Athlon II X4 640

[fsas180]

Going for one of these due to passmark scores. Are these reliable enough? Can anyone recommend a better CPU for £75? If so, why?

Thanks!

 

[fsas180]

I'm looking at a Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition btw. Unlocked multipliers and ability to unlock 2 cores.

 

[SouthEastBlue]

Should be just as 'reliable' as any other CPU and they perform pretty well for the price in most tasks. Some Athlon II X4s do also unlock to Phenom IIs but its only the earlier ones which are harder to find now. A Phenom II 550, 555 and 560 are also other options if you can unlock them as above.

 

[Superjeep4x4]

Possible ability is the key word. Always buy with the mindset that you will have a dual core because if you do not and it does not unlock your going to hate yourself. There is always the tri core Athlon II so at the very least you'll have 3 cores with a possibly for 4.

What are you going to be using your comp for?

 

[DragonQ]

Or you could just buy 3 or 4 X2s and test each one. Keep the best and return the rest (under Distance Selling Regulations).

 

[Big.Wayne]

Buying a processor with the intent of sending it back under DSR if it doesn't unlock sounds unethical to me!

You win some . . . you lose some . . . take it like a man!

 

[danceforfreedom]

Or you could just buy 3 or 4 X2s and test each one. Keep the best and return the rest under (Distance Selling Regulations).

 

[VFM Addict]

......... Some Athlon II X4s do also unlock to Phenom IIs but its only the earlier ones which are harder to find now.

Not stictly true if you mean Athlon II x4 and x3. The x3 445 very often unlocks. All 445's to date appear to be locked Deneb's (i.e. Stepping CACAC AC). The luck is really just whether the extra cores and/or cache are fully functioning.

 

[SouthEastBlue]

I was just talking about the Athlon II X4s, as my own one was a Deneb with deactivated L3 which I read was phased out by proper Propus cores soon after they were released. Although I bought mine quite recently, just assumed it was one of an old batch with the 2008 date on it.

There's a big thread on it over on another forum, and coding states xxCxx which indicates a Deneb core (mine is CACYC), where as the ones with xxDxx which have no L3 to unlock. Assume this must hold out for Athlon X3s also.