AMD Phenom II X2 55 BE vs Athlon II X3 455

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs AMD Phenom II X2 55 BE vs Athlon II X3 455

Hi all,

Just planning a new budget gaming build (my first in years) and am having real trouble deciding between the two. I know from what I've read that you can't bank on the Phenom giving you more cores to play with, but if I overclocked/unlock neither (for example), which perform the best? Also how easy is it/how likely is it to actually be able to play with these secret cores? :kaola:

The build is based on gaming but will obviously need to perform alright at day-to-day tasks as well. I can get the Phenom for £70 and the Athlon for £60 if that makes a difference?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Reply to SirSpanky

I wouldn't count on unlocking the extra cores. Lots of posts lately about problems when unlocking cores. I would spend the extra for the phenom II, unless you find the 550 used. Someone sold a 545 used for only $40 on my local craigslist. A phenom II at 2.8 is currently listed for $80 used here in austin tx.

Reply to o1die

My main question really is though, is the Phenom X2 555 a decent CPU without unlocking any cores? Is it worth the 'phenom' name over the Athlon with an extra core?

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Reply to SirSpanky

The Phenom is better. The Athlon you mentioned might be clocked a little faster... but the Phenom 555 has 6MB L3 cache that will speed it up a bit!

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/97?vs=202 550 vs 455
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/120?vs=202 555 vs 455

Check the benches.

Reply to 1965ohio

as i can see at the benches.
Athlon is better for gaming and phenom better for normal tasks.
But that phenom is a proccessor that you can unlock to an quad core so i will go for an Phenom.

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Reply to Anonymous

Here in the states the Phenom II X4 is down to near the X2 prices (nearly impossible to pass up here), how close is it for you?

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Message edited by Raidur on 05-28-2011 at 11:36:27 PM

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Reply to Raidur

I run a x3 435 unlocked and clocked, it shows up as a phenom x4 b35 now, not an athlon,
it kills WoW and I've not had any stability issues
a 455 should be better if you can unlock and clock it,
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/best [...] 195-2.html and its still on the Toms recommended list too
Raidur,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-Phenom [...] 315&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_s [...] fix=x2+255
still a fair difference this side dude
Moto

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------------------------------ Once you start watercooling, you are almost automatically inducted into the modding circles as well, because theres rarely a 'from the box, fits everyone' solution, its your ingenuity and resourcefulness that makes it all happen,
Reply to motopsychojdn

Raidur wrote :

Here in the states the Phenom II X4 is down to near the X2 prices (nearly impossible to pass up here), how close is it for you?

I agree with Raidur, you should look at X4 prices. Here it's like $30 difference for a X4 that you know is stable and could probably overclock to 4ghz or at least higher than an unlocked X2.

Reply to Haserath

I would go for the 955 myself, but as Op was between two other chips, I decided on those, if he has budget its 955 all the way
Moto

motopsychojdn wrote :

^+1
my first choice if not knowing the x4 955be was on sale.

Message edited by malmental on 05-29-2011 at 12:45:51 AM

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Reply to malmental

If I were to unlock cores, do I need extra cooler for cpu? I heard the cpu temp might increase when it's unlocked.

Reply to pratyaksa

what's the current cpu cooler you have or are you talking about the cooler that comes with the retail package CPU purchase.?
if the retail OEM cooler from AMD is the one with the copper pipes than you can get by for right now but yes indeed, an aftermarket is s recommended move.

------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

Anonymous wrote :

as i can see at the benches.
Athlon is better for gaming and phenom better for normal tasks.
But that phenom is a proccessor that you can unlock to an quad core so i will go for an Phenom.

incorrect..

------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

SirSpanky wrote :

My main question really is though, is the Phenom X2 555 a decent CPU without unlocking any cores? Is it worth the 'phenom' name over the Athlon with an extra core?

it's not a guarantee that the CPU you get will unlock....
just an FYI..

------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

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