AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 6400+ Black Edition/Upgrade is it worth it?

[Gunni Parker]

I have fondled with the idea of getting a new CPU either:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-197-AM

or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-192-AM

Both seem to have good reviews, however I am swaying more towards the 6400 because its faster and that. Although I know I will need to purchase a heatsink & fan, any recomendations as I am useless with all this. I have my stcok fan from my 4200, would that be compatible?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-010-AS&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=821

I have read good reviews on this one? What type of heatsink do I need and where are they/how much?

Also would anyone recomend upgrading my power supply? It is a Antec TPII-550 WATT-ATX 12v.


any help would be most appreciated.

 

[Gunni Parker]

The "phenom" chips are just around the corner,so wait

What are these? And when are 5000 black on sale? is it just worth getting the 6000?

I want extra love juice for Crysis and iam inpatient.

 

[Gunni Parker]

Oh right, quad-core hey! Iam not going to upgrade my Motherboard so Iam going to stick to what is the best out of my range!

 

[Gunni Parker]

Tar anyway fella but I think Iam going to go for something in the now whilst the are fairly cheap, so any suggestions?

 

[Gunni Parker]

But I want an Umpa-lumpa now Daddy, I would think that £100 for a 6000 is not exactly scrathing the bank! Espicially when it is a much better CPU than my exsisting one. To overclock my 4200 I would need to buy new fans and that as I only have stock fans. And what type of Overclocking Juice can you sqeeze out of a 4200 anyway?

 

[Gunni Parker]

So is it worth getting the 5000 black over the 6000? What air cooler are you using? I was goint to get a Asus square ice thingy.

 

[Gunni Parker]

So the 5000 black is better than the 6000, because it uses less votage and that and it will easly overclock to its standards! Will my power supply handle ththis processor? Antec TPII-550 WATT-ATX 12v and what is the mutiplier?

 

[Gunni Parker]

Well the 6000 will be slightly faster ~5% clock for clock because it runs 1MB L2 whereas the 5000+ runs 512k.

However the 5000+BE is a 65nm die, it runs cooler, uses less power and potentially overclocks better because of this - needless to say it will more then likely match the 6000's overclocking headline figure (3.3-3.5GHz).

Your PSU is plenty enough.

I ran an opty and 6800 Ultra on a 380w Antec for a good year, my system was 'over spec' for the PSU but it never complained and was rock solid.

Is there a lot of difference between the 1MB L2 + 512k. The way it sounds for £20 quid extra I may as well go for the 6000, would it easly overclok to the 6400 black then?

 

[Gunni Parker]

it looks as if your mobo will overclock well (someone back me up here?!) which is the first place to start...you could buy a 5000 and overclock to 6400 speeds comfortably. however as you dont seem to be particularly bothered about the notes involved i would get the 6400BE and a Freezer 64 (much better than that asus imo and 1/2 the price)

Yeah my mobo has a rep for overclocking well and numerous people have said the 5000 be is the best, and if it overclocks to the 6400be speeds no hastle then I think I have made my choice, plus the cost of the 6400be doesnt seem worth it? All Iam conserned with is the 5000be much of a jump from mine? Not including the Overclocking obviously.

 

[Gunni Parker]

Does anyone know what the fastest stable speeds they have had out of the 5000be yet?