Which CPU to buy

[Jaymie1989]

Hi,

I am upgrading my PC to the best of its abilities and I'm undecided on which CPU to go for.

Here are my choices:
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz

or
AMD Phenom II X6 1045T 2.7GHz


Here is the MoBo I have:
ASRock > Products > N68-S

I know there are both supported but I'm not sure what the difference it between the two in terms of speed? I know one is 3.4GHz and the other is lower but I dont know what the real difference will be.

Thanks

 

[essenbe]

The X4 is faster and has 4 cores, the X6 has 6 cores. The one that's best for you depends on what you do with your computer. There aren't many programs that make use of 6 cores, but some CPU intensive programs such as HD video editing and such will. Games, there is no advantage as they don't really use 4 cores.

 

[bobkn]

Hi,

I am upgrading my PC to the best of its abilities and I'm undecided on which CPU to go for.

Here are my choices:
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz

or
AMD Phenom II X6 1045T 2.7GHz


Here is the MoBo I have:
ASRock > Products > N68-S

I know there are both supported but I'm not sure what the difference it between the two in terms of speed? I know one is 3.4GHz and the other is lower but I dont know what the real difference will be.

Thanks

Not to be priggish, but are you sure that your motherboard supports those CPUs?

Asrock gives a list:

ASRock > Products > N68-S > CPU Support List

Neither of your choices are on it.

The 965 is a 125W TDP chip, which is higher than the highest approved ones (95W). That looks likely to be a problem.

I presume that the 1045T will be compatible, like the 1055t, although it'd be nice if it was listed explicitly.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Having just upgraded from that fine 965 I can recommend it with all my heart. The 1045 is a great choice as well but I don't have any personal experience with it. My 965 was stable on a sealed water system @ 4.1 and I think it had more to give with tweaking.

 

[Jaymie1989]

Not to be priggish, but are you sure that your motherboard supports those CPUs?

Asrock gives a list:

ASRock > Products > N68-S > CPU Support List

Neither of your choices are on it.

The 965 is a 125W TDP chip, which is higher than the highest approved ones (95W). That looks likely to be a problem.

I presume that the 1045T will be compatible, like the 1055t, although it'd be nice if it was listed explicitly.

Hi,

My mistake, I was looking at multiple things.

What do you think about this one:
Advance Technologies AMD Phenom II X6 1045T 2.7GHz Thuban Core 6MB Cache 95W Retail HDT45TWFGRBOX

 

[3D Jed]

According to this benchmark site

PassMark Software - CPU Benchmark Charts

the X4 scores 4201 and the X6 gets 5000

 

[whs]

I think in real life you will have more benefits from the higher clock speed of the X4 than from the 2 additional cores of the X6. And I would not stare at benchmarks. Those are pretty artificial and do not take the real daily used programs into consideration.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Yes, whs is right. If the choice was a faster quad core versus a slower 6 core proc, 99.9% of what you would do with the computer, would be faster on the quad, if all else was equal.

 

[Jaymie1989]

What about this CPU: AMD 960T Black Edition 3.0GHz Socket AM3 6MB L3 Cache.. | Ebuyer.com

 

[whs]

What about this CPU: AMD 960T Black Edition 3.0GHz Socket AM3 6MB L3 Cache.. | Ebuyer.com

Now you are 'downgrading'.

 

[Jaymie1989]

lol.

Could you recommend one for the MoBo?

 

[whs]

lol.

Could you recommend one for the MoBo?

I think your first X4 was a good choice. And at 95 quid it is not too bad - at least for the UK price levels. This is the list price in the US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727&Tpk=AMD%20Phenom%20II%20X4%20965%20Black%20Edition%203.4GHz On sale it is probably around $80.

 

[3D Jed]

whs - you are probably right re clock speed versus 2 extra cores since many apps cannot use 6 cores. My main use for pcs is Cinema 4D which can use all the cores you can afford - I guess I was judging using my criteria. Here's an interesting video clip showing 2 vs 8 vs 24 threads in C4D world.

12 Core vs. 8 Core vs. 2 Core – Cinema 4D Render Speed Test - Greyscalegorilla

 

[Jaymie1989]

Not to be priggish, but are you sure that your motherboard supports those CPUs?

Asrock gives a list:

ASRock > Products > N68-S > CPU Support List

Neither of your choices are on it.

The 965 is a 125W TDP chip, which is higher than the highest approved ones (95W). That looks likely to be a problem.

I presume that the 1045T will be compatible, like the 1055t, although it'd be nice if it was listed explicitly.

As bobkn said, far as I know the CPU you showed me isnt compatible with my motherboard as its 125w and the most I can have is a 95w

 

[bobkn]

As bobkn said, far as I know the CPU you showed me isnt compatible with my motherboard as its 125w and the most I can have is a 95w

Just out of curiosity, I checked my favorite US online retailer (no, they don't ship outside the US and Canada). Not much came up in CPUs 95W and below:

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, CPUs / Processors, Processors - Desktops, AMD, 95W, Phenom II X4, Socket AM3, Phenom II X2, Phenom II X6, Socket AM3+...

(Phenom II X4 955 "Deneb", Phenom II BE 560, Phenom II X6 1045T. The latter is out of stock at the moment.) Looks like the market is moving on to the FM1 CPUs.

 

[Jaymie1989]

Thanks,

I have found it for the UK: Advance Technologies AMD Phenom II X6 1045T 2.7GHz Thuban Core 6MB Cache 95W Retail HDT45TWFGRBOX

If its the best one for this MoBo then I will get that one.

This PC is not for gaming or anything but I want to get the most out of it that I can.

Edit:

What about this CPU? http://www.ebuyer.com/311396-amd-96...t-am3-8mb-l2-cache-retail-boxed-hd96ztwfgrbox