[Need advice]What CPU should I get?

[AtenRa]

Sorry OP, but this is aimed at AtenRa:

seeing that you have actually reviewed and overclocked most of Bulldozers, how would a A6-3670k / A8-3870K compare to the FX-6100/FX-6200 when both are overclocked to achievable speeds?

With the price of Llano mobos and good power gating on both Llano and its mobos, Llano might tempt me. Trinity looks okay too but I expect that the desktop Trinitys will probably be released close to their max clockspeed and leave nothing on the table for tinkering. 2500K/3570K don't appeal to me since at those prices overclocking is no longer fun.

Well, i have recently purchased a A8-3870K and i will test it on the weekend. Ill let you know how it fairs in games with a discrete GPU. But if you dont need the iGPU of the Llano, it is better to go with the 6100/6200 and OC it. You will also have an upgrade path for PileDriver with the AM3+ mobo, FM1 is dead now.

As for trinity, i cant comment because i havent used one yet

 

[KompuKare]

Well, i have recently purchased a A8-3870K and i will test it on the weekend. Ill let you know how it fairs in games with a discrete GPU. But if you dont need the iGPU of the Llano, it is better to go with the 6100/6200 and OC it. You will also have an upgrade path for PileDriver with the AM3+ mobo, FM1 is dead now.

As for trinity, i cant comment because i havent used one yet

Thanks, I know FM1 is dead but bulldozer never appealed to me. About the only redeeming feature of BD is good power gating IMO.

Anyway looking forward to your A8-3870K impressions - a few figures of an OC A8-3870K vs FX-6100 would be nice - there are very few Llano overclocked reviews around and I never seen a comparison vs bulldozer. Llano seems to be very sensitive to RAM speed and when Llano came out I know some BIOS caused all kinds of problem for people trying RAM speeds. But looking at this xbitlabs Llano overclocking review:

OC scaling seemed good - for their 26% overclock they got around 25% extre performance.

One thing which appeals to me would be hybridCrossfire with Zero Core but that needs an APU with GCN and that's a long wait. See I don't game much and atm, the HD5770 is by far the loudest part of the system - I don't mind when gaming but most of the time the desktop is idle. For my usage, iGPU for productive use and a dGPU which only kicks in when required would be ideal.

 

[lehtv]

I have recommended the FX6200 which is clocked at 3.8GHz base. This CPU even in default will not bottleneck the HD7850. SC2 is an exception to the rule but even a 4GHz Core i will be the bottleneck in that game.

Oh, sorry I thought it was a typo. Still, even at 3.8GHz, SC2 is not the only exception. Even demonstrably faster Intel i5's can get bottlecked in other games. E.g. http://media.bestofmicro.com/7/F/315195/original/CPU Clock.png (note that 7850 with OC will be much faster than that GTX570)

FX6200 will not bottleneck even the HD7970 in most of the games. Games tend to be more GPU bound all the time.

And this is relevant how? The next GPU upgrade coming from 7850 will be much faster than 7970.

As i have said before, the Core i5 3550 is a nice CPU. I just prefer a CPU that i can OC with no limits and play with it.

What you prefer is not relevant. This is about recommending a CPU to someone else who may not have the same preferences as you.

 

[lehtv]

For the same money: Any FX processor w/ 7850 > any Intel w/ 7770 at 1080p.

True, yet it won't be for the same money. There's a $100 difference between 7770 and 7850, but no such difference between Intel and AMD FX.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007671&IsNodeId=1&Description=amd%20fx&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...E&PageSize=100

AMD FX-4100 $110, FX-4170 $140, FX-6100 $140
~ Intel i3-2100 $120, i3-2120 $125

AMD FX-6200 $160, FX-8120, $170
~ Intel i5-2300 $180, i5-2400 $190

AMD FX-8150 $200
~ Intel i5-3450 $200, i5-3470 $205, i5-3550 $210, i5-3570 $215, i5-2500K $220

The sad thing is, all of the FX's have similar gaming performance which isn't any better than that of an i3, while the i5's are a lot better than an i3.

 

[Phynaz]

Since in most of the games he will be GPU limited even the FX6200 will be enough for the HD7850. I dont see why it should not even consider that CPU.

He said he wants to play modern games. Modern games require lots of CPU. Therefore AMD is out of the running.

Please just stop spreading your FUD.

