Which CPU should I buy?

[mattzx]

Hi,

I need advice on which CPU I should buy. I'll be using the system to browse the internet, occasional word processing and game playing. The games I play are old, ranging from the mid 90s to around 2004/05, although I would like the CPU to have the ability to play the occasional new game such as the new Deus Ex game and Max Payne 3 when it's out. I don't mind if the settings are low on those games. I'll be using an ATI HD5770 which I already have and also my copy of XP Home Edition.

My budget is very low also I'm in England so I'll post the prices in sterling as well as the approximate equivalent in US dollars. I have around £60.00/$95.00 to spend.

The CPU's I'm considering have all been priced on ebuyer.com.

Celeron G530 £33.03/$52.00
Pentium G620 £44.95/$71.00
Pentium G630 £49.79/$79.00
Pentium G840 £54.94/$87.00
Athlon II x3 450 £59.99/$95.00
Athlon II X4 631 £49.92/$79.00


Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks
Matt

 

[computernewb]

the pentium g840 is probably your best bet. here is a cpu heirarchy chart
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

The pentium g's take the best cpu under 100$ for march 2012
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-2.html

 

[wr6133]

I would scrap those AMD options you have that use FM1 Socket and get this

http://www.cclonline.com/product/41337/ADX640WFGMBOX/CPUs/AMD-Athlon-II-X4-640-Quad-Core-3-0GHz-Processor-/CPU1080/

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Quad-Core 3.0GHz (shop around you may find it cheaper)

OR this

http://www.ebuyer.com/270556-amd-athlon-ii-x3-460-3-4ghz-socket-am3-1-5mb-3x512kb-l2-cache-adx460wfgmbox

AMD Athlon II X3 460 3.4GHz Socket AM3 (this one will make up its added cost on savings on the mobo)

Toms put both on the same performance bracket as the Intels personaly i would prefer it. The CPU may seem over budget a little but the AM3 socket it uses means you can get a cheaper motherboard (am3 or am3+)

edit to add*

OR this

AMD Athlon II X3 450 3.2GHz Socket AM3

http://www.ebuyer.com/238326-amd-athlon-ii-x3-450-3-2ghz-socket-am3-95w-1-5mb-l2-cache-adx450wfgmbox

Within Budget also rated on par with the intels and AM3 so boards can be cheap as cheaps

 

[mattzx]

Anybody else have an opinion?

 

[cmi86]

Simply put the fastest chip up there "real world" not synthetic benchmarks or "just" gaming is the X4 athlon. More cores = more fast, simply put.

 

[yojo98]

What's your Mobo, because you could always get the X3 and unlock the extra core to a quad.

 

[mattzx]

What's your Mobo, because you could always get the X3 and unlock the extra core to a quad.

If I bought the Athlon II x3 450 I was going to get this mobo Asrock N68C-S UCC GeForce 7025 Socket AM2+ VGA Out 6 Channel Audio mATX Motherboard.

 

[cmi86]

If I bought the Athlon II x3 450 I was going to get this mobo Asrock N68C-S UCC GeForce 7025 Socket AM2+ VGA Out 6 Channel Audio mATX Motherboard.

Do not just coun't on unlocking cores, most of the time they are locked for a reason. If you want a quad buy one.

 

[wr6133]

You need an AM3 Board for the AM3 CPU's

http://www.cclonline.com/product/70208/M5A78L-M-LX-V2/Motherboards/Asus-M5A78L-M-LX-Socket-AM3-Motherboard/MBD0253/

or if on a real skimpy budget

http://www.cclonline.com/product/60874/GA-M68MT-S2P/Motherboards/Gigabyte-NVIDIA-GeForce-Motherboard/MBD0170/