Worth an upgrade?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

So what you're saying is this, if i get the budget processor and i am able to unlock it then i'm very lucky and the upgrade was definetly worth it, if not the upgrade was still worth it because the processor will still be decent and i can upgrade the GPU later on. Which is where i'll be getting most of my FPS upgrade from?

Surely later on that CPU might be bottlenecking the later cards though?

FarCry2 is meant to take advantage of multiple cores. It is one of the more CPU limited games out there.

At stock with an HD5850 the X2 555BE is getting nearly 60FPS at 1920X1200 in the Tom's hardware review.

WIC is meant to be very CPU limited and yet with an X2 555BE you are still getting nearly 50FPS in the review at 1920X1200.

Crysis shows exactly the same framerates with a Core i5 750 and an X2 555BE at 1920X1200 with an HD5850. Even Crysis 2 is based on a tweaked and more scalable version of CryEngine 2 called CryEngine 3.

Look at the latest Steam hardware survey:

http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/

75% of people who have a Steam account still use a single core or dual core CPU.

If your heart says get a quad then go with it but I just showing another alternative which is cheaper and you will still have a good gaming experience.

 

[daz87uk]

Most games are only dual core anyway, I can imagine it will be a while till a lot of quad core games are out. The 555BE operates at 3.2Ghz which is very respectable for a dual core. Its has a higher chance of unlocking cores than the 550BE and will most likely be a good choice unlocked or not IMHO. You will need some sort of ACC function in the bios of the motherboard to unlock the cores.

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This 790X motherboard has ACC and seems to have a decently cooled VRM:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-199-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482

 

[daz87uk]

They do almost the exact copy of that ^ but in AM3 so you could upgrade to DDR3 at somepoint its only tad more expensive @£99

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-211-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481

 

[Azure101]

Hmmmmm, Daz you've just made this decision a lot harder =P... Guess i need to find out if that 2nd mobo has ACC.

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Hmmmmm, Daz you've just made this decision a lot harder =P... Guess i need to find out if that 2nd mobo has ACC.

The 790GX AM3 motherboard has ACC as it has the SB750 southbridge.

However the AM3 motherboard has a weaker VRM design(4+1) than the AM2+ one(8+2) so this will limit overclocking:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=3143

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=3107

 

[daz87uk]

lol, ^^ sorted

 

[Azure101]

Right... So to me... the obvious choice there is the 790GX then because it has the potential for DDR3 RAM which i would probably end up upgrading to. Guess i'm done then! =P

the 555 Black edition and the 790GX! I guess all i need now is an aftermarket cooler and some thermal paste! ^_^ Spec me! hahaa xD

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You will also need some DDR3 RAM too.

The AMD memory controller is more latency sensitive so either get low latency 1333MHZ DDR3 or higher latency 1600MHZ DDR3 and run this at 1333MHZ using lower latencies.

 

[daz87uk]

did I just get my AM2+ and AM3 compatibilty mixed up.... I think i just did! FACEPALM. Sorry I thought AM3 board worked with DDR2 or is that just a myth?

I got low latency 1600Mhz ram becuase my board is specified to run at 1600Mhz (oc) and it works perfect running at those speeds now

looks like you may have to get some cheap DDR3 for my option then

 

[Azure101]

So you can't have an AM3 Motherboard without DDR3 ram? Back to the 790X we go! xD

 

[gbradders123]

the i5 will impress more girls down the boozer btw!

 

[daz87uk]

What girls to you know that are impressed by pcb and silicon , only reason they may get impressed, is if you pick up a blonde that happens to think an i5 is a BMW.....

 

[daz87uk]

by all means tho, budget is on the menu and the i5 is a tad over I do feel

 

[Azure101]

by all means tho, budget is on the menu and the i5 is a tad over I do feel

Just watched a video review for the 555, he makes it sound as if you're almost guaranteed to unlock the cores =/ xD but i seriously doubt it, however even just overclocking the 2 cores shows decent results even though i'd prefer a quad =P

I've never overclocked before. xD

 

[daz87uk]

o no lol, it was reviewed a higher success rate than the 550, by all means dont expect to the chip to unlock lol. I just ment its more likely to than the older chip. ;D overclocking the the two cores will still be very good tho

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Before you do so ask for some tips on OcUK as quite a few people here have experience with overclocking.

 

[Azure101]

Thats if i choose to get this chip, I'm very drawn to it though... Even if i dont get it unlocked then i've got a very decent upgrade on this processor now... So either way it's a win win... Just not sure whether to just go for a quad straight off the bat. xD

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Like I said I suggested this alternative path but of course choose whatever makes you happier.

I tend to be a cheapskate when it comes to upgrades though!

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

What girls to you know that are impressed by pcb and silicon

If there is a pretty girl that is impressed by that forget the Core i5 you should get a Core i7 instead!! Money well spent methinks!!