AMD Athlon II 425 X3 or AMD Phenom 8750 X3

[elpcavy21]

Origionally i ordered the Phenom http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103295

then i saw posts about unlocking the 4th core on the Athlon http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103726

but now i can't decide which i wish to return, I plan on using this mobo for either one i keep http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131595

I have an ATI Redeon HD 4670 http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-4670-PCI-Express-Graphics/dp/B002NPCDP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263339127&sr=1-1

and 4GB of DDR2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211188&cm_re=a_data_ddr2_800-_-20-211-188-_-Product

I'm trying to decide which processor will run the best with this set up and what processor will handle gaming better

I plan on overclocking the processors and if possible unlock the 4th core on the phenom if possible...

So my questions are
1. Which processor is better stock
2. Which processor is easier or better overclocked
3. Can i unlock the Phenom's 4th core
4. Does the Phenom's L3 cache offer a better advantage or does the athlons higher clock speed and 45nm offer a better advantage

link comparing both processors
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Property&N=2010340343&Manufactory=1028&PropertyCodeValue=507%3A50076%2C507%3A34498%2C517%3A33662%2C517%3A46439%2C517%3A20996%2C509%3A50077%2C509%3A34497&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=False&CompareItemList=N82E16819103295%2CN82E16819103726



thanks for any help

 

[o1die]

If you want a quad, don't rely on unlocking the 4th core. Sometimes it doesn't work; it's too unstable to reboot. The propus 620 is only $99.99, and ocassionally, around $82 shipped as an open box.

 

[elpcavy21]

Newegg had deals on them with a MOBO for $135 so i was just trying to choose between them but i will consider the Propus 620 thats not a bad deal either

 

[loneninja]

The Athlon II is more powerful, the Athlon II and original Phenom series swap blows with one another when compared at the same clock speed, but the newer 45nm Athlon II is much more power efficient and is a much better overclocker. You'll be lucky to reach 3.0Ghz on an old Phenom, 3.2Ghz if your really lucky, while an Athlon II will usually reach 3.5Ghz+

 

[elpcavy21]

Thank you very much I think i have decided to return the Phenom and keep the Athlon, from the information here and on a couple other sites it seems over all the Athlon is better despite not having an L3 cache

ANOTHER QUESTION

How big will the difference make between having the same video card as a 512Mb or 1GB its the card linked in my original post but they offer it in both 512Mb and 1Gb

 

[warmon6]

How big will the difference make between having the same video card as a 512Mb or 1GB its the card linked in my original post but they offer it in both 512Mb and 1Gb

That will depend on your monitor resolution and if you want to enable AA.

 

[elpcavy21]

Stop baeting aroudn the bush and tell us the two video cards models you want us to compare

the card i have linked in the OP is this one
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-4670-PCI-Express-Graphics/dp/B002NPCDP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263339127&sr=1-1
they offer it in a 512Mb and a 1Gb just trying to decided what the performance gains of having more memory is if there is any

I'll be using the Motherboard that is also linked in the OP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131595

 

[elpcavy21]

Edit:

Heck I've seen some 4850s on Newegg for $99, only a $23 difference over the 4670. The Athlon 620 X4 is $23 more than the 435 X4. So you are spending just $46 more for a processor that is a guaranteed quad core (longevity) and will overclock just as far as the X3 plus you are getting a video card that is at least 50% faster on a bad day.

Another concern is the motherboard, you can buy a DDR3 motherboard (AM3 native) for almost the same price. Also the DDR2 A-Data memory can be bought for almost the same price as DDR3 sticks. The motherboard and memory choice makes no sense.

this is the information i need, I am using the DDR2 since i have it just sitting around i plan on eventually upgrading the ram also, but lets just open this up


if you were me and wanted to spend around $350 on the following items what would you purchase?
CPU
Motherboard (micro ATX since thats the case i have)
Memory
GPU

 

[elpcavy21]

Before I can answer this i need a little bit more information. Do you need a new PSU (Power Supply Unit) or have you got a decent one? Also you said that you have existing DDR2 memory already, how much memory is it? Because if you are planning on adding more DDR2 memory at a later date its costing the same as if you sold your existing DDR2 on ebay and buying the same DDR3 kit to start with.

I've got an OK 400w PSU that i'll upgrade as needed I've got 4GB DDR2 (2 x 2GB) if it is a better idea i will sell the DDR2 in order to buy the DDR3 lets say you'd have $80 extra by selling the DDR2 so now you have a total of about $430 to spend on a DDR3 system

so... for $430 what would you buy lol

Motherboard
CPU
DDR3 Memory
GPU

 

[theholylancer]

PSU brand? 400w is more than enough if it is quality brand / model

 

[saaiello]

You should get rid of the 4670 i had bought one from newegg 3 weeks ago and hated it way overpriced for what it is u will see better performance with a 9800gt or a 4850 for only 20 bux more or spend the 50 dollars more like i did and get the gt 250

 

[elpcavy21]

PSU brand? 400w is more than enough if it is quality brand / model

This is the PSU I have
http://www.dynexproducts.com/pc-124-28-dynex-400-watt-atx-cpu-power-supply.aspx

 

[Pro Llama]

