Phenom X4 840 versus phenom X2 560

[think2]

Phenom X4 840 versus phenom X2 560 - which is the better micro of these two for non game, non graphics stuff - just for general computing/ software development running Windows 7 Pro.

The X4 seems to use more power - will that mean it's hotter and noisier?

Any ideas for a good motherboard to use with them?

Thanks in advance.

 

[SonicIce]

the Phenom II X4 840 will be faster than Phenom II X2 560 (if these are the ones you meant) because of the extra two cores.

this review compares the 840 to a 550BE which is close enough. 840 almost always wins and also appears to use less power...
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Phenom_II_X4_840/ it also

 

[think2]

Great, thanks. The X4 840 did much better than I expected but the 550 beat it in the single threaded Super Pi benchmark test. Should be fine for me though. Thanks.

 

[nanaki333]

both CPUs are literally within a few bucks of each other (especially at microcenter), so may as well go with the quad. there's no reason to spend about the same price on the dual core variant to future proof yourself. it's like a condom; better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

 

[formulav8]

If your only doing what you said in your post then just get a $60 dual core or Tri core. Even the single core Sempron will do all of that just fine for the tasks you mentioned.

 

[skipsneeky2]

4 cores are always better then two,no matter the clockspeed