AMD Gamer - Which CPU?

[SpAceD]

Here's my current system

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ (512KB L2 Cache, Socket AM2) @ 2507MHz (228MHz FSB), 0% load

(Motherboard) ASUSTeK Computer INC. M2N32-SLI DELUXE

(RAM module 1) 2GB Corsair 6400

Budget: no more than £120

I'm looking for a new CPU to give me some much needed love. I was thinking about the X2 6000, and the 9850 Phenom. As the phenom would probably be less performance than the 6000 in games, and my board isnt AM2+, I wanted to go for the 6000. I will probably upgrade later in the year, when games actually utilise quad cores etc.

What do you suggest?

X2 6000 and O/C it or not bother?
X2 6500 and O/C it if I can find one to buy in the UK?
Phenom 9850 and O/C it?

 

[Bleek]

Depends on how well your board will overclock but the Black Edition 5000+ can be had real cheap and most hit 3.3GHz +

The 6000+ BE has 1MB L2 so is slightly faster but is also 90nm so hotter.

Phenoms are quicker clock for clock and get even faster once you push past 3GHz but the current steppings are a little hit and miss with overclocking, some go to 3.5GHz some struggle past 2.9GHz.

If you can get the Phenom to and/or past 3GHz that would be your best bet.

 

[Bleek]

However - the 6500 is the new 'stars' or kuma chip, it's based on the Phenom is due out soon so if your motherboards supports it hold on for that - loads of L3 cache and high clock speeds make it an Intel rival (and beater).

 

[Amonlym]

take note, the x2 6500 is actually a 2 core phenom rather than a faster running classic x2.

the fastest (stock) x2 is the 6400+ (3200mhz, 1mb l2/cpu) - this is a 125w Windsor core
there is also a 6000+ (3000mhz 1mb l2/cpu) windsor in both 125w and 95w power.

the 95w 6000+ windsor would be my bet for a good overclock of these.

you can ALSO get a 6000+ (3100mhz 512kb l2/cpu) running the cooler running 65nm Brisbane core. this is also likely to overclock well, but is a touch slower clock for clock than the windsors.

im not sure how well the M2N32-SLI DELUXE gets on with phenoms, best to check asus's support site. if it is not an AM2+ board then overclocking may well be more limited than for a AM2+ board even if the cpu does work.

personally id get the 6000+ (£60 is a nice price and ocuk appear to be stocking the windsor core atm) clock it up and save up for an overhaul in a year or so.

 

[SpAceD]

Thanks for the reply!

Do you happen to know when we will see the 6500 on UK shelves? I could do with an upgrade now, as im buying a few bits and bobs for a mate too..

 

[SpAceD]

I am impressed with how my board and compared to a lot of gaming machines I have seen. It's over 3 years old now, and even with my 4200 OC/d to 2.5ghz at near stock voltage, its running Crysis!

 

[SpAceD]

PS how you can you tell its the windsor?

 

[Phatzy]

i believe that the 6500 out performs the 6400 @ stock

 

[SpAceD]

Why doesn't OCUK use part # from the manufacturers? surely you need to check what core it is man.. am I missing something?

 

[Bleek]

i believe that the 6500 out performs the 6400 @ stock

Some 20-30% faster in fact!

It's hopefully out later this month, I think Nordichardware reviewed it and clock for clock it outpaced the Q6600 in some benchmarks - that means it's as quick as any dual core and perfect for gaming.

Obviously we need a few more reviews to back it up but fingers crossed it'll be a ripper!

 

[Amonlym]

windsor is identifiable by compairing the name with the freq, eg:

2800mhz win = 5600+ (rating = mhz*2)
2800mhz bris = 5400+ (rating = mhz*2 - 200)

ocuk currently show 6000+ 3000mhz = a windsor,

also no windsor cpu's are available using .5 multi's eg any cpu with freq that divides by 200 to give xx.5 = bris.

the reason i would shy from the 6500+ is that it is a very recent varient of the phenom cpu - so a mobo with poor phenom compatibility/ocing will likely be as bad or worse with the 6500+ it has however been reported to have a very strong performance profile in games despite its low clock and should clock well, comparible to most B3 phenoms at least (2.8 not to hard 3-3.4ghz with good luck and effort (and/or) SB750)

 

[Bleek]

The 6500 has more cache and improved architecture over the B3, hence AMD aren't calling it a "dual core Phenom".

I've got my fingers crossed, would make a nice little xmas present... even though my Athlon runs just fine as is.

 

[Phatzy]

woohoo a bio update for my board is in the making, at around £80 is a pretty good price for the 6500+

 

[Bleek]

woohoo a bio update for my board is in the making, at around £80 is a pretty good price for the 6500+

Where did you get that price from?

If the initial press is true then for the performance that'll be an excellent price!

 

[~>Dg<~]

well from what i see there 2.3 ghz these 6500 and its a black ed so at just over 60 quid its worth i yes over a 6000 3.1ghz.


my board supports both but which to get cause there both same price?

 

[Phatzy]

Where did you get that price from?

on another site offering pre-order at £76.81+vat

 

[~>Dg<~]

63.00 so its level with the pricing of a 6000.from the little benchmarks ive seen it looks about as fast as a 6000 as stock or little quicker then its a bl ed it should over clock a bit so hmmmmmmm.at 63.00 seems a good little chip.will ocuk be getting these?

 

[veggiemanuk]

Got my new rig on order from Overclockers including a Phenom 9950 & an MSI K9A2 Platinum AMD 790FX (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard.

Once the Asus M3A79-T Deluxe (790FX+SB750) makes an appearance then I will be selling the MSI and getting one of those as the SB750 realy unlocks these Phemons.

I really do feel these Phenoms are a dark horse and don't deserve the wholesale crap they are getting thrown at them. Getting them to 3.2Ghz on air and 3.6Ghz on water (SB750) just with upping the multi means there is plenty of room yet to push these further.

 

[SpAceD]

Went for the 6000 95w windsor for o/c, was promised this core by the very pushy guy on the telephone - turns out its a 512K brisbane.

Many thanks overclockers!