Questions on Phenom 965

[hardasrock]

Hello, I'm planning to buