suggestion needed for a new amd processor

[4c3]

hello guys my first post here()

i am searching for a tri/quad core processor for my following purposes for <180$

dual/tri boot [1 xp + *nix]
hardcore programming [os-dev]
normal gaming
apps like matlab,aspen etc.& other general uses

i had shortlisted some processors like
athlon II x3 440
phenom x4 965 black edition, 945
athlon II x4

Any help/suggestion is welcomed & is helpful because i don't know much about processor's
Thanks for reading

 

[jvroig]

phenom x4 965 black edition

This one. If you are willing to shell out money and can afford this one, there's no sense settling for any of the Athlon II's or the non-BE 945.

 

[Jhatfie]

Agree with ^

 

[jvroig]

In case you come back asking why:

dual/tri boot [1 xp + *nix]

Dual, triple, or even quad booting or more does not depend on processor power, so this criteria does not make any difference to CPU choice.

hardcore programming [os-dev]

Depending on what compiler you use, you can either be single-threaded or multi-threaded. If you are single-threaded, the Phenom II X4 965 is the fastest. If you are multi-threaded, the Phenom II X4 965 is still the fastest.

normal gaming

Phenom II X4 965, hands down.

apps like matlab,aspen etc.& other general uses

All single-threaded apps: fastest on Phenom II X4 965.
All multi-threaded apps: fastest on Phenom II X4 965.

As you can see, since you have already shortlisted the X4 965, there's little sense in settling for any of the rest.

Personally, if I were in your shoes and I can afford the Phenom II X4 965, I would not bother considering any of the Athlon II's. And if you don't plan to overclock, I would not bother considering the 945 as well. The 400MHz difference is worth it.

 

[Sp12]

I would push your budget up 20$ and get the 1055t, which gives you 50% more cores, turbo, and much better silicon for those 20$.

 

[jvroig]

I would push your budget up 20$ and get the 1055t, which gives you 50&#37; more cores, turbo, and much better silicon for those 20$.

With overclocking in the picture, that's a better choice, no contest.

But with no overclocking, I would be more content with a quad that runs at 3.4GHz all the time. Some combination of workloads may interfere with the 3-cores or less TurboCORE activation, and I'd hate for some workloads to get stuck at 2.8GHz for certain use cases, when I could have had a solid 3.4GHz all the time.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Welcome to Anandtech!

A Phenom quad is a Phenom quad is a Phenom quad. Here is a Phenom 945 / Asus M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 combo for $270.

The 890gx/sb850 mobo should work well for your current and future needs, and with a BIOS update should support BD Zambezi.

The Phenom 945 quad is quite capable, and with a few simple tweaks should run 3.4-3.6GHz with the NB/IMC at 2400-2600MHz (increasing your memory bandwidth and reducing latency).




--

 

[happy medium]

I would push your budget up 20$ and get the 1055t, which gives you 50&#37; more cores, turbo, and much better silicon for those 20$.

+1 and learn to overclock ,its too easy.

 

[BD231]

1055t would be a good investment, it'll show its muscle with those extra cores down the line and last you a good bit longer than the x4. All you need is some good DDR3 1600 or better and you can push that 1055T to 4ghz.

Just be sure you disable AMD's lame excuse for turbo.

 

[4c3]

first of all thank u guys for the replies

i had searched various computer shops & unfortunately the system will be out of budget for me now
[including 4gb ddr3 ,19" acer lcd , 320 gb secondary storage]

PLEASE suggest me any other quad core/ tri-core processor having same nearly same effect as phenom x4 965 black edition
so that the system will be near 500$ it is going above 600$ for the current config

 

[jvroig]

If you are limited to what is available in those computer shops, then post a revised shortlist of processors you can afford, and we can tell you which one is the best choice.

From your earlier shortlist, if the 965 is out, then the 945 is the next contender. If that also is out of the budget, then you will be stuck with an Athlon II X4 - I forgot what the highest model is, either 635 or 640 maybe.

Perhaps it is not available in the computer shops accessible to you which is why it didn't make it to your shortlist, but a Phenom II X3 might make it into your budget as well, and that might be a better compromise than the Athlon II X4.

