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AMD Phenom X6 or Intel Sandy Bridge?

Secret_Window

Secret_Window

Secret_Window

Soldato
Joined
10 Aug 2006
Posts
5,207
Can't be bothered to wait for bulldozer at the moment. I'm sure it will be good, but need something more urgent, for what I use my pc for at the moment.

Got a load of work that I do on my PC, video editing wise, which with my Q6600 just aint cutting the mustard. I also game a lot on my PC too. Very into FPS games and stuff like GTA IV etc, which I am also finding slow and frustrating, partially graphics card related but I am sticking in an ATI 6870 to help with that for new build.

Been looking at the AMD Phenom X6 1090t and that looks like a damn good CPU for the money. What I particularly like is how good it is at certain video encoding applications. However with Sandy Bridge in the same price range, and being one of the fastest things currently available for the money, I am tempted by Intel's offerings.

One question keeps looming over my head about this, and that is whether the Phenom X6 will be more futureproof as and when more applications take advantage of 6 cores and more.

Will I also see much difference between a Phenom X6 and a Sandy Bridge i5 in gaming performance?

And is it possible to push the Phenom X6 to similar Sandy Bridge speeds with overclocking?

I do prefer the choices there is motherboard wise on AM3 platform for the money I must say.
 
A few thoughts;

1 - AM3 platform is at the end of line, crazy decision to buy into this right now tbh, despite upfront economies. 1155 (SB) platform valid for another upgrade cycle, Ivy Bridge, so probably 3 years+ of new chips on the platform.

2 - No way can you push a Phenom x6 anywhere near absolute SB speeds. Circa 4ghz max versus a comfortable max of 4.8ghz-4.9ghz on SB.

3 - Clock for clock SB kicks X6 ass anyway.

4 - Extra two cores on X6 pretty moot in my opinion, if enhanced coding for 6 cores gets better, chances are it'll be trumped for 4cores x 2 threads on 2600k anyway. Optimisation for AMD 6-core chips has been pretty poor thus far.

Just my 2p.

EDIT - games will be significantly better on SB too.
 
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Wait and see how AMD Bulldozer turns out, should be more info out about that soon.

SB currently outperforms the phenom x6 by quite a margin.
 
Thanks for replies so far.

The reason I am even considering the X6 is the vain hope that it will last me a while with having 6 cores. Also, I intend for this new build to last me as long as my Core 2 Duo system did, which I built in 2006. I bought the C2D E6400 and that lasted me until 2010, where I then swapped the cpu for this quad. So that's a good 4-5years I got out of that, and want to do the same again.

With regards to Bulldozer, even when it does eventually come out, I doubt I'll get it, mainly because I will have already upgraded by that time and also couldn't possibly wait till Q2 2011 with this spec, for things I want to do with my PC. I wish I could, but my work and gaming needs need addressing more urgently.:o;)
 
Combat squirrel said:
Nowt wrong with ur pc in sig, wack in a 6970 and your games will fly.
Click to expand...

Nah, more to it than that I'm afraid.

Motherboard is totally on its way out, only 3 ram slots work now. PCIE slot has gone dodgy as hell. Constant whine and buzzing noises coming from the northbridge also. I'd need a new motherboard to be able to use it all properly and I've decided I am not buying into old tech anymore, and now is a good opportunity more than ever to upgrade.
 
Secret_Window said:
And is it possible to push the Phenom X6 to similar Sandy Bridge speeds with overclocking?
Click to expand...

I'm afraid not, the phenoms seem to hit the ceiling at ~4Ghz. SB chips can easily go up to 4.6-5Ghz.

Secret_Window said:
Will I also see much difference between a Phenom X6 and a Sandy Bridge i5 in gaming performance?
Click to expand...

The SB will outperform the phenom X6 mostly due to games not making use of the extra 2 cores.

Looking at what you need your pc for I'd say go down the 2600k, its better than either the phenom or the sandybridge i5 at things like video editing, and it is certainly future proof.
 
