AMD FX 4100 Quad Core Processor?

That's not even a very fair comparison.

For a more fair comparison, compare the FX-4100 to an i3-2100.

Well is the FX-4100 even a good CPU? People don't seem to like the 'Bulldozer'

Not really, but the 4170 is decent (for gaming).

Given that you don't spend $300+ on a high-end gpu, a 4100 will serve you just fine.

A lot of gaming builds tend to have gpu bottlenecks when people pair a 2500k with a Gtx 560 Ti (for example).

My own budget gamer has an AMD be 965 and a radeon hd 6950 which is a more balanced combination in my opinion.

don't waste the money on a 2500k unless you are prepared to spend at least $300 on a graphics card.

Can you tell me which one you would recommend? AMD Phenom II X4 960 Black Edition Quad Core Processor AM3 3.0GHZ 8MB Cache o

OR

AMD Bulldozer FX-4100 Quad Core Processor 3.6GHZ Socket AM3

The Phenom II all day, everyday.

^ +1 and i am an intel fanboy!  

A 4100 wouldn't be a bottleneck for any card really except maybe in cpu or benchmark games/tests. I would go with the Deneb though.....

I have the 4100 - works great! as a budget build, can barely be beat. I am using the ASUS M5A97-EVO MB - which is excellent for OC'ing without breaking the budget (The only thing over high end boards that it is lacking is C-Fire/SLI support). Both the Proc and the MB together can be had for less than the i5 2500K alone.

A good comparison of the 4100 vs the i7 3770K is here:

http://www.ocaholic.ch/xoops/html/modules/smartsection/...

Basically you get improvement from the i7, but with v-sync (or even without) there is no difference that your eyes can see, just super high framerates that are for bragging only.

The value of this processor OC'ed is extremely good.

no, you just didn't do that? yep you did! (ppsssst you don't buy an i7 for gaming.)

a site in english is nice  

I have skyrim at MAX+ settings, and get much higher framerates than shown in that chart.

The only time I do not is looking from dragonmount at the town. (other than that I am at 60fps 98% of the time, even in combat) - I keep v-sync enabled (there is no point to disabling it).

My FX4100 is at 4.5Ghz tho...but it is an easily obtainable OC, ther 4170 is almost there to start with.

Thats odd though about that site...it is all in english for me.. and the site does show the Skyrim difference between performance, but it is one of the few games that is really sensitive to the CPU.

Yet, a Pentium G8xx and i3-21xx processor will outperform your FX-4100!?

Yes, in some situations, at stock speeds - but the 4100/4170 can crank out the Ghz, even on air (I am using a 5 year old air cooler, from my first socket AM2 rig - getting a 4.5 Ghz rock stable PC)

However, I was dissapointed in the bulldozer bigtime (bought the AM3+ board prior to the launch), was hoping it would give intel a run for their money....but alas, no.

However, as a platform, it is a very good value build. IMO it is better than an Intel Build for the same $'s.
(with a MB with good power options, OC ability, etc..) This is in Canada, anyway ( not sure on the cost of things in the USA).

I am not an huge fan of AMD, prefer Intel actually, but on the low end (when looked at as a whole), I still think AMD has the best $ value IF you overclock.

Right now, I have a PC that can run anything I throw at it, that would cost ~$700 to build (no monitor).
Sure it is not the fastest thing by the numbers, but it feels fast, and is never sluggish.

^ That argument makes some sense, but the fact that a Phenom II X4 965 BE is still better (even when both the FX and 965 are OC'd) makes the Phenom II a better choice, even for a "value" build.

I do agree with this ^

But if you like to tweak, the FX is fun to tweak! especially with a good ASUS board (getting an extra Ghz (almost) out of a 100 buck CPU).

I only went AMD because I am cheap, and if something low cost can do everything I need and then some, that is what I go with.
Intel is just a little too pricey for me, because I care about what I do with the PC, not what numbers I can boast with (although that can be entertaining, just not enough to justify the cost IMO). But Intel has the superior technology, that is for sure!!

But why buy a 1/2 ton, when a 1/4 ton will do?

I just hope the competition stays somewhat balanced, as I remember the days of pricey 486's and pentiums....no $100 procs there, mostly $1000 ones....and that was mainstream!

..and I digress