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[rfxcasey]

Hello, I currently have an AMD Kuma 7750 overclocked to 3.2Ghz. I am using 4 gigs of DDR2 memory capable of running at 1066 however I am running it at 800Mhz 5-5-5-15 timing as the general consensus seems to be there is no noticeable speed difference at 1066 with looser timing. I would like to upgrade my machine in anticipation of IL-2 Cliffs of Dover. I was considering upgrading my processor to a Phenom II 840 for around a $100 which has 2 more cores then the Kuma however lacks the L3 cache. Since both processors would be running at the same frequency I was wondering if this upgrade would be worth it. My current AM2+ motherboard will support AM3 processors but only up to 95W and I believe the 840 is the highest end quad core I can get with 95W.

The Kuma has 2 cores, 2 megs of 32way L3 while the 840 have 4 cores and no L3. Now I am fairly sure that the 840 will smoke the Kuma in multithreaded applications but I am wondering if I should expect any slowdown on older games like Unreal 3 or Dirt 2 for example. I am also concerned about single threaded applications like the original IL-2 Sturmovik. Keeping in mind both processors will be running the same frequency. I am also considering getting the fastest 95W AM2 quad I can get but don't really know what that would be and if they are even available anymore. I would prefer at this point to probably not get a whole new MB, Mem and processor. Thanks for any advice you can give. I will also be upgrading my video card to probably a GTX 560 ti in the next few weeks from my old 4830 card.

 

[mosox]

The 840 is a very good CPU, go for it. IL-2 great old game. A HD 6850 would be very good for your games.

 

[iceclock]

id go with the 840 since it seems its the best u can upgrade to and the gtx 560 ti is a great card, for the price but a 6870 for 230$ is a better choice in my opinion

 

[rfxcasey]

840 with no L3 cache....
damn that, doesn't that make it an athlon ii x4 with a phenom ii name.?

Absolutely does, but that's ok cause I bought it and it runs like a top. IL-2 (which is extremely processor bound and single threaded) actually runs better than on my 7750 Kuma overclocked to 3.2Ghz which had 2Mb of L3 as it's actually a Phenom. You do have to take into consideration though that (and correct me if I am wrong) no Athlon to my knowledge uses the same core or cores as the 840 so I am sure there are improvements in the architecture that seem to make up the difference and then some. You can also check Passmark's CPU comparison chart http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ The 840 scores a decent 3,830 while the Kuma comes in at 1,569. Given the Kuma has 2 cores to the 840's 4 the 840 still more then double the processing power of the Kuma so for $110 I'd say it was a good upgrade seeing as I am using the same memory and motherboard.

I do understand however that the motherboard and chipsets used in the comparison will have a significant impact on benchmark scores but my experience with the 840 so far has been positive and I am sure the 2 extra cores will help in the upcoming Cliffs of Dover.