ago with Pentium G2140 Ivy Bridge for $44 again (still $70 on eBay).

This week, there's also Sempron 2650 AM1 combo paired with MSI AM1I ITX board for $24 after-rebate right now, which means processor is only $12.
 
Feb 25, 2011
16,999
1,628
126
Actually, my goal is the buy all the sale processors there are available with at least 30% off from eBay prices. Some great deals I purchased at Fry's Electronics include Pentium G3470 for $44 ($85 on eBay), G3258 for $39 ($65 on eBay), and i3-4170 for $79 ($120 on eBay).

That way, I get a big head-start gain and not to worry about depreciation 5 years later. Worked for me last time a few years ago with Pentium G2140 Ivy Bridge for $44 again (still $70 on eBay).

This week, there's also Sempron 2650 AM1 combo paired with MSI AM1I ITX board for $24 after-rebate right now, which means processor is only $12.
This implies that you're going to be selling 5-year-old CPUs in your low end rigs in the future...?
 

CHADBOGA

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2009
2,135
833
136
Yeah, you really think you can sell your at uberz brand-new G3528 anywhere near retail price 5 years later when a used 4790Ks would go for like ~$100 judging by Ebay price patterns.

The mental hospital is that way.
:biggrin:
 

dark zero

Platinum Member
Jun 2, 2015
2,655
140
106
I guess you are getting them due the status of Collector Ítem and only that way is valid.
 

StrangerGuy

Diamond Member
May 9, 2004
8,443
124
106
Exactly, better to invest in stock. Or get those $10-50 paid into savings account instead.

If I *have* to invest in PC parts I would rather stock up on low-end mobos than any CPU; CPUs are virtually indestructible but mobos aren't. Some of those G31/G41 mobos on Ebay are actually appreciating in price especially those DDR2/3 combo boards.
 

escrow4

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2013
3,339
122
106
This is what happens to the prices of BNIB, ancient CPUs:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Penti...54?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item2354510b12

This used to be a ~$600 chip...

Who even uses a P4 in 2015 (and $40 for it?????)? Even an E8400 isn't suitable anymore with modern internet splatted across a dozen tabs and stuff running in Windows. Its just sluggish. In 5yrs an i3 will be as fast as a Haswell i7, who would buy a tired old Pentium then no matter the cost?