Amd Phenom ii x4 BE 965 or FX 8320

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Baumber

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I am planning on building a desktop with one of these 2 processors. I am on a budget so i really cant afford to pay for a good i5.

The main uses for this computer will be Gaming, microsoft office (word, excel, powerpoint), and just surfing the internet.

The phenom ii x4 BE 965 is 89.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5692033&CatId=4431

The FX 8320 is 164.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4904560&sku=A79-8320

The one that i get will be paired with a nvidia geforce gtx 660 ti, and ill play games like Skyrim, Arma 2, and BF3, so which one would be the best bang for the buck and offer the best performance?

Thanks!
 
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yyk71200

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8320. Much better multithreading performance and at least as good if not better single threaded performance. BF3 multiplayer will run much better on it than 965.

EDIT: @ Brett928S2. This is Vishera not Bulldozer. Vishera has noticeably better IPC than Bulldozer.
 
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ocmusicjunkie

ocmusicjunkie

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In terms of gaming, the GPU is going to be far more noticeable than any difference between the fastest AMD processor options. Whether you pick an 8350, 8320, 6300, or even a Phenom X4, the CPU isn't generally of much matter once you reach the point at which it's fast enough to channel the full potential workload to the GPU. I'm not a gamer and have lower-end cards to speak with regards to (HD 6870, 6850), but there really is more difference between those two nearly identical cards than there is between my Athlon X3 455 and my Phenom X4 965 when looking at frame rates.

If you are talking about overall performance, the better personal computer processor is clearly the 8320, and either of those graphics cards is so far beyond what you'd even cause to break a sweat for standard tasks, it would be inconsequential.

Summary: if you are gaming, buy the best possible GPU and opt for better performance/cost pick with the Phenom. If you want the configuration that a non-gamer would definitely evaluate as being the better performer, go with the FX processor. :hello:
 
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jessterman21

jessterman21

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Come on - you're so close. Save another $20 for the i5: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2983971&CatId=6986

No reason to saddle up with AMD if you're willing to pay that amount for a gaming CPU.

Edit - the FX6300 will give you the same gaming performance, btw. If you can't go over $165, then get an i3-3220 or FX-6300.
 
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ocmusicjunkie

ocmusicjunkie

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Maybe there is a decent $80 option for Intel (I wouldn't know, it's been too long with AMD)- but generally speaking, you aren't going to find a $80 board that is produced by a quality company which can even claim to offer basic features like SATA III connections. The motherboard is going to determine everything from how fast your hard drives and USB connections are to what your overclocking limits will be; I would buy a good motherboard and budget CPU for later upgrade before I'd build a project around a $80 board.....
 
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jessterman21

jessterman21

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See, I would do the opposite - because my only concern is gaming. You forsake overclocking and a few extra ports and slots, but you still get the necessities, and it will play games just as well as a >$200 board.

I'd get this one with the i5-3470: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157335
Still get 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 SATA 3 port + 3 SATA 2 ports, PCIe 3.0 - all for the low, low price of $60 with shipping. There is absolutely no reason for you to spend more on a mobo considering your computing needs.

Also, if you're near a Microcenter, you can get that i5 for $150!
 
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Baumber

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well since a graphics card is much more important in gaming then the processor, im just going to stick with the phenom ii x4 965 BE for now, with a ASUS M5A99X EVO mobo and a nvidia geforce gtx 670

Ill OC the processor and in the future if i need a little bit more performance ill upgrade the processor once i save up more money.
 
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ocmusicjunkie

ocmusicjunkie

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I suppose it comes down to preference, how the system will be used, how long you intend to keep the rig, and whether you tend to favor rebuilding around the foundation or just scrapping the whole thing when it becomes outdated. That board is indeed a great value. I don't think I know of any AMD AM3+ boards with both USB 3.0 and a signle SATA III for that price range.

Still, I can't help but think that at some point, I'd regret settling for only two memory slots and basic 3+1 power phasing. I can attest the fact that at least with a Phenom CPU, the difference between a board along these lines and a $160 board as the platform for a Phenom 965 was hitting the wall at 3800mhz stable, and 4300mhz stable. And that clock difference seriously felt noticeable enough to seem like I had just upgraded to an entirely different CPU. Of course most of these things aren't universal truth and everyone's mileage will vary. Just interesting to see how differently people can approach the same scenerio. :hello:
 
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Baumber

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its not just the cpu, but i also need a good motherboard, and my brother has a phenom ii x4 and he loves it, so im going to go with that, a better graphics card, and a better motherboard, and if i need to upgrade my processor i can in the future,

if i pay more for an i5, then i would have to get a cheaper intel mobo, and i would have to get a cheaper graphics card as well

And i believe that it is better to spend more on a graphics card then on the cpu

So my choices would be an i5 with cheap mobo and a gtx 660 OR a phenom ii x4 965 BE with a good mobo and a GTX 670
 
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hbeduryan818

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Ok but id recomend the amd 7950 for the gpu since its $100 cheaper and 10% faster
 
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Baumber

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yea i was considering buying that but, i really want physx and borderlands 2, though i can have the cpu run, it but it wont run as good, and the gtx 670 is only $310 right now and it comes with AC3 and Borderlands 2, which are two games that i want to buy
 
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hbeduryan818

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Ya but almost wveryother game runs better on the 79750 plus you have an extra 1gb of vram to spare against the 670 so more aa ect
 
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Baumber

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well with the gtx 670 i will be maxing out every game, right now my res. is 1680x1050 and i will get a better monitor probably for christmas with 1920x1080 but you got to remember, the 670 comes with 2 free games that i am going to buy if i get the 7970 or 7950, which overall will make it more expensive to

i do like the amd gpu's a lot, but the 670 is good for what i need and is overall cheaper
 
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jessterman21

jessterman21

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Go for it - the GTX 670 is an amazing card. You won't be using near 2GB VRAM in any game, much less 3GB. And I agree - the extra features Nvidia cards have are worth it.
 
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lordvr

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Phenom II is a terrible processor. It will end up bottlenecking everything. I recommend you get at least an i5 instead.

 
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