 

[AtenRa]

Oh, sorry I thought it was a typo. Still, even at 3.8GHz, SC2 is not the only exception. Even demonstrably faster Intel i5's can get bottlecked in other games. E.g. http://media.bestofmicro.com/7/F/315195/original/CPU Clock.png (note that 7850 with OC will be much faster than that GTX570)

Every time there is a AMD vs Intel CPU debate people always bring the SC2 and Skyrim games. Yes, those two DX-9 games run faster with Intel CPUs but there are other games (more than two) that are GPU limited and no matter if you have an Intel or AMD CPU your GPU is your limited factor.

And this is relevant how? The next GPU upgrade coming from 7850 will be much faster than 7970.

The higher the GPU the higher the IQ settings the more GPU limited the game becomes. FX6200 at 4.2GHz can drive any current or future GPU without bottlenecking it in the majority of games.

What you prefer is not relevant. This is about recommending a CPU to someone else who may not have the same preferences as you.

If he/she doesnt OC then the Core i5 3550 is fine, but if he/she OCes like i do then i recommending him/her the FX6200. It is simple as that

 

[borisvodofsky]

Every time there is a AMD vs Intel CPU debate people always bring the SC2 and Skyrim games. Yes, those two DX-9 games run faster with Intel CPUs but there are other games (more than two) that are GPU limited and no matter if you have an Intel or AMD CPU your GPU is your limited factor.





The higher the GPU the higher the IQ settings the more GPU limited the game becomes. FX6200 at 4.2GHz can drive any current or future GPU without bottlenecking it in the majority of games.





If he/she doesnt OC then the Core i5 3550 is fine, but if he/she OCes like i do then i recommending him/her the FX6200. It is simple as that

Everything you've said is straight up lies.

AMD trickery and deceit. shameful.

 

[AtenRa]

He said he wants to play modern games. Modern games require lots of CPU. Therefore AMD is out of the running.

Please just stop spreading your FUD.

Lets see, modern games.

BF3 MP, FX CPUs are equivalent to Intel Core i5-7
Crysis 2 DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p
DIRT 3 DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p
AVP DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p
Deus-Ex HR DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p
Batman AC DX-11, GPU limited
Total War Shogun 2 DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p

Diablo III, Every FX CPU will produce more than 100fps and they are equivelant to Core i CPUs.

You are the one spreading FUD not me. Next time do your homework, modern games, especially the majority of DX-11 titles are GPU limited.

 

[lehtv]

Every time there is a AMD vs Intel CPU debate people always bring the SC2 and Skyrim games.

Yes, that's for a good reason. CPU limited games are good for comparing the performance of CPUs in CPU limited games.

Yes, those two DX-9 games run faster with Intel CPUs but there are other games (more than two) that are GPU limited and no matter if you have an Intel or AMD CPU your GPU is your limited factor.

The higher the GPU the higher the IQ settings the more GPU limited the game becomes. FX6200 at 4.2GHz can drive any current or future GPU without bottlenecking it in the majority of games.

Which brings be back to what I already said earlier. Why handicap your performance in CPU limited games even if they're a minority? The difference between FX-6200 and i5-3450 is $40. If you can afford the i5, buy it and ensure good performance in all games.

 

[AtenRa]

Yes, that's for a good reason. CPU limited games are good for comparing the performance of CPUs in CPU limited games.

You are aware that there are more than 2 games that are GPU limited out there and more DX-11 games are coming in the next months, not to mention Max Payne 3.

You cannot exclude a cheaper CPU because it is lagging in two games.

 

[Phynaz]

Lets see, modern games.

BF3 MP, FX CPUs are equivalent to Intel Core i5-7
Crysis 2 DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p
DIRT 3 DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p
AVP DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p
Deus-Ex HR DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p
Batman AC DX-11, GPU limited
Total War Shogun 2 DX-11, GPU limited at 1080p

Diablo III, Every FX CPU will produce more than 100fps and they are equivelant to Core i CPUs.

You are the one spreading FUD not me. Next time do your homework, modern games, especially the majority of DX-11 titles are GPU limited.

Notice I didn't mention specific games? It's because I don't cherry pick in order to prove a point.

Really, what's with the AMD crusade? Is it a European thing? We'd all really like to know.

 

[lehtv]

You are aware that there are more than 2 games that are GPU limited out there and more DX-11 games are coming in the next months, not to mention Max Payne 3.

Yes, I'm aware. Your point is essentially this:

Buy an FX and handicap performance in CPU limited games and risk bottlenecking a GPU upgrade more/sooner than with Intel i5, because the $40 you save will totally be worth it.

