Phenom X4 to X6, is it worth it?

[Kei]

Presently have a Phenom II X4 955 BE that's been overclocked as far as it want's to go. (3.7GHz @ 1.45V) My motherboard is a 790FX AM3 which only supports up to the X6 thubans. (No FX support)

Main uses for my pc are:
Photoshop
Latest FPS & RPG games
Video encoding (Sony vegas & avid)
Audio recording & editing (Audition 3)

Would it be worthwhile spending ~ £60 on moving up to an X6 1090T or should i just bide my time and wait for steamroller? (I intend to look at moving to steamroller anyway)

 

[mattius1989]

Doesn't look like there would be much point to be honest...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=146

 

[Shawy]

Doesn't look like there would be much point to be honest...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=146

I'm not so sure, those scores are at stock clocks. I upgraded from a 965, which peaked at 3.9GHz, to a 1090T, which I got 4.1GHz out of. Not only that but I got more out of my RAM on the 1090T too, and that's before the 2 extra cores.

I can't speak for everyone but I thought it was well worth the upgrade.

 

[John24]

Kei, If the video encoding apps you use are multi threaded and you want more speed it may be worth upgrading.

You can compare your x4 with my x6 by running this test.

Get the portable version of vidcoder and the tron trailer, use the High Profile preset and post the Log (Ctrl+L).

Vidcoder
Tron Trailer

My results:
1100T
4.0GHz | 3.0GHz CPUNB | 1666-8-9-9-20-28-1T

25.029280 fps
2m28s

Hopefully that will help you decide, I'd be interested to see how your x4 compares aswell.

Shawy, I be interested to see your results too with your faster ram settings if you wouldn't mind running the test, are you OCing you CPUNB?

 

[BAMBI]

For gaming Id say not worth it. For video it may be, depends if you are finding you X4 is slow.

 

[~>Dg<~]

no. save money to either go pile 8320 or intel .

 

[Kei]

TBH, I don't find my X4 to be lacking too much. Performance in some of the latest games can be a bit iffy with lots of eye candy, but I reckon that is mostly down to the GPU, which is annoying as I've only had the 6950 for just over a year. Photoshop and vegas seem to run sufficiently fast atm. (have my doubts about vegas 8 or media composer being multi core enabled)

As I'm not an intel person (last intel cpu i owned was a socket 7 P166) I'll be looking at steamroller as i'd like to see what it brings to the table before i drop any considerable sum on new hardware.

Kei, If the video encoding apps you use are multi threaded and you want more speed it may be worth upgrading.

You can compare your x4 with my x6 by running this test.

Get the portable version of vidcoder and the tron trailer, use the High Profile preset and post the Log (Ctrl+L).

Vidcoder
Tron Trailer

My results:
1100T
4.0GHz | 3.0GHz CPUNB | 1666-8-9-9-20-28-1T

25.029280 fps
2m28s

Hopefully that will help you decide, I'd be interested to see how your x4 compares aswell.

Shawy, I be interested to see your results too with your faster ram settings if you wouldn't mind running the test, are you OCing you CPUNB?

Done that test and here are the results. 3m36s @ 16.904037 fps I think, but i've put the full log in just in case. Your 1090 was bound to be faster though as my cpu is only at 3.72GHz | 2.4GHz CPUNB | 1600-9-9-9-25-34-1T. Being an early C2 stepping means it needs plenty of juice just to remain stable at 3.7. More volts doesn't allow it to clock any higher and remain stable.

Spoiler

## VidCoder 1.4.19.0 (x64)
# Starting scan: F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov
[21:30:04] hb_init: starting libhb thread
[21:30:04] hb_scan: path=F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov, title_index=0
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov/BDMV/index.bdmv
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov/BDMV/BACKUP/index.bdmv
libbluray/bluray.c:1725: nav_get_title_list(F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov) failed (0000000029BC8910)
[21:30:04] bd: not a bd - trying as a stream/file instead
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdnavVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnavVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO
[21:30:04] dvd: not a dvd - trying as a stream/file instead
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov':
Metadata:
creation_time : 2010-11-30 18:11:55
copyright : © Disney
copyright-eng : © Disney
comment : Im Verleih der Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
comment-eng : Im Verleih der Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
title : TRON - LEGACY
title-eng : TRON - LEGACY
Duration: 00:02:28.84, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15237 kb/s
Stream #0.0(eng): Video: h264 (Main), yuv420p, 1920x816 [PAR 1:1 DAR 40:17], 14914 kb/s, 24 fps, 24 tbr, 600 tbn, 48 tbc
Metadata:
creation_time : 2010-11-30 18:11:55
Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 320 kb/s
Metadata:
creation_time : 2010-11-30 18:11:55
[21:30:04] scan: decoding previews for title 1
[21:30:04] scan: 10 previews, 1920x816, 24.000 fps, autocrop = 0/0/0/0, aspect 2.35:1, PAR 1:1
[21:30:04] libhb: scan thread found 1 valid title(s)
# Scan completed

