AMD trial !

[boulard83]

Im currently on the mood of trying AMD's. I want a QUAD cause GTA4 is damn CPU needing game and quads perform better at this game. I dont want to spend 700-800 right now to switch to I7.... but i want a QUAD. My mobo is the current OC limit of my RIG ... switching to a new intel proco is switching my mobo too .. thats why i want to give a try to the AMD family !

CURRENT RIG :
P5N32 E SLI PLUS (DUAL 16x sli)
WCed E6850 @ 3.6 ghz.
4g ddr2 800 4-4-4-12 1T Gskillz Pi-Black
SLI BFG 9800GTX+ OC ( im about to swith to GTX285 SLI )
PC P&C 750W silencer.
RC-690 case
XP 64 pro

Thats the mobo+cpu im looking at. i have the retention bracket to make my WC fit to AMD proc.

Athlon X4 9950 64 Bit (2.6G) 4 Megs AM2
Asus M3N-HT Dlx Nvi 780i Ddr2 1066 Pcie Skt Am2+

any advice ?

 

[shiftstealth]

Why dont get you a phenom II?

It has twice the cache of phenom 1 and overclocks higher.

 

[The Third Level]

Try one of the Phenom II X4s. They are better than the X4 Athlons cause they have an L3 cache.

 

[Reynod]

Why not stick a Q6600 in the mobo you have and be done with it -cheap option 1.

Jeez ... switching to a Phenom is a bit stupid when you can get a Q6600 cheap or even better a Q9450 / Q9550 / Q 9650 (45nm Quad core which runs a tad faster and cooler than a Q6 series)

http://au.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=397&l4=0&model=1459&modelmenu=1

Don't waste your money because a Phenom II is about on par with a Q6 series clock for clock and not quite as fast as a Q9 series.

I am a bit of an AMD fan so please don't bash me over this.

Its a simple case of value for money.

Hope this helps.

 

[boulard83]

@reynod
I told that i want to change my MOBO.... buying a new MOBO+Q9550 lead me to near the I7 price ( still need to buy DDR3 mem ... )

@ third level and stealth
P2 X4 can be in my price range. they are that much better compared to a 9950 ? im not AMD fans, so i dont really know those CPU. OCing one of those is a thing i want to try !

my local shop price : (canada)
Athlon X4 9950 64 Bit (2.6G) 4 Megs AM2 204.63 $
Phenom II X4 X920 (2.8G) 4 Megs AM2 260.87 $
Phenom II X4 X940 (3.0G) 4 Megs AM2 302.35 $
+
Asus M3N-HT Dlx Nvi 780i Ddr2 1066 Pcie Skt Am2+ 236.55 $

Newegg canada price :
Athlon X4 9950 64 Bit (2.6G) 4 Megs AM2 187.00 $
Phenom II X4 X920 (2.8G) 4 Megs AM2 236.49 $
Phenom II X4 X940 (3.0G) 4 Megs AM2 286.49 $
+
Asus M3N-HT Dlx Nvi 780i Ddr2 1066 Pcie Skt Am2+ 225.49 $

 

[boulard83]

@ psycho
your looking at US price( i told im in canada), and THX for listing 1x1gb of memory .... very usefull ...

I7 920 : 359$
+
gigabyte mobo : 262.49$
+ (one of those)
cheapest 3x1gb : gskill 90.49$
some good 3x1gb : 129$
cheapest 3x2gb : gskill 137.99$

+ buying a new CPU block ...... 100+ $


CHEAPEST is 800+$ ....

Edit 1: and i want to give a try to AMD. i think ill try P2 X4 + the asus mobo ive listed.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

The Phenom II X4 920 will be much better than the 9950, enjoy.

 

[boulard83]

using AMD, (kinda noob at AMD OCing) ill be able to reach 3.6-3.8 ghz with both 920 or 940 ?

 

[bige420]

But go with the 940 because of the unlocked multiplier.

 

[UNICOMPLEX]

If you want to go the AMD route then I would go for the AMD II 940 option, this CPU really isnt that far behind the i7 920 for gaming ! and even beats it sometimes when it comes to gaming related bench marks.

I found these from a store called CANADA COMPUTERS so its in your country, the CPU is a little cheaper than the one you found User Boulard83, but the motherboard is a little more expensive but worth it,

AMD II 940 8mb cache 4x 3.0Ghz 1800Mhz (125w) $284.99
Asus M4A70 Deleuxe Socket AM2+ 790FX. $254.99

Hope this helps.

Also people if you read where I say the AMD II 940 sometimes beats the i7 920.
This is only in gaming bench marks not other none gaming multi tasking applications,
before you all start saying what ! since when.

 

[boulard83]

This computer is mainly used for gaming. I use my laptop for WEB-MSN.

I just speaked with my local dealer. IM confused .. buying NOW AMD 940 and MOBO or waiting few month to see if I7 price goes down ....

You know, we ALWAIS want more, and more ... If you ask my GF, she thinks im crazy about this computer but understand my passion for the "CPU THING" ! I agree that the CPU world is a bottomless hole for your wallet.

damn ! upgrade NOW or wait to see I7 go down !!!

 

[UNICOMPLEX]

Well you could wait and the prices of i7 may come down to something that is within your budget, but by that time there maybe another CPU you like and your asking yourself should I wait till this one comes down in price !
You can never win, its like EVOLUTION with CPUs.