By the way, the $40 difference is roughly what you'd pay for a decent air cooler if you ever wanted to OC the FX, and even with OC it'd be worse then i5-3450.

 

[Puppies04]

acheee achheeeemm... well you see, an amd processor is too slow to run games at any resolution.

I've read the information inside your blog, and those results are very skewed, further proving that amd can't game worth crap.

The benchmark runs in you sig, seems to be heavily biased information. I can't say this enough.


AMD faildozer is Garbage. :whiste:

Look we get it, you don't like AMD cpus. Atenra hadn't even mentioned them at that point though, he was talking about GPUs. Perhaps reading through this post might give you a heads up http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2192303

 

[AtenRa]

Notice I didn't mention specific games? It's because I don't cherry pick in order to prove a point.

Really, what's with the AMD crusade? Is it a European thing? We'd all really like to know.

Im sorry but 9-10 games is cherry picking ???

What to say about the two games that people praise Intel for gaming ???

This is not a crusade, i just say things they way they are. And that is, the majority of modern games (there are exceptions) are GPU limited at 1080p.

 

[Phynaz]

This is not a crusade, i just say things they way they are. And that is, the majority of modern games (there are exceptions) are GPU limited at 1080p.

Proof?

Anyway, people do other things than play games with their PC. AMD CPU's are just bad. They suck. Period. No amount of fanboyism changes the facts.

Here's Anand's review: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4955/the-bulldozer-review-amd-fx8150-tested

Let me give you some quotes...
"Bulldozer simply does not perform"
"I'm not sure it's quite ready for prime time"
"AMD clearly needed higher clocks"
"compared to Sandy Bridge there's a good 40-50% advantage the i5 2500K enjoys over the FX-8150"

Need more?

 

[AtenRa]

Yes, I'm aware. Your point is essentially this:

Buy an FX and handicap performance in CPU limited games and risk bottlenecking a GPU upgrade more/sooner than with Intel i5, because the $40 you save will totally be worth it.

By the way, the $40 difference is roughly what you'd pay for a decent air cooler if you ever wanted to OC the FX, and even with OC it'd be worse then i5-3450.

If FX6200 can run Max Payne 3 with todays High End GTX680 and produce the same fps as any Intel CPU out there what makes you think that it will bottleneck a Faster GPU in GPU limited games ??

Any way,

You want to recommend the Intel Core i5 thats fine by me. You have to respect my opinion too and let me recommend the FX6200.

It is pointless to continue this debate, we both presented our case, now let the OP chose what to get.

 

[AtenRa]

Proof?

Click the link of my sig and you shall see the light

 

[ShintaiDK]

Maybe the OP needs a slow electric spaceheater to play ancient games. Then AMD would be the obvious choice. But if the OP wants a CPU he can also use for the future and not drain his pocket in power consumption. Then he would pick Intel.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Click the link of my sig and you shall see the light

Phenom is also 50% faster than Core 2. Right? And Bulldozer utterly destroys Intel. And to quote a person that appears alot in your blog: IPC increases!

Then we all came back to reality

 

[lehtv]

If FX6200 can run Max Payne 3 with todays High End GTX680 and produce the same fps as any Intel CPU out there what makes you think that it will bottleneck a Faster GPU in GPU limited games ??

Because it becomes so easily a bottlenecked in CPU limited games compared to an i5, it's inevitable that it'll bottleneck a GPU upgrade in GPU limited games sooner than an i5

You want to recommend the Intel Core i5 thats fine by me. You have to respect my opinion too and let me recommend the FX6200.

No, I don't have to respect your opinion... Sorry.

 

[Phynaz]

Click the link of my sig and you shall see the light

Do I get to make up some charts and post them on a blog too?

Did you bench the majority of games?

 

[Phynaz]

Anyway, all this arguing is distracting and not providing the OP with any help. Fortunately he seems to be smart enough to not be led astray by people with an agenda.

 

[AtenRa]

No, I don't have to respect your opinion... Sorry.

That's fine by me, i will still recommend the FX6200.

Like it or not this is a democratic forum that all opinions are allowed to
to be heard

 

[Phynaz]

That's fine by me, i will still recommend the FX6200.

Like it or not this is a democratic forum that all opinions are allowed to
to be heard

Yep. Most of us post facts though.

Although I agree that opinion is important too.

 

[AtenRa]

Do I get to make up some charts too?

Did you bench the majority of games?

Sure, bench for hours and make the charts with the numbers you will gather like i did.

And yes it seams I did bench the majority of modern DX-11 games