Which is the fasted CPU for use with DDR2 memory?

[bupkus]

I have boxes of Ballistix DDR2 matched pair (2x1GB) modules both 1066 and 800 MHz. Now I suppose I could sell some on eBay but I'm thinking of forgoing the additional expense of DDR3 and using some of what I already have.

So, which cpu would be the fastest OR best-bang-for-the-buck choice? Right now I'm thinking of the Phenom II X2 555 for the eventual unlocking of cores and overclock.

The Phenom II, I believe, is the only processor that has memory controllers for both DDR2 as well as DDR3 memory supported motherboards. This could provide an upgrade path if desired.

Is that correct?

 

[Udgnim]

http://www.behardware.com/articles/778-14/giant-roundup-131-intel-and-amd-processors.html

fastest CPU != best/bang for the buck choice

do not know the answer to your DDR2/DDR3 CPU question

 

[fffblackmage]

Any AM3 processor supports both DDR2 and DDR3, I think. A couple of the early PhII X4's, the 920 and 940, are AM2+, which only supports DDR2.

 

[Meghan54]

Which is the fasted CPU for use with DDR2 memory?

Well, I tend not to keep my cpu's hungry and certainly don't fast them....I feed them all they want.

 

[edplayer]

overclocked Core 2 Quad but a overclocked Phenom II is pretty close to it

 

[FalseChristian]

The Intel Q9650 is the fasted 4-core CPU. It's clocked at 3Ghz x 4 and generally can be overclocked to 4Ghz x4.

 

[Ben90]

Clock for Clock comparison between C2Q and P2:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=80&p2=49&c=1

Ill even go so far as to say the C2Q processors will scale better with overclocking due to its fat cache and being able to make the FSB suck less.

I cannot comment on price/performance because you guys always find some website located on the moon selling random processors for like $5, but the Phenom II platform will be cheaper with the same conditions.

 

[MrK6]

I cannot comment on price/performance because you guys always find some website located on the moon selling random processors for like $5, but the Phenom II platform will be cheaper with the same conditions.

Lunargear.com is my favorite site!

But in all seriousness, Q9550, definitely. If you live close to a Microcenter, it can't be beaten at $170 (and it's close enough to the Q9650 that the cost increase for the Q9650 isn't worth it).

 

[Martimus]

The fastest AMD processor for DDR2 is the Phenom II 965, while the fastest Intel processor for DDR2 is the Core 2 Quad Q9650. Here is a comparison of the two products. You can see that the 965 generally has better memory performance while the 9650 has better FP performance, but both are very similar in performance.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=102&p2=49&c=1

 

[soccerballtux]

I have boxes of Ballistix DDR2 matched pair (2x1GB) modules both 1066 and 800 MHz. Now I suppose I could sell some on eBay but I'm thinking of forgoing the additional expense of DDR3 and using some of what I already have.

So, which cpu would be the best/best-bang-for-the-buck choice? Right now I'm thinking of the Phenom II X2 555 for the eventual unlocking of cores and overclock.

The Phenom II, I believe, is the only processor that has memory controllers for both DDR2 as well as DDR3 memory supported motherboards.

Is that correct?

Well, I tend not to keep my cpu's hungry and certainly don't fast them....I feed them all they want.

Ash wednesday dude how could you be so insensitive??

 

[Arkaign]

Don't worry about DDR2 vs. DDR3. If you already have some quality DDR2 and want to use it, you're not going to lose anything. DDR3 is really only necessary on the new i* processors due to new architechture, it doesn't seem to do jack with AMD stuff (beyond a couple %, who cares).

You say bang for the buck in your post, but in OP ask what the fastest is? Kind of confusing. Overclocked C2Q 9xxx series is hands-down the fastest thing you can do on DDR2, but at this point I wouldn't pay a lot of extra $ to go S775. An overclocked PhII X2 like you list will be more than adequate for almost any purpose, and will be happy trucking along with DDR2, while costing a lot less (cheaper AMD mobos generally have better features than same-price Intel mobos as well, so that's just icing).

 

[Rhoxed]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=102&p2=49&c=1

looks pretty even to me o.o

At stock the 965BE wins 19/31 tests..... not shabby, considering both chips should OC to 4.0 (965 C3) it gives the slight advantage to the Q9650 being faster clock for clock

 

[Dadofamunky]

If your existing platform is compatible with the AMD quad then go for that. Easy choice.

 

[Ben90]

If your existing platform is compatible with the AMD quad then go for that. Easy choice.

If your existing platform is compatible with the Intel quad then go for that. Easy choice.

 

[soccerballtux]

If your existing platform is compatible with the AMD quad then go for that. Easy choice.

If your existing platform is compatible with the Intel quad then go for that. Easy choice.

if it's the same price I'd rather get to move to AM3, I dumped my IP35-e and e8400 @ 3.8Ghz for my current rig, because the price of going to quad was the same either way, but this way I got Crossfire, Raid, and a new, higher quality motherboard to boot.

 

[soccerballtux]

Clock for Clock comparison between C2Q and P2:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=80&p2=49&c=1

Ill even go so far as to say the C2Q processors will scale better with overclocking due to its fat cache and being able to make the FSB suck less.