 

[4c3]

thanks jvorig for the quick reply
i am now searching for a processor for ~110$ rest is the same

 

[Markfw]

thanks jvorig for the quick reply
i am now searching for a processor for ~110$ rest is the same

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2&amp;Tpk=720%20x3

For $99, and MIGHT unlock to a quad. If not, your best bet. The HSF can be had for $10-15

 

[4c3]

thanks Markfw900
it is in my price range + 3 core & near 3 ghz
----------------------------------------------------------------
what is hsf?
heat sink fan!!

 

[jvroig]

thanks Markfw900
it is in my price range + 3 core & near 3 ghz
----------------------------------------------------------------
what is hsf?
heat sink fan!!

Good choice, that's the X3 I told you about. Mark mentioned that it might unlock to a quad, but that's something you don't bet on. Think of it as a Christmas bonus if you do get a chip that turns into an X4 and is stable.

You'll need an aftermarket HSF so you can overclock that X3. It can easily do 3.4-3.6GHz. Higher is possible, but overclocking is not a guarantee, as is often said, "each CPU is like a snowflake" in that they are all unique.

Since your budget is tight, there are low-cost coolers that are actually good performers. CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ and Thermaltake Contac 29 come to my mind, initially. My CM Hyper212+ ($20-30 only) cools my Phenom II X4 965 BE with no problem, even up to 3.813GHZ core / 2.7 GHz uncore. The Thermaltake Contac 29 is a little cheaper, but performs almost identically as the Hyper 212+.

Additionally, if you really want to cheap out on a HSF that does the job well enough, try to ask someone if they can give you their stock 125W/140W AMD HSF (this is the one with heatpipes, not the bare aluminum cooler). Whether you can stand the noise or not is personal preference (I lived with it for a while, it wasn't so bad when I got used to it, but ultimately I got the Hyper 212+), but if you can get one for free, it is more than capable to cool your X3 even up to 3.6GHz.

 

[evolucion8]

The Athlon II X4 635 isn't far behind of the Phenom II X4 965, in current AMD's architecture, cache doesn't mean a lot because it has an IMC, it always has bee like that since the K8 days. The difference between the X4 635 and X4 965 in an average of 30 percent in the best case scenario.

 

[bryanW1995]

that deal on the x3 720 for $99 shipped almost made me buy one. you know, because my 2 yr old doesn't even have a computer yet...and she needs something to play wow wow wubzie online at 1800 fps...thanks mark!

 

[evolucion8]

http://www.behardware.com/articles/778-14/giant-roundup-146-intel-and-amd-processors.html

It gives you a nice glimpse of what to buy and where it stands compared to competition or similar SKU's of the same brand. In overall, the Athlon II X635 is no slouch for such low price. My GF has one and its quite snappy.

 

[BD231]

If you can get the X3 around 100 that is your best performance choice with the added l3 cache. That will help a lot with gaming performance and you'll be guaranteed three cores with a possibility of unlocking the fourth.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Guys . . .

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103872

For $82, this thing has a chance to unlock to a full Phenom II x4, and a C3-stepping one to boot (something the 720 BE can not do). There are no guarantees of course. If you're feeling lucky, go for it.

 

[maniac5999]

Guys . . .

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103872

For $82, this thing has a chance to unlock to a full Phenom II x4, and a C3-stepping one to boot (something the 720 BE can not do). There are no guarantees of course. If you're feeling lucky, go for it.

I don't think that many people have been able to unlock L3 on those since the Athlon x4 production has ramped. Right now I think they're almost all Athlon x4s with a core disabled.

 

[4c3]

but the Athlon II X4 635 dosent have a l3 cache,

is anybody from india here ???the phenom II x3 720 b.e is unavailable in my city :/

 

[jvroig]

is anybody from india here ???the phenom II x3 720 b.e is unavailable in my city :/

Give us a list of what procs are available and within your budget, and we can take it from there

 

[DrMrLordX]

I don't think that many people have been able to unlock L3 on those since the Athlon x4 production has ramped. Right now I think they're almost all Athlon x4s with a core disabled.

Hard to say. Early batches that NewEgg had were all Denebs with one failed core. They might have switched to Propuses instead.

 

[4c3]

Give us a list of what procs are available and within your budget, and we can take it from there

i am going to the shops in 2-3 hours so will give you ASAP