# Starting queue
## VidCoder 1.4.19.0 (x64)
# Starting job 1/1
# Path: F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov
# Title: 1
# Range: All
# Worker ready: Service state is Opened on pipe VidCoderWorker.e9e29a17-3812-414d-a13a-c793f6e29b6b
# Connecting to process 2600 on pipe VidCoderWorker.e9e29a17-3812-414d-a13a-c793f6e29b6b
[21:30:47] hb_init: starting libhb thread
dvd: ifoOpen failed
[21:30:47] hb_scan: path=F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov, title_index=1
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov/BDMV/index.bdmv
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov/BDMV/BACKUP/index.bdmv
libbluray/bluray.c:1725: nav_get_title_list(F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov) failed (0000000000811180)
[21:30:47] bd: not a bd - trying as a stream/file instead
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdnavVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnavVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov':
Metadata:
creation_time : 2010-11-30 18:11:55
copyright : © Disney
copyright-eng : © Disney
comment : Im Verleih der Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
comment-eng : Im Verleih der Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
title : TRON - LEGACY
title-eng : TRON - LEGACY
Duration: 00:02:28.84, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15237 kb/s
Stream #0.0(eng): Video: h264 (Main), yuv420p, 1920x816 [PAR 1:1 DAR 40:17], 14914 kb/s, 24 fps, 24 tbr, 600 tbn, 48 tbc
Metadata:
creation_time : 2010-11-30 18:11:55
Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 320 kb/s
Metadata:
creation_time : 2010-11-30 18:11:55
[21:30:47] scan: decoding previews for title 1
[21:30:47] scan: 10 previews, 1920x816, 24.000 fps, autocrop = 0/0/0/0, aspect 2.35:1, PAR 1:1
[21:30:47] libhb: scan thread found 1 valid title(s)
[21:30:48] 1 job(s) to process
[21:30:48] starting job
[21:30:48] yadif thread started for segment 0
[21:30:48] yadif thread started for segment 1
[21:30:48] yadif thread started for segment 2
[21:30:48] yadif thread started for segment 3
[21:30:48] decomb filter thread started for segment 0
[21:30:48] decomb filter thread started for segment 2
[21:30:48] decomb filter thread started for segment 3
[21:30:48] decomb check thread started for segment 0
[21:30:48] decomb filter thread started for segment 1
[21:30:48] decomb check thread started for segment 1
[21:30:48] mask filter thread started for segment 1
[21:30:48] mask erode thread started for segment 0
[21:30:48] mask filter thread started for segment 0
[21:30:48] mask dilate thread started for segment 0
[21:30:48] decomb check thread started for segment 3
[21:30:48] mask filter thread started for segment 2
[21:30:48] mask filter thread started for segment 3
[21:30:48] mask dilate thread started for segment 3
[21:30:48] Passthru requested and input codec is not the same as output codec for track 2, dropping track
[21:30:48] work: sanitizing track 1 mixdown Dolby Pro Logic II to Stereo
[21:30:48] work: track 1, compression level not supported by codec
[21:30:48] work: track 1, quality mode not supported by codec
[21:30:48] work: track 1, dithering not supported by codec
[21:30:48] sync: expecting 3572 video frames
[21:30:48] mask erode thread started for segment 1
[21:30:48] job configuration:
[21:30:48] * source
[21:30:48] + F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mov
[21:30:48] + title 1, chapter(s) 1 to 1
[21:30:48] + container: mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2
[21:30:48] + data rate: 15237 kbps
[21:30:48] * destination
[21:30:48] + F:\Various Downloaded bits\Tron_Trailer_HD.mp4
[21:30:48] + container: MPEG-4 (.mp4 and .m4v)
[21:30:48] + 64-bit formatting
[21:30:48] * video track
[21:30:48] + decoder: h264
[21:30:48] + bitrate 14914 kbps
[21:30:48] + frame rate: same as source (around 24.000 fps)
[21:30:48] + filters
[21:30:48] + Decomb (default settings)