SB now. Or wait to see what Bulldozer has to offer.

If you're overclocking, look for the K series (i5 2500k is highly recommended).
 
Whilst SB is great, you might be able to get a cheap X6 due to the bulldozer relapses.

Also, i prefer AM3 motherboards.

Both are good processors though, and whilst SB is superior, the AMD motherboards more than compensate for this imho :)

PLUS, you can get another 6870 and do Xfire if you get an AM3 motherboard, as there are few intel socket + xfire capable motherboards.
 
Jamiman said:
Whilst SB is great, you might be able to get a cheap X6 due to the bulldozer relapses.

Also, i prefer AM3 motherboards.

Both are good processors though, and whilst SB is superior, the AMD motherboards more than compensate for this imho :)

PLUS, you can get another 6870 and do Xfire if you get an AM3 motherboard, as there are few intel socket + xfire capable motherboards.
Click to expand...

I think that you'd find that many Intel motherboards are xfire capable.
 
I would say go for SB, personally I have a pretty similar spec to yourself but I am trying to hold out untill Bulldozer in the hopes that it can compete with SB. I am an AMD man at heart and the C2D in my box makes me feel dirty.
 
i went for 1090t havnt had any probs, but then im not oc'till i need it havnt had any probs gamewise on standard setup, hd6870 card handles all the games to the max to also nice to have the cool temps of the phenom too ;)
 
Can u not get a better CPU for your current system until something better comes along like bulldozer or ivy bridge, I've just upgraded from q9550 @3.6 with 8GB DDR 2, with the 12mb cache that setup was amazing. Even at full setting on all games the CPU was only being used 50 to 60percent. Took me 3mins to convert a divx to DVD. Did u know the new 2600k has a built in 3d encoder what processes 50% faster than the fastest Cuda! The on board gpu works with your CPU. Trouble is for now u can only use it on a h67 board. A p67 disables it for external gpu
 
Wait for Bulldozer. For me it would have to be that or Sandy's, which still have a problem with their Intel SATA controller, so you might as well wait anyway.

No point upgrading to a EOL platform, even with a 6-core (which I have). Although AM3+ will take a 1090t. One of the reason AMD should have started releasing AM3+ motherboard, cashing in on the Intel quagmire.

Hopefully your PC will hold until then :) If not, then Sandybridge, i5-2500K, and RMA the motherboard later.
 
You state you're not buying into old tech anymore.
Well am3 is old tech and would be pointless in buying when sandybridge will be back on tracks soon and is superior in every way. just hold off for a few months.

By the way nothing will help Gta4's **** coding.
 
Why not get a really cheap S775 motherboard (second hand?) to tide you over until Bulldozer is out, then decide on what's best? I'd bet you could get a second hand S775 motherboard at sub £20.
 
Everyone has problems with gta4. Apart from the probs with windows 7 and all the idiots using trainers, it's been a great visual experience, the missions are naff but the online mode is great. Even now it amazes me, the psychics , foot prints in the grass and realism etc. just wish the 1player missions where more exciting
 
Recently sold all my Q6600/775/4GB DDR2 gear and bought a 1055t, Gigabyte 880gma-ud2h, 4GB DDR3 and made a tenner profit :cool: while SB is faster it's like saying that a shopping trolley car that can do 110mph is so much better than a car that can do 95mph for your weekly shop :)

For reference with my 5850 and CPU at a paltry 3.5GHz (not had time to tweak) my MINIMUM frame rates in BFBC2 are near double than with my q6600 at it's comfortable max of 3.2GHz.

I'm not advocating going down the x6 route (I just wanted something new to play with) you could do worse than pick one up off the mm or ebay for a little over £100, a good board for £80 odd new and a DDR3 kit for silly cheap.

If BD is competitive I'm going to buy an AM3+ board and sell this one as AM3 chips will work in it while I save for a nice BD.
 
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