New CPU for budget gaming rig

[Rhezuss]

I'm looking to upgrade my gaming comp. I already bought the ASUS M4A77D mobo (socket Am2/Am2+/AM3 and DDR2).

After some researched, I got those CPUs (all socket AM3) in my radar and would like some thoughts from you to help me decide. I know there's benches out there and I saw a lot, but actual users opinions would be appreciated.

Here's the list and price:

- Athlon II X2 250 : 71CAD
- Athlon II X2 255 : 90CAD
- Athlon II X3 435 : 84CAD
- Athlon II X3 440 : 93CAD
- Phenom II X2 550 : 100CAD

The X3 435 looks good. It got triple core, nice frequencies and good results in benches. I'm not a CPU overclocker, maybe I should...I mostly play games in 1920*1080, watch movies, listening to music and use AutoCAD, not much multi-tasking or heavy apps.

Anyways, what do you think for a 1-1.5 year long upgrade? If you have other recommendations dont hesitate!

Thanks!

P.S.: See my current rig to see what I have for now, maybe these upgrades don't worth it?!

 

[deimos3428]

IThe X3 435 looks good. It got triple core, nice frequencies and good results in benches. I'm not a CPU overclocker, maybe I should...I mostly play games in 1920*1080, watch movies, listening to music and use AutoCAD, not much multi-tasking or heavy apps.

IMO, the 435 would be the way to go.

If you're not interested in overclocking at all, you've got three cores and a decent stock clock at that price.

OTOH if you wanted to try a little overclocking, you'd likely hit 3.2Ghz or higher on stock volts. You might even be able to unlock the L3 cache/fourth core, for Phenom II 955 performance. Not bad for $84.

 

[Rhezuss]

IMO, the 435 would be the way to go.

If you're not interested in overclocking at all, you've got three cores and a decent stock clock at that price.

OTOH if you wanted to try a little overclocking, you'd likely hit 3.2Ghz or higher on stock volts. You might even be able to unlock the L3 cache/fourth core, for Phenom II 955 performance. Not bad for $84.

I'd have to change the stock fan I guess?
3.2GHz sounds really nice, especially for the price.

To OC, I guess it would be simply to change the multipliers and freq in the BIOS?
If so, sounds easy enough to try it!

 

[deimos3428]

I'd have to change the stock fan I guess?
3.2GHz sounds really nice, especially for the price.

To OC, I guess it would be simply to change the multipliers and freq in the BIOS?
If so, sounds easy enough to try it!

You've got a locked multi of 14.5x on the 435, so you'd just increase the frequency from 200 to about 220. The stock HSF is decent, so you won't require an aftermarket cooler for such a minor OC.

 

[Rhezuss]

You've got a locked multi of 14.5x on the 435, so you'd just increase the frequency from 200 to about 220. The stock HSF is decent, so you won't require an aftermarket cooler for such a minor OC.

Wow nice! Thanks deimos3428, really appreciated!

 

[maniac5999]

Before you start replacing parts, why not try OCing your current CPU? It's free and the worst that you can do is destroy a part that you're planning on replacing anyway.

 

[Rhezuss]

Before you start replacing parts, why not try OCing your current CPU? It's free and the worst that you can do is destroy a part that you're planning on replacing anyway.

Hahah good idea. But with the stock heatsink/fan, my 5200+ @ 2.6GHz stock can go up to what you think? 3.0GHz?

And as deimos stated, should I only up the freq?

Thanks again!

 

[daveybrat]

I'd go with the X4 630 2.8GHz Quad myself. More future proof and only a little bit more expensive.

 

[soccerballtux]

I'd go with the X4 630 2.8GHz Quad myself. More future proof and only a little bit more expensive.

I agree. I think it's worth the investment.

 

[7earitup]

I agree. I think it's worth the investment.

Agreed. Or switch to Intel and have an even more future proof system. *feels the flames*

 

[OS]

i got my cpu/mobo combo at frys for $90, the core unlocked pretty easily, seems stable so far and the system plays crysis very high 1680 20-30 fps, happy so far

 

[BD231]

i got my cpu/mobo combo at frys for $90, the core unlocked pretty easily, seems stable so far and the system plays crysis very high 1680 20-30 fps, happy so far

lol, ghetto power user. Can't imagine playing crysis on an Athlon II! Four cores is a big help though.

OP. To be honest you'd be better off locating a Phenom II x3 if you can find one. The added cache in gaming makes for smoother gameplay and the overclocking headroom is way higher.

For instance, buying a Phenom II x3 and clocking to 3.2ghz can be done at stock voltage and little more than a multiplier change. I'd find the higher cache phenom II's close to your budget if you want some longevity. Just my $.02

 

[s44]

What's the unlock rate on 550s these days?

 

[OS]

lol, ghetto power user. Can't imagine playing crysis on an Athlon II! Four cores is a big help though.

