Should I get an AMD CPU for gaming?

[SPBHM]

I would consider SSD's still very important even with Sata2. In fact, I would even consider SSD's still relevant even with SATA1.

One of the largest performance increases that SSD's provide over mechanical drives is random 4k reads and writes and average latency to read/write data.

Typical 4k read speeds for SSD's are roughly 100MB/s still below SATA1 speeds. Typical 4k read speeds for HDD's when data is not cached is roughly 1MB/s.

For sequential loads, however, I will agree with you.

I agree with you, even using ATA33 SSD is a improvement over HD, but, why limit your potential performance with the older interface, if you can buy sub $50 sata III boards for the Intel solution?

 

[SlowSpyder]

I have no trouble admitting that an i5 is a better CPU most of the time. That doesn't make the FX CPU's bad, though. And in practical real world (not synthetic benches, no epeen numbers) experience, the I bet 99% of the time you would have a near identical experience on an i5/i7 or an FX.

Some of you may want to go scour the power supply section, there may be someone paying the almost the same price for a power supply that delivers 10 watts less and is 3% less efficient than another power supply (because it totally makes a huge difference, like an FX vs. i3/i5)... go get 'em!

 

[crashtech]

What I did? I manage to snag an AMD 740 trinity, overclocked it 4.6 Ghz, 8GB of 1600 DDR3 memory, cheapie motherboard, and ATI 7850 video card all for $300.

You did good. I could never find those parts new for $300 where I am. 7850s are at least $175, and the X4 740 is $75, so that is $250 right there.

 

[coolpurplefan]

Same can be said for the CPU, if a decent platform is selected.

With some coolers, you have to remove the whole motherboard. Reconnecting the front panel connectors is not something I fancy.

 

[crashtech]

With some coolers, you have to remove the whole motherboard. Reconnecting the front panel connectors is not something I fancy.

Eh, I would not want a cooler like that. Both my Megahalems and my Hyper 212 can be quickly removed and replaced with little drama. Needing to remove the board even to replace the TIM seems... well, dumb, frankly.

 

[HumblePie]

You did good. I could never find those parts new for $300 where I am. 7850s are at least $175, and the X4 740 is $75, so that is $250 right there.

And that's why I went with AMD. With a very limited budget and needing the best you can get now and not later, AMD was the smarter choice for the deals I could get. The price versus performance of what I put together out weighs anything I could have done with an Intel setup. Again, I have nothing against either company. My main rig is still an Intel 2600K OC'd setup. When I upgrade next, if Intel is still king for performance I'll probably be buying another Intel chip. My second computer is one of my old rigs which was an I7 920. I have no brand loyalties and buy what makes sense for me at the time I have to buy and the budget I have to work with. Be it a computer for myself or family/friends.

Which is basically the word back to the OP. If the OP has unlimited budget, get the best. If the OP has a high budget ($1000 ish range), get Intel still. If OP has mid budget ($600) get Intel still. If the OP has a lowish budget ($400 or less) AMD looks like the better choice in many cases. Although in some Intel could. Depending on the current scenario of what all the person is upgrading. This has been the case for a while now for those deciding to upgrade CPUs.

 

[coolpurplefan]

Eh, I would not want a cooler like that. Both my Megahalems and my Hyper 212 can be quickly removed and replaced with little drama. Needing to remove the board even to replace the TIM seems... well, dumb, frankly.

For whatever reason, those high-standing CPU coolers make me cringe because I keep on wondering what happens if I move the computer and drop it. Will the motherboard break? I have pretty good temperatures with my Coolermaster GeminII M4.

 

[crashtech]

And that's why I went with AMD. With a very limited budget and needing the best you can get now and not later, AMD was the smarter choice for the deals I could get...

I suppose my expectation was that you would reveal just how you got all that stuff for $300, since I was not able to easily duplicate it. When talking about price in these threads, I feel it is only fair to be able to demonstrate the deal using a parts list from an e-tailer that anyone can access.

 

[crashtech]

For whatever reason, those high-standing CPU coolers make me cringe because I keep on wondering what happens if I move the computer and drop it. Will the motherboard break? I have pretty good temperatures with my Coolermaster GeminII M4.

Nothing wrong with what you have if you like it, but the Hyper 212 really isn't all that heavy. I still would not really want a cooler that was difficult to remove, but that is just me. I use a Lian Li open-air test bench as my "case," and I like everything out in the open for easy tinkering.

