AMD Triple Core

datawrite · 5 Mar 2009 at 15:58

Are the Triple cores worth getting? I am after a new AM2 CPU and can't afford a Quad core so was looking at a triple core. I don't really game on the PC.

Or would i be better off getting an AMD AM2 Athlon 64 6000+ AM2 , Windsor Core, Dual Core 3.0GHz

Saw this too for £100: AMD Phenom II X3 710, Sok AM3, 2.6GHz, 7.5MB Total Cache, 95W, Retail Would this be better again? I am also looking for a new Motherboard too. Must have onboard graphics. Got a thread here:

I notice a lot support the AM3 CPU.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17977499

Should i buy this ram too: Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 X 2GB) DDR2 8500C5 1066MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX8500D2K2/4G)

Any advice would be great as i want to get the bits soon.

Thanks

deshepherd · 5 Mar 2009 at 17:02

I'm in similar situation basically looking at X2 with stretch to X3 being feasible but not as far as X4!

For X2 I think the option is the 7750X2
- its AM2+ so gives you option of getting an AM2+ mboard which allows you to move to an AM3 processor later
- its "Black Edition" so has unlocker multiplier which means overclocking is simpler (and with suitable MB can be done via software with AMD Overdrive)
- its based on the Phenom uarch so is inherently more efficient than previous generation X2 - I've read its 20% better "clock for clock" ... though at same time other benchmarks show this doesn't always feed through to real benchmarks!

For X3 an extra £15 gets the 720 which is also Black Edition. The 720X3 is getting lots of attention because it appears to easily overclock to 3.2-3.5Mhz and the 6MB L3 cache is big compared with other processors in its price range which improves its performance/cost ratio.

Also, I think the 710/720's are 45nm designs while the 7750 is 65nm ... not sure about the previous X2's - these may even be 90nm. General opinion is 45nm runs cooler than 65nm or 90nm.

I'm currently dithering over whether to spend the extra £65 to go from 7750X2 to 720X3

paradigm · 5 Mar 2009 at 17:44

Definately push for the 720, mine has been superb

linktoinsanity · 5 Mar 2009 at 18:23

Much better to go for Phenom II than Athlons these days as well.

neon.uk · 5 Mar 2009 at 18:33

Try and stretch to the PII 720, it's a cracking CPU.

deshepherd · 5 Mar 2009 at 19:20

neon.uk said:
Try and stretch to the PII 720, it's a cracking CPU.

That's the sort of thing I want to hear!

Any recommendations on a MB to go with it? I'm assuming that going DDR2 is still the best value option (but as I'm current back in DDR1-land I'm going to have to buy RAM so that doesn't skew the options)

datawrite · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:39

neon.uk said:
Try and stretch to the PII 720, it's a cracking CPU.

Is that meant to read Phenom II

If so, which motherboard guys? Any of the ones i have in my other thread (Link in first post above)

Caseh · 6 Mar 2009 at 01:08

I've just got may machine up and running - And i have to say the PII 720 is astonishing for the price. very good CPU.

datawrite · 6 Mar 2009 at 09:58

[Cas];13627402 said:
I've just got may machine up and running - And i have to say the PII 720 is astonishing for the price. very good CPU.

What motherboard guys?

paradigm · 6 Mar 2009 at 12:36

Mine (motherboard) is in my sig, but it probably won't suit unless you are building something small and quiet with onboard video.

That said, if it is for an HTPC, it is simply brilliant. Onboard Radeon HD3200, with VGA, DVI, HDMI, and Displayport all onboard!

Mine is running Server 2008 R2 as a Hyper-V server, with 3 Server 2008 virtual machines running within it, hosting Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Exchange, File Server, Print Server, Forefront TMG Server, and Streaming Media.

datawrite · 6 Mar 2009 at 12:43

Well, i want onboard graphics, DVI, and a quiet PC!! So, that board ok or should i go for one in my other thread:

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-DS2H

ASUS M3N78-VM

Biostar TA790GX-A2+

paradigm · 6 Mar 2009 at 12:48

I'd certainly go for the M3A78-EM over the M3N78-VM, the speclist is just that much better for the extra few quid.

Personally I think the board I have is superb, can't fault it at all, especially given it's price.

deshepherd · 6 Mar 2009 at 13:45

paradigm said:
I'd certainly go for the M3A78-EM over the M3N78-VM, the speclist is just that much better for the extra few quid.

Personally I think the board I have is superb, can't fault it at all, especially given it's price.

Read a warning from one of the OcUK people in another thread that they'd had a few reports of people with M3A78's needing to flash BIOS before they would recognise an AM3 CPU ... could be a problem if you don't have an AM2 CPU already to use for the flashing process!

paradigm · 6 Mar 2009 at 14:58

Mine (bought only last Saturday) was fine without a flash.

datawrite · 6 Mar 2009 at 15:02

Hope so guys!

deshepherd · 6 Mar 2009 at 15:23

paradigm said:
Mine (bought only last Saturday) was fine without a flash.

realized the boards you're talking about are mATX and the ones a couple of other postings report problems with (i.e. not recognising AM3 out of box) are full size which may, or may not, be a factor.

datawrite · 6 Mar 2009 at 16:23

Is the ASUS M3A78-EM a better choice than these 3 then:

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-DS2H

ASUS M3N78-VM

Biostar TA790GX-A2+

Need to decide today if possible.

zeppelin` · 6 Mar 2009 at 17:56

biostar in general make fantastic boards, gigabyte are hit and miss.

datawrite · 6 Mar 2009 at 18:40

Is the Biostar TA790GX-A2+ a good one to get with the Phenom II X3 720 BE and Kingston HyperX PC-8500 Ram?

Just want to make sure before i buy!!

mjones1 · 7 Mar 2009 at 14:26

I was thinking should i get a phenom 2 x3 720 or AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 810 2.6GHz what is quite a bit more expensive but only has 4mb cache.