OP. To be honest you'd be better of locating a Phenom II x3 if you can find one. The added cache in gaming makes for smoother gameplay and the overclocking headroom is way higher.

For instance, buying a Phenom II x3 and clocking to 3.2ghz can be done at stock voltage and little more than a multiplyer change. I'd find the higher cache phenom II's close to your budget if you want some longevity. Just my $.02

lol fo sheezy

i used 10 y/o recycled case, floppy and dvd drive, and then a FAR ultra power supply for that computer

got enough expensive and stupid hobbies, dont want to spend it all on computer

 

[Tsavo]

Agreed. Or switch to Intel and have an even more future proof system. *feels the flames*

Future proof? Meaning that it won't be any good in the future?

 

[Rhezuss]

Regarding the Phenom II X3, I saw a 720 OEM (no fan) for 107CAD, I'll check that!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'd go with the X4 630 2.8GHz Quad myself. More future proof and only a little bit more expensive.

I would agree with this recommendation. I just bought one for my HTPC/media server and am very impressed with the encoding performance compared to my older Q6600.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i just bought 2 new computers with Gigabyte 785-us2H MB's and AMD x4 620 CPUs. great prices, and blazing speed. they run really cool also

 

[Rhezuss]

Other question:

Whats the difference between the fans/heatsink in the, for instance, Athlon II X3 425, 435 and 440? Are they the same?

If so, it would be better choosing the 425 (less expensive) and OC it to 440 clocks, even higher on the stock fan?

Same goes with Athlon II X4 and Phenom IIs?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Other question:

Whats the difference between the fans/heatsink in the, for instance, Athlon II X3 425, 435 and 440? Are they the same?

If so, it would be better choosing the 425 (less expensive) and OC it to 440 clocks, even higher on the stock fan?

Same goes with Athlon II X4 and Phenom IIs?

Not certain but the HSFs with the Athlon II x2s most likely are of the same variety --- probably less 'mass' than your x2 5200+ HSF (which you could use if you wish).

The x2 Phenom IIs all come with an aluminum HS (not sure about the 555BE). Initially, the x3 & x4 Phenom IIs came with '2 copper heat-pipe' coolers modeled after the old Opty coolers. I believe the x3 Phenoms switched to an all aluminum.

I believe the Athlon II x4s all have aluminum coolers.




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[Rhezuss]

About OC:

After installing my new M4A77D mobo yesterday, btw it is a really nice mobo, I tried OCed my old X2 5200+ with it's stock HSF.

There's 2 options in the BIOS:

1- ASUS has an option to OC the system by 2, 5, 7 and 10% (CPU, Mem, etc). 10% more gives my instead of the 2.7GHz stock, a 5200+ running at 2.97GHz and DDR2-800 running at 880MHz.

2- I can manually OC the CPU/MEM. I tried a little yesterday and instead of the stock 13.5x200, I OCed to 13.5x225 which gave me a 5200+ running at 3.04GHz and DDR2-800 running at 900MHz.

Both option ran stable but I did not tested under load, no games, just surfing and installing softwares.

Q1: So, should I OC only the CPU and leave the memory at stock or can I go option 2 above?
Q2: Is it safe to leave the computer running 24/7 even if it's OCed?

Sorry for the simple questions, i'm new to all this...
Thanks again!

 

[Rhezuss]

Ok, finally I bought a Athlon II X3 435 yesterday for a mere 79CAD.

I'll try to unlock it and OC it to 3.2GHz.

OC is really easy finally hehehhh!

Thanks all for your help!

 

[lifeblood]

Ok, finally I bought a Athlon II X3 435 yesterday for a mere 79CAD.

I'll try to unlock it and OC it to 3.2GHz.

OC is really easy finally hehehhh!

Thanks all for your help!

I also recently bought the 435, unlocked the fourth core, and let my mobo do a 5% overclock. It works like a charm and is a definite step up from my previous 2.3GHz X2. I'll probably try a OC bump to 10% just to see how it goes. I have to be careful because unlocking the fourth core caused my temp reading to no longer function (it claims -254 degrees).

 

[nyker96]

I agree. I think it's worth the investment.

I also think x4 630 is better than the x3 series. not too much difference but you get an extra core.

 

[nonameo]

Personally I think the phenom II x3's are the best deal. It seems that if the cache helps anything, it's games, and the games don't seem to take advantage of the 4th core nearly as well as the third. However, I think if you have a choice between a dual core with the L3 and a tri core without, I'd go with that. Why? because a loss of cache seems to only take a 10% or so hit, whereas the loss of that third core seems to make a much bigger difference in the games that take advantage of them. So it goes like this(IMO)

Best
quad core w/L3
Tri core w/L3
Quad without L3
tri without L3
dual w/L3
dual without L3
Least

However, some games like cache and some like cores. Some like both. It's really all going to depend on what you play. However, I think future games will take advantage of more cores better so I think more cores is more future proof than L3 cache.

If you can get a Phenom II x3, that would be the way to go by far.