Need a good CPU to pair with Radeon HD 6850

Lazar_99

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Like the title says, i need a new CPU that won't bottleneck everything like my Athlon II X3 does right now. I'm not really sure which CPU to buy so i need some advice.
 

Lazar_99

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The best phenom X4 my board can support is the 960T. it can actually support all cpu's that have a max TDP of 95W
 

Lazar_99

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my motherboard is a Biostar N68S3+ and i already now it is capable of feeding a cpu that needs 95W max. The best phenom II X4 that it supports is the 960T
 

Lazar_99

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that's good. now where am i gonna find an amd phenom II X4 that is supported on my board? the only phenoms i found in stores are 965 BE and those six core phenoms.
 

Lazar_99

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If i buy a motherboard that supports core unlocking will i get rid of the bottleneck with a unlocked Athlon II 445? i heard it also gets the L3 cache when unlocked
 

Lazar_99

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Overclocking isn't an option on this motherboard, even if i properly set the voltage and a slightly higher frequency it starts normal but on the next reboot or startup it won't boot and i need to return everything on default. I even had to clear the CMOS to be able to boot at all. I hate this CPU (though the motherboard is to blame for not being able to OC) but i wouldn't need to OC if it was faster. Its a pathetic processor for gaming and bottlenecks with stronger video cards, also it needs an aftermarket cooler because it runs too hot with the stock cooler. What a waste of money (i had this since july 2010 but back then i had the GF 9800gt). Well, it looks like i'm going with the phenom II X4 955 or 960T. This Sh**ty processor will go on my second PC which i'm building for my dad
 

Lazar_99

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Speed: 3.1 GHz
Resolution 1920x1080

and i don't have poor frame rats in games like battlefield 3 and need for speed the run but gta 4 is unplayable due to chopping and cutting. Btw, my Athlon isn't a propus, its a Rana
 

clutchc

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OK. Then your Athlon II X3 only has 3 cores to start with. There would be no 4th core to unlock anyway (and no L3 cache). Sorry. I should have asked that question first off.

1080p resolution is pushing the HD 6850 with any processor you could choose. It's really a 1680x1050 or less card when using maximum graphics settings in GTA 4. Granted, a really fast processor (Intel SB/IB)will improve the frame rate (especially in some CPU intensive games). But you are reaching the limits of the HD 6850 @ 1080p if you want to get all the eye candy out of it with GTA 4.
 

Lazar_99

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Well in theory this card should perform better than the GTX 460. My friend has a GTX 460 paired with a Phenom II X3 710 and unlocked its 4th core and he gets 65 fps in gta 4. I also forgot to tell you that with my old geforce GT 240 i got 30 fps in gta 4 with the same settings.
 

clutchc

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You were averaging 30 FPS @ 1080p with a GT 240... playing GTA4!!!!???? Please...
 

Lazar_99

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do it yourself then you'll see its possible. You obviously don't know anything about the R6850 or you just never played gta 4.