I've got an OK 400w PSU that i'll upgrade as needed I've got 4GB DDR2 (2 x 2GB) if it is a better idea i will sell the DDR2 in order to buy the DDR3 lets say you'd have $80 extra by selling the DDR2 so now you have a total of about $430 to spend on a DDR3 system

so... for $430 what would you buy lol

Motherboard
CPU
DDR3 Memory
GPU

Your ram should be fine. The board can handle a PII 965 if you wanna lower the gpu.
$80 : Biostar mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138155
$140 : XFX HD 5750: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150448
$113 : Athlon II X4 630: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704

 

[theholylancer]

Your ram should be fine. The board can handle a PII 965 if you wanna lower the gpu.
$80 : Biostar mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138155
$140 : XFX HD 5750: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150448
$113 : Athlon II X4 630: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704

issue with that recommandation, the 5750 and the athlon II X4 will need more power than what this dynex 400w is outputting,


the 5750 needs

450 Watt or greater power supply with one 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connector recommended

and I dont think that 400w even has a PCIE power connector...


and same thing with the Sapphire ATI 4850 $99.99 recommendation above

they both needs a better PSU....

 

[elpcavy21]

You should get rid of the 4670 i had bought one from newegg 3 weeks ago and hated it way overpriced for what it is u will see better performance with a 9800gt or a 4850 for only 20 bux more or spend the 50 dollars more like i did and get the gt 250

You're the 2nd person in the thread to say that, I think I will return the 4670 and opt for the 4850 once my refund is returned, I guess its really worth that extra $25-$30 then!

 

[theholylancer]

in short, it is. try for a 5750 or 5770 if you can tho, DX11 is here and they are not THAT much more expensive with similar enough performance that it's okay


unless if you came across deals on the 4870/4890 that seems to be on saleish now

 

[elpcavy21]

issue with that recommandation, the 5750 and the athlon II X4 will need more power than what this dynex 400w is outputting,


the 5750 needs

450 Watt or greater power supply with one 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connector recommended

and I dont think that 400w even has a PCIE power connector...


and same thing with the Sapphire ATI 4850 $99.99 recommendation above

they both needs a better PSU....

nope the Dynex does not have a PCIe Power connector I just looked at it! lol
but if my PSU can't handle the 4850 then i will stick with the 4670 and buy a PSU/GPU combo from Newegg at a later date...

 

[elpcavy21]

in short, it is. try for a 5750 or 5770 if you can tho, DX11 is here and they are not THAT much more expensive with similar enough performance that it's okay


unless if you came across deals on the 4870/4890 that seems to be on saleish now

Well I was planning on getting the GPU from Amazon as I scored a $75 Gift card for there when i spend $1000 on my monster truck tires! so i will be purchasing the GPU from amazon and was trying to stay within the $75 but if there is a better GPU that i can get for not much more monies on amazon then i'm all over it

 

[C00lIT]

I am sure it's posted all over the thread... stay away from the Phenom 1 cpu's

They only good one is the 9850 and the 9950's but at this point they are only useful for people with older AM2 Boards...

Athlon II's are great budget cpu's.

 

[theholylancer]

well there IS the third option

if you buy the 4850 now or 5750 don't plug in the PCIE power and limit it to low power mode, it would not perform good at all until you get a better PSU, but hell it's better than sinking money into a 4670 and not be able to resell it for a good price later on with a good PSU

granted I hope the new card won't make that old PSU explode, what is the rest of your components like (brand please) also age of the PSU and see if we can determine even if the low power mode on the newer cards will work

 

[elpcavy21]

well there IS the third option

if you buy the 4850 now or 5750 don't plug in the PCIE power and limit it to low power mode, it would not perform good at all until you get a better PSU, but hell it's better than sinking money into a 4670 and not be able to resell it for a good price later on with a good PSU

granted I hope the new card won't make that old PSU explode, what is the rest of your components like (brand please) also age of the PSU and see if we can determine even if the low power mode on the newer cards will work

The pc that the PSU is in now is 3 years old
Motherbord Asus P4G-LA
HardDrives 2 x WD WD800
Pentium 4 (lol) 2.0Ghz
GPU PCI Visiontek 9250 128Mb
Liknsys PCI Wireless card
1.5Gb ram ddr

 

[theholylancer]

ummm let me ask, how were you planning on sticking ANY PCIE cards into the mobo????

it only takes PCI and umm how did ur fit a 4650 into it?????

 

[elpcavy21]

ummm let me ask, how were you planning on sticking ANY PCIE cards into the mobo????

it only takes PCI and umm how did ur fit a 4650 into it?????

no thats the computer that i'm saving the PSU from im going to order all the stuff listed in the original post new Mobo
new CPU
new GPU


the only things that i'm keeping form the Pentium 4 set-up is the PSU the HD's and the CD/DVD drive

I got the PSU about a year ago to replace the 300W that was in my Pentium 4 that i'm trashing and replacing with the AMD set-up and the GPU we've been discussing

 

[theholylancer]

hmm then it should last for a little while at least (I hope the 400w is at least capable of 300w, if so then you should be good), how long do you plan to wait until u got cash for new PSU?

 

[elpcavy21]

A couple months probably I'll probably opt for something 600w to 650w higher if needed but i don't want it to be an over kill