I cannot comment on price/performance because you guys always find some website located on the moon selling random processors for like $5, but the Phenom II platform will be cheaper with the same conditions.

when you overclock the cpu-nb/L3 cache to 2.6Ghz the Ph2 pulls ahead. 2.6ghz is good for keeping the cores fed at 3.8-4.0ghz.

 

[MrK6]

when you overclock the cpu-nb/L3 cache to 2.6Ghz the Ph2 pulls ahead. 2.6ghz is good for keeping the cores fed at 3.8-4.0ghz.

Except for the fact that it still needs to be clocked at least 400MHz faster than the Core 2 Quad architecture to be competitive. A Q9550 will still be faster and is a better buy.

Even then, even though it wasn't the point of the OP, I'd just dump the DDR2 and go for an i5/i7 build. I should have just said that earlier, but for at most $50 you'll get a lot more performance. You could even go cheaper and grab an i3 530 and with an overclock get better bang-for-your-buck.

 

[cbn]

Next month Phenom II x6 will be released. It supposedly has a turbo mode that will help for lower thread counts.

If it works on AM2+ that could end up being your best choice.

 

[soccerballtux]

Except for the fact that it still needs to be clocked at least 400MHz faster than the Core 2 Quad architecture to be competitive. A Q9550 will still be faster and is a better buy.

Even then, even though it wasn't the point of the OP, I'd just dump the DDR2 and go for an i5/i7 build. I should have just said that earlier, but for at most $50 you'll get a lot more performance. You could even go cheaper and grab an i3 530 and with an overclock get better bang-for-your-buck.

clock/clock they're the same +/-5% depending on the bench when you've got the L3 clocked at what it should be at.

 

[cbn]

Except for the fact that it still needs to be clocked at least 400MHz faster than the Core 2 Quad architecture to be competitive. A Q9550 will still be faster and is a better buy.

I didn't realize Q9550 was that far ahead of Phenom II.

 

[Martimus]

I didn't realize Q9550 was that far ahead of Phenom II.

They were just designed with different clock speeds in mind. The clock differential doesn't really mean much since they consume similar power and have similar cooling needs. For the most part, a C2Q is about equivalent to a Phenom 2 of the same model number / 10 (9550 ~ 955, 9450 ~ 945, 9650 ~ 965).

The IPC and clock arguments aren't that meaningful. A C2Q does not overclock nearly as well as the C2D's do, and require much better power management (read more expensive MB's) than a Phenom 2 to get to similar clocks, so their IPC advantage is not really relevant in real world applications. They both overclock to about the same performance points, with C2Q's getting better FP performance on average, and Ph2's getting better memory performance on average. They are roughly equivalent chips however, and getting one over the other shouldn't elicit buyers remorse in the future.

 

[tiblot]

I have boxes of Ballistix DDR2 matched pair (2x1GB) modules both 1066 and 800 MHz. Now I suppose I could sell some on eBay but I'm thinking of forgoing the additional expense of DDR3 and using some of what I already have.

So, which cpu would be the fastest OR best-bang-for-the-buck choice? Right now I'm thinking of the Phenom II X2 555 for the eventual unlocking of cores and overclock.

The Phenom II, I believe, is the only processor that has memory controllers for both DDR2 as well as DDR3 memory supported motherboards. This could provide an upgrade path if desired.

Is that correct?

X2 555 is a good choice. You can easily OC from 3.2 -> 3.6. The success rate for unlocking to a X4 is fairly good, but not 100% guantreed.

Remember, an AM3 mobo is going to require DDR3. I believe a AM2/+ still takes DDR2?

 

[Ben90]

if it's the same price I'd rather get to move to AM3, I dumped my IP35-e and e8400 @ 3.8Ghz for my current rig, because the price of going to quad was the same either way, but this way I got Crossfire, Raid, and a new, higher quality motherboard to boot.

Wow prices have skyrocketed since I last looked. Back when I built my i7-920 system you could have gotten a q9550 for around $210. Now they are up to $280 on newegg.

AMD looks like your best bet right now.

 

[MrK6]

They were just designed with different clock speeds in mind. The clock differential doesn't really mean much since they consume similar power and have similar cooling needs. For the most part, a C2Q is about equivalent to a Phenom 2 of the same model number / 10 (9550 ~ 955, 9450 ~ 945, 9650 ~ 965).

The IPC and clock arguments aren't that meaningful. A C2Q does not overclock nearly as well as the C2D's do, and require much better power management (read more expensive MB's) than a Phenom 2 to get to similar clocks, so their IPC advantage is not really relevant in real world applications. They both overclock to about the same performance points, with C2Q's getting better FP performance on average, and Ph2's getting better memory performance on average. They are roughly equivalent chips however, and getting one over the other shouldn't elicit buyers remorse in the future.

What? Both the AMD 9x5's and the Core 2 Quad 9x50's both top out close to 4GHz for overclocking, and at that speed the Core 2 Quad is going to be faster than the AMD part in almost everything (and usually substantially). If you're not overclocking, then they'll have similar performance, but if you are overclocking, the Core 2 Quad will run circles around the AMD part.