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AMD CPU for gaming

RumbleBee

RumbleBee

RumbleBee

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Joined
22 Dec 2002
Posts
1,190
Location
Teesside, UK
Hi,

Currently have the following motherboard/Cpu combo
Gigabyte GA-M68M-S2P GeForce 7025 Socket AM2+
AMD Sempron 140 2.70GHz (Socket AM3) Processor - Retail

I was using the above system as a server, but now I'm making into a 2nd gaming machine for my son and so going to replace the CPU. Having looked at what is supported I've narrowed it down to two choices.

1 - AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 555 3.20GHz Black Edition (Socket AM3)

2 - AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 640 3.00GHz (Socket AM3)

They are a similar price and so can anyone recommend which is preferred.

This will be for pretty much games only. I'll be paring it up with a mid range graphics card.

Existing Components
Coolermaster Elite 335 Case - Black
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK)
Kingston 2GB (1x2GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C6 800MHz Single Channel Memory Module
Monitor will be 1600x900 Resolution
 
Depends what games you play really but remember that your motherboard is able to unlock that Phenom II X2 555 BE to quad-core if you get a good chip. If you want to try that and you do get a good chip then that's definitely the best option. However, you can always return it if you can't get a tri- or quad-core out of it and get another.
 
Thanks for your reply.

Games he will wanting to be play
All the Valve games
New Batman game due next year
Sims 3 expansions as and when they are released

I forgot to add I probably won't be overclocking, but the unlocking sounds like an option.
 
The x4 640 that is on special right now would be my choice. The 555 has a slightly higher clock and L3 cache but for just gaming and for the price I think the 640 is the best bet.

You will have plenty of CPU power but for gaming I would highly recommend either another 2 gigs of ram as that will make a pretty good difference. Even with windows xp your gonna be using close to half of that just for the OS alone. I use 1200ish on win 7 just with a couple tabs of chrome so XP will be 7-800ish doing the same and depending on the game it is gonna want up to 2 gigs or more.
 
Probably better off going for a quicker dual than a slower quad, as it is still taking time for games to make full use of multi core systems.

Which graphics card are you thinking of getting?
 
The HT will not run at full speed with the motherboard the OP has mentioned.

The motherboard does seem to support core unlocking:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3498#ov

However,with only a three phase VRM it won't be the best motherboard for overclocking IMHO.

I would probably go for the Athlon II X4 640 as in games which can support more than two cores it will be faster than a Phenom II X2 555BE AFAIK.
 
You should be good then with the upgraded ram and that card. Either of those chips will do just fine. The AMD Athlon II X3 Tri Core 445 3.10GH is also an option. Couple bucks less and gives ya an extra core.

Some games the Tri/Quad will be faster and some the 555BE will be faster. We are also talking an average of 5ish FPS either way unless it is a game that takes advantage of more than 2 cores efficiently like Dragon age where the difference gets into the double digits which is why I still recommend that x4 640 that is on special.
 
I'd get the best quad I can for your budget, games are starting to get more core dependant, the difference in Bad Company 2 on a quad core versus a dual core for example is night and day
 
Keep in mind that core unlocking even if you can do it with that board is not a given. Never buy with the expectation that it will unlock because 9 times out of 10 you will be disappointed. I personally would rather take a chance on that tri core for a chance of unclocking the fourth core and cache because if it doesn't you still have an extra core but less not get ahead of ourselves hehe.
 
x3 445 is the sweetspot for budget right now ( when bought at 50-60 tho, not overpriced like here ).

It's also fairly clocked by default and if you ever decide to OC it, it should hit 3.5 on stock volts and as it's super cool and low on power your mobo won't get fried.
 
Does the Asus Crosshair III 790fx mb on special offer this week support core unlocking of the phenom II 555?

(Sorry for hijacking thread but it seemed to be heading in this direction anyway!)

Brian.
 
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