Even the stock Intel HSFs come off without removing the board. I believe this is the rule, rather than the exception, a poll might be interesting.

 

[TerryMathews]

For whatever reason, those high-standing CPU coolers make me cringe because I keep on wondering what happens if I move the computer and drop it. Will the motherboard break? I have pretty good temperatures with my Coolermaster GeminII M4.

Its a realistic concern if the HSF is mounted to a plate under the board (very common) and not to the case as intended (mostly OEM only).

Ive never seen a board break, but I have seen some warp under heat and time.

 

[TerryMathews]

I suppose my expectation was that you would reveal just how you got all that stuff for $300, since I was not able to easily duplicate it. When talking about price in these threads, I feel it is only fair to be able to demonstrate the deal using a parts list from an e-tailer that anyone can access.

I dont think that's a fair complaint. He didnt say that anyone could duplicate that deal or that it represented fair market value for those parts. Just that he was able to obtain a good deal.

Would you agree that AMD systems suffer higher deprecation on the secondary market due to their current reputation? Meaning that they are seen as slower and hotter than their Intel counterparts.

 

[crashtech]

I dont think that's a fair complaint. He didnt say that anyone could duplicate that deal or that it represented fair market value for those parts. Just that he was able to obtain a good deal.

Would you agree that AMD systems suffer higher deprecation on the secondary market due to their current reputation? Meaning that they are seen as slower and hotter than their Intel counterparts.

I didn't think a meaningful discussion on price/performance could be had without being able to substantiate claims, otherwise I could just say I bought a 3770K for $100.

I don't know anything about used AMD parts at this point.

 

[TerryMathews]

I didn't think a meaningful discussion on price/performance could be had without being able to substantiate claims, otherwise I could just say I bought a 3770K for $100.

I don't know anything about used AMD parts at this point.

Well then might I suggest a trip to FS/T? There are a number of AMD chips and boards for sale at a much higher discount vs new than their Intel counterparts.

Which if you dont get hung up on specific dollar figures is a good point. When a brand has little recognition or perceived value it can become a tremendous value on the secondary market because no one wants to buy it. This effect isnt limited to computer parts either, its simple economic theory.

 

[TeknoBug]

With some coolers, you have to remove the whole motherboard. Reconnecting the front panel connectors is not something I fancy.

Most modern PC cases has a large opening in the backside that lets you access the socket holes, the Hyper 212+ for AM3 socket needs the bolt screws and are a PITA on tight cases, in one particular case I had to stick thermal paste on the bolts and press them against the plate to install the heatsink in my old case (the opening was small) because I wasn't in the mood to remove the whole motherboard. Kind of like how pit crew in NASCAR puts glue on the tip of tire nuts, it worked out well.

Eh, I would not want a cooler like that. Both my Megahalems and my Hyper 212 can be quickly removed and replaced with little drama. Needing to remove the board even to replace the TIM seems... well, dumb, frankly.

Yes the Intel mounts for the Hyper 212 is simple, I wish the AMD mounts was the same, but they require screw & nuts.

 

[crashtech]

Well then might I suggest a trip to FS/T? There are a number of AMD chips and boards for sale at a much higher discount vs new than their Intel counterparts.

Which if you dont get hung up on specific dollar figures is a good point. When a brand has little recognition or perceived value it can become a tremendous value on the secondary market because no one wants to buy it. This effect isnt limited to computer parts either, its simple economic theory.

I understand your enthusiasm for good used values, I also avail myself of these whenever possible. The problem I see is that some users that might have an agenda are already prone to exaggerating their case even when data is available, so including price deals that can't be substantiated turns a difficult discussion into an impossible one. If used parts prices are to be included, then let it be specified that the parts are used, and link to the FS thread from which they were purchased.

 

[TerryMathews]

I understand your enthusiasm for good used values, I also avail myself of these whenever possible. The problem I see is that some users that might have an agenda are already prone to exaggerating their case even when data is available, so including price deals that can't be substantiated turns a difficult discussion into an impossible one. If used parts prices are to be included, then let it be specified that the parts are used, and link to the FS thread from which they were purchased.

Do you disagree with the statement that AMD chips lose value faster than their Intel counterparts?

 

[crashtech]

Do you disagree with the statement that AMD chips lose value faster than their Intel counterparts?

Why is that relevant to the idea that SOME level of proof be necessary when asserting a price/performance ratio here on the Anandtech CPU forum?