 

[4745454b]

Seeing as you have your mind made up, what exactly are you asking again? You refuse to drop a quad into your current system, even though its the cheaper option. This is dumb, there, I've said it. I don't mean to piss you off, but getting a Q6600 IS the best/cheapest option. If your looking for someone to hold your hand and tell you its ok to get an AMD CPU, I'm sure you can find some here. If you want someone to tell you how to spend the least amount of money and get a quad, its already been done.

 

[halcyon]

It seems the OP just wants to try an AMD setup. ...maybe to judge for himself how it performs vs. an Intel rig. Yes, he could get more performance for less $$ by dropping a contemporary Intel quad in his current board. ...but he wants to play.

That's reasonable, as long as he's aware he's paying more $$ for less performance. ...unless there's something wrong with his 775 mobo that he's not yet told us.

 

[boulard83]

haha your right boyz ... i dont really like my P5N32 cause its limiting my OC. this **** mobo really dont want to go higher than 1600fsb ... and ths NB get really hot. that why i want to change CPU-MOBO for a better OC and having quad.

Im looking at the EVGA 780i, seems to be able to handle 1800fsb (450 base fsb) i want to keep using SLI. im going for SLI GTX285 soon.


EVGA 780I + Q9550 or Q9650 ... this 12mb cache is really teasing me.

after talking with my local dealer, ive left the AMD idea ... but waiting for a lil drop with the I7 is still in my mind. Money is not really an Issue .. but its still a waste BTW, my current config can do it ...

 

[halcyon]

haha your right boyz ... i dont really like my P5N32 cause its limiting my OC. this **** mobo really dont want to go higher than 1600fsb ... and ths NB get really hot. that why i want to change CPU-MOBO for a better OC and having quad.

Im looking at the EVGA 780i, seems to be able to handle 1800fsb (450 base fsb) i want to keep using SLI. im going for SLI GTX285 soon.


EVGA 780I + Q9550 or Q9650 ... this 12mb cache is really teasing me.

after talking with my local dealer, ive left the AMD idea ... but waiting for a lil drop with the I7 is still in my mind. Money is not really an Issue .. but its still a waste BTW, my current config can do it ...

Are you positive its the mobo that's limiting your overclocks and not something else (errr RAM). Have you tried loosening those timings & upping the voltage on the RAM). Northbridge heat, yeah that can suck...but a $5 40mm fan could drop your temps ~6-7C too, so no reason not to give that a whirl (unless you already have).

I had a Striker Extreme and no it didn't overclock too great, but I guess that's why my stepdad has it now.

 

[boulard83]

i have a 80mm(2500rpm) blowing DIRECTLY to the NB. CPU is WCed. yes i tryed adding volt to the mem, loosing timing. and with different RAM also ... this mobo really CANT go higher ... nforce 6 arnt the best OCer. If you didnt know, a "P5N32e sli plus" is a stripped striker ... The "P5n32e sli plus" sticker on the mobo is hiding "striker extreme" wrote directly on the board.

http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/1960/__5.jpg

450fsb with a 780i can lead me to 4000mhz. what im looking for (using my E6850 or Q9650). Pushing a SLI + high end games need alot of CPU power as far as i know.

 

[halcyon]

Yeah, i knew its a "stripped" as-you-call-it Striker...that's why I threw that tidbit in there. ...but even w/in your overclocking limits you can likely outshine anything AMD for less $$ then switching platforms. It'd be like paying more to get less just because you're mad at your mobo. Like I said, even within your current overclocking limits you can likely outshine anything AMD with simple, cheaper (than AMD CPU+AMD mobo, anyways) Intel CPU swap.

Heck, I just looked at your sig...you're at 3.6Ghz. ...and you're thinking of going AMD. Can I have some of that stuff you've got...must be good shhiiii...oh, sorry about that.

Wanna go Quad...do a Q6600 or 6700 on your current board. What were you going to buy AMD that could hammer the Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz for the same or less $$?

 

[boulard83]

i think ill go for a 780I chipset and wait till I7 are cheaper to go Quad. Taking my E6850 @ 4.0 is going to kick just enough for the momment i think.

Im also goin to try TEC cooling. something like 226W TEC + copper plate + insulating + grease = like 75$ for being able to reach near 0c idle and maybe LOAD @ 30c-35c if everything works well. Ill try TEC with the 780i + E6850+WC. Just in case everything mess up ....

 

[kg4icg]

hows this for under 1k http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_IV/

 

[Reynod]

There is no way in hell (bar phase change cooling) that a Phenom 2 system is going to beat sticking an overclocked Yorky or Kenty into your current system.

Your initial proposal is simply stupid and instead of listening to common sense from other experienced users your still going to ignore us.

If you look at any benchmark around then you will see.

Swap the chip and forget the TEC's ... they are unstable and pointless given the additional power requirements compared even to a moderate water cooling system ... and from my experience cranky things to setup and maintain as well.

The differentials on starting TEC's cause all sorts of condensation issues depending on the weather and for me were just another toy that ended up in the shed in a box.

I do hope you listen to some of the advice here too ...

 

[Reynod]

Post the one for Penryn as well will you?

 

[cjl]

Penryn are 45nm mobile. That comparison has Kentsfield (65nm quad), Yorkfield (45nm quad), and Bloomfield (45nm nehalem quad). What else could it need?

 

[Zorg]

Edit:

OP take a deep breath and think through what you are doing. At least take a few weeks.

 

[doormatderek]

There won't be hardly ANY noticeable difference in speed compared to your other rig anyway.