Athlon II X4 or X3

[darkslash_323]

Hey,

I'm planning on getting a processor for my friend as a birthday gift, but I can't decide on getting him a triple or quad core.

He currently is using a Athlon 64 X2 6000+ and I think he has a Nvidia GTS 250. He'll be mainly using it for gaming.

I would like to stay around the budget of $80. I'm willing to go up to $100, if that extra $20 is really worth the extra core.

Any help.opinion is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

https://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=ADX445WFBX&title=AMD-Athlon-II-X3-Triple-Core-Processor-445-3-1-GHz-AM3-Retail

or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704&cm_re=athlon_ii_x4-_-19-103-704-_-Product

 

[darkslash_323]

Would a Phenom II x3 be better than a Athlon II X3?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103699&cm_re=phenom_ii_x3-_-19-103-699-_-Product

 

[rolli59]

By the difference of having the L3 Cache but you pay a price premium for that at the same clock speed.
The X3 740BE is a nice small gift!

 

[darkslash_323]

So its not worth it to pay that extra for the L3 cache?

 

[rolli59]

So its not worth it to pay that extra for the L3 cache?

With a BE you are paying for the unlocked multiplier as well which makes it worth it.

 

[darkslash_323]

Sorry, a few more questions:

It seems that the PII X3 740BE... w/tax and shipping, goes over the price I would pay for a Athlon II X4 w/tax and shipping.(Watching out for my wallet lol) So is the triple core Phenom II better than the quad core Athlon?

Thanks

 

[rolli59]

It is based on the use. Strictly gaming 740BE, multitasking X4. As more games come out that can benefit from multiple cores the better the X4 looks.

 

[darkslash_323]

Hmmm....I was talking to my friend the other day. He was planning to save up for a Phenom II X4 955....but he said it was going to be awhile....so I'm not sure if its worth it now to buy him a Athlon II X3/X4, since he's planning to buy the Phenom II X4 later on. Would this be a wise choice to give him before his planned upgrade to a Phenom II x4?

Thanks a lot!

 

[rolli59]

If he gets a lesser CPU as a gift he might get disappointed not having the 955BE down the road. Why do you not just give him the money towards his future purchase and therefore speed up his purchase date.

 

[darkslash_323]

Hmmm. Ok then, I think I'll put the money towards another possible computer component. Thanks a lot for your input and help.