EDIT:

For example, there is ample evidence that the L5639 is a good deal because they are for sale on ebay, and linking to a recent completed listing plus Handbrake or Cinebench results found here on the board is good evidence of a claimed price/performance ratio.

 

[Headfoot]

I think it's very telling that people who recommend AMD outside of budget builds never provide objective evidence to support their claims and instead say things like 'I didn't notice a difference...'

One of the few exceptions is when you are near a microcenter a 6300 or 8320 build is so cheap that its hard to resist. When advising one-and-done (no or limited later upgrades) budget builds I usually set the GPU in the 770/280x range or as close as i can get and get the fastest cpu I can with the remaining money. Given how cheap the 8320 is there it ends up getting into builds that would otherwise settle for a haswell dual core. Especially when you consider you can get some overclocking out of the 6300 for the same price as a locked Intel. When I have time I generally buy Intel used instead though, which is a whole other can of worms

Outside of this scenario AMD doesn't make sense, and the data bears this out unequivocally.

 

[netxzero64]

Has the OP decided? Looks like everybody has gone nuts again on intel vs AMD lol!

 

[Keysplayr]

There is no AMD vs Intel anymore.

 

[TerryMathews]

Why is that relevant to the idea that SOME level of proof be necessary when asserting a price/performance ratio here on the Anandtech CPU forum?

Because you're misrepresenting my statement.

Well then might I suggest a trip to FS/T? There are a number of AMD chips and boards for sale at a much higher discount vs new than their Intel counterparts.

Which if you dont get hung up on specific dollar figures is a good point. When a brand has little recognition or perceived value it can become a tremendous value on the secondary market because no one wants to buy it. This effect isnt limited to computer parts either, its simple economic theory.

I've brought my statement forward, although it really wasn't that far back. I am not defending a specific price point, just the idea that AMD on the secondary market can be a greater value than assumed due to a much smaller buying population. I have had two AMD processors which are commonly accepted to be bad values and at retail they are yet I personally got a very good deal because of that reputation.

 

[HumblePie]

Not that hard to explain how I got it for $300. $75 for the cpu. $50 for an FM2 motherboard. $60 for the 2 sticks of memory. $115 after rebate for a 7850. Pretty simple.

Speaking of which, all of a sudden there isn't any 7850's for sale anywhere. There was a whole lot of deals a month ago for them.

 

[SPBHM]

Not that hard to explain how I got it for $300. $75 for the cpu. $50 for an FM2 motherboard. $60 for the 2 sticks of memory. $115 after rebate for a 7850. Pretty simple.

Speaking of which, all of a sudden there isn't any 7850's for sale anywhere. There was a whole lot of deals a month ago for them.

you built a very nice system for the money for sure,
the 7 series had some pretty good deals during the past year, but now the old stocks are probably ending and the R series replacing it, the 265 is supposedly to cost $150, it's basically a 7850 2GB OC, which is not to bad for the money!

I think the X4 + cheap MB is a pretty smart solution,

 

[crashtech]

I've brought my statement forward, although it really wasn't that far back. I am not defending a specific price point, just the idea that AMD on the secondary market can be a greater value than assumed due to a much smaller buying population. I have had two AMD processors which are commonly accepted to be bad values and at retail they are yet I personally got a very good deal because of that reputation.

If the question is, "Should I get a used AMD CPU for gaming?," then I will definitely agree that the case becomes a lot easier to make. So I do accept your point.

But getting hung up on price points is at the heart of these AMD/Intel price/performance debates, so I still believe that it is helpful to the readership to either link to reproducible purchasing scenarios, or use commonly available retail prices. To do otherwise risks going from being helpful in a general sense to merely bragging about what a great deal one person was able to get that no one else might be able to replicate.

 

[HumblePie]

you built a very nice system for the money for sure,
the 7 series had some pretty good deals during the past year, but now the old stocks are probably ending and the R series replacing it, the 265 is supposedly to cost $150, it's basically a 7850 2GB OC, which is not to bad for the money!

I think the X4 + cheap MB is a pretty smart solution,

Yah, looks like my friend got lucky on the GPU price there. As it seems that card has poofed in most places. Anything left is like $200+ or something stupid.

The cpu, mobo, and memory you can still find on newegg. The memory deals fluctuate though. I still find it funny how cheap memory was 2 years ago when I built my system. I put 32 GB of 1866 g.skill ripjaws in my system for $100. It was literally $25 per 8gb stick. Now I was lucky to get a deal on 4GB sticks at $30 a stick. And only 1600 speeds. WTF?