[21:30:48] + Framerate Shaper (0:27000000:1125000)
[21:30:48] + frame rate: same as source (around 24.000 fps)
[21:30:48] + Crop and Scale (1920:816:0:0:0:0)
[21:30:48] + source: 1920 * 816, crop (0/0/0/0): 1920 * 816, scale: 1920 * 816
[21:30:48] + loose anamorphic
[21:30:48] + storage dimensions: 1920 * 816, mod 2
[21:30:48] + pixel aspect ratio: 1 / 1
[21:30:48] + display dimensions: 1920 * 816
[21:30:48] + encoder: H.264 (x264)
[21:30:48] + x264 preset: medium
[21:30:48] + h264 profile: high
[21:30:48] + h264 level: 4.1
[21:30:48] + quality: 20.00 (RF)
[21:30:48] * audio track 1
[21:30:48] + decoder: English (aac) (2.0 ch) (track 2, id 0x1)
[21:30:48] + bitrate: 320 kbps, samplerate: 44100 Hz
[21:30:48] + mixdown: Stereo
[21:30:48] + encoder: AAC (faac)
[21:30:48] + bitrate: 160 kbps, samplerate: 44100 Hz
[21:30:48] decomb check thread started for segment 2
[21:30:48] mask erode thread started for segment 2
[21:30:48] mask erode thread started for segment 3
[21:30:48] mask dilate thread started for segment 2
[21:30:48] mask dilate thread started for segment 1
[21:30:48] reader: first SCR 0 id 0x0 DTS 0
[21:30:48] encx264: min-keyint: 24, keyint: 240
[21:30:48] encx264: encoding with stored aspect 1/1
[21:30:48] encx264: Encoding at constant RF 20.000000
x264 [warning]: --psnr used with psy on: results will be invalid!
x264 [warning]: --tune psnr should be used if attempting to benchmark psnr!
x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSEMisalign LZCNT
x264 [info]: profile High, level 4.1
[21:34:17] reader: done. 1 scr changes
[21:34:21] work: average encoding speed for job is 16.904037 fps
[21:34:22] sync: got 3572 frames, 3572 expected
[21:34:22] decomb: deinterlaced 0 | blended 61 | unfiltered 3510 | total 3571
[21:34:22] render: lost time: 0 (0 frames)
[21:34:22] render: gained time: 0 (0 frames) (0 not accounted for)
[21:34:22] h264-decoder done: 3572 frames, 0 decoder errors, 0 drops
x264 [info]: frame I:107 Avg QP:16.59 size: 89252 PSNR Mean Y:50.93 U:55.69 V:56.73 Avg:51.96 Global:50.47
x264 [info]: frame P:2527 Avg QP:19.39 size: 26548 PSNR Mean Y:48.06 U:52.31 V:53.06 Avg:48.99 Global:47.53
x264 [info]: frame B:937 Avg QP:19.58 size: 9388 PSNR Mean Y:51.97 U:55.94 V:56.87 Avg:52.72 Global:46.70
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 56.3% 24.9% 3.5% 15.2%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 51.9% 25.8% 22.3%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 20.1% 9.8% 1.2% P16..4: 35.5% 8.4% 4.6% 0.0% 0.0% skip:20.5%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 2.5% 0.8% 0.1% B16..8: 31.2% 2.4% 0.6% direct: 4.4% skip:58.0% L0:41.7% L1:52.1% BI: 6.2%
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform intra:30.5% inter:74.4%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 44.8% 50.6% 21.7% inter: 19.5% 26.9% 1.5%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 35% 22% 25% 17%
x264 [info]: i8 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 15% 21% 39% 4% 4% 4% 5% 4% 4%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 18% 25% 26% 5% 7% 5% 6% 4% 4%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 58% 21% 16% 6%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:17.0% UV:14.5%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 59.4% 9.0% 21.7% 9.4% 0.5%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 77.4% 21.4% 1.1%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 97.3% 2.7%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9865977 (18.728db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:49.174 U:53.362 V:54.171 Avg:50.056 Global:47.357 kb/s:4592.15
[21:34:23] aac-decoder done: 0 frames, 0 decoder errors, 0 drops
[21:34:23] mux: track 0, 3571 frames, 85429907 bytes, 4590.69 kbps, fifo 1024
[21:34:23] mux: track 1, 6412 frames, 2888922 bytes, 155.24 kbps, fifo 2048
[21:34:23] libhb: work result = 0
# Job completed
# Queue completed

 

[Shawy]

Shawy, I be interested to see your results too with your faster ram settings if you wouldn't mind running the test, are you OCing you CPUNB?

NB and HT link both @ 3GHz.
Elapsed time: 2:27
Average encoding speed for job is 24.765329 fps

I got less time but fewer fps.

 

[Marine-RX179]

Presently have a Phenom II X4 955 BE that's been overclocked as far as it want's to go. (3.7GHz @ 1.45V) My motherboard is a 790FX AM3 which only supports up to the X6 thubans. (No FX support)

Main uses for my pc are:
Photoshop
Latest FPS & RPG games
Video encoding (Sony vegas & avid)
Audio recording & editing (Audition 3)

Would it be worthwhile spending ~ £60 on moving up to an X6 1090T or should i just bide my time and wait for steamroller? (I intend to look at moving to steamroller anyway)

Most of the latest FPS games from EA all pretty much would use 6 cores or above (BF3, Fry Cry 3, Crysis 3...and most likely BF4 as well), and together with your use for encoding stuffs, for £60 I would think it's definitely worth it (but you probably would have to throw in another £30-£40 on CPU cooler if you are planning on overclocking...if you not have one atm).

Take BF3 for your current system for example...if you were running at Ultra (plus MSAA etc), then your 6950 would no doubt be the limitation (but you have the bare in mind that BF3 Ultra is not meant to be ran on a single 6950); if your drop the graphic setting down to high, you would find yourself in the position that when gaming online, your GPU won't be use to max load hopping up and down between 70%-90% ish usage due to CPU bottleneck.

 

[Shawy]

Your 1090 was bound to be faster though as my cpu is only at 3.72GHz | 2.4GHz CPUNB | 1600-9-9-9-25-34-1T. Being an early C2 stepping means it needs plenty of juice just to remain stable at 3.7. More volts doesn't allow it to clock any higher and remain stable.

You should take that into consideration too - upgrading to an x6 will likely result in enabling a higher overclock than your current 955, as well as the additional cores.

 

[TALON1973]

which begs a question .. will older cpus with more cores start benfiting from games that will be using them now ? coudl people have wasted money upgrading ?

 

[Shawy]

which begs a question .. will older cpus with more cores start benfiting from games that will be using them now ? coudl people have wasted money upgrading ?

Not necessarily, the architecture behind each core will still play a crucial part when it comes to performance.

 

[MrMarvelous]

No point, if you're on a budget try and get 2500K and a mobo instead.

 

[SlugForAButt]

No point, if you're on a budget try and get 2500K and a mobo instead.

 

[Scougar]

Wait for steamroller if that's what you intend. You'd be better getting the best clocks from your current chip.

Those extra cores will help in your audio/video stuff, but you would really have to value your time to make it worth while for two extra cores, and only if you know your software will support more than 4 cores well.

 

[humbug]

Doesn't look like there would be much point to be honest...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=146

Anand have an unfortunate habit of benching almost exclusively old single threaded apps that say little or nothing.

@ Kei, if you play the latest mainstream games or do a lot of video encoding... then the extra 2 cores will come in handy and will make a significant difference.

It will be, for example, the difference between significant bottlenecking of a high end GPU in BF3,- and Not, or Crysis 3 to be more upto date

 

[John24]

Kei, It's not done too bad considering, I was expecting slightly lower FPS. They are averages aswell. If your not finding it lacking I'd save up for an upgrade to the lastest stuff, you'll not need to upgrade again then as soon. In the mean time you could squeeze out a bit more by OCing via the FSB, requires a bit of patience to get the RAM stable though, might not be worth the effort if you don't need the extra boost.

Nice WC build btw, I've got a CM690 too and would like to WC one day, interesting seeing how it all fits in.

Shawy, thanks for that, the FPS is an average so it might not be 100% accurate, I expected to see a bit of a difference though, strange. I run my HT link at 2Ghz because I heard it can cause unstability and increasing it wasn't improving encoding performance, so I just left it at sock.

 

[humbug]

Shawy, thanks for that, the FPS is an average so it might not be 100% accurate, I expected to see a bit of a difference though, strange. I run my HT link at 2Ghz because I heard it can cause unstability and increasing it wasn't improving encoding performance, so I just left it at sock.

Wrong one, not the HT, the CPU-NB... upping the FSB (actually HT-Link on AMD's) will up the HT, and everything you don't want to.

But:
Deneb (P-II x4) have a weaker IMC than Thuban (P-II x6) in that they are actually different CPU's, the x6 is not just an x4 with two more cores, its a revised and improved CPU + 2 extra cores.

The x4 generally does not like running the CPU-NB past 2Ghz, where as the x6 does.

I ran my x6 1090T @ 2.8 - 3.0Ghz CPU-NB for 3 years. it increases Floating Point performance by anything from 10 to 20%, that's what you want, crank that up if you can.

 

[Martini1991]

I've ran Deneb's with 2.8GHZ and 3GHZ CPU NB's before Thuban ever launched.
I'd say it's a more mature 45nm process rather than being a revised CPU.
It was just 2 more cores with an improved IMC (Though rated the same 1333MHZ)

 

[John24]

humbug, er yes HT, I was talking to Shawy, he's got a x6. My CPUNB is already at 3Ghz as stated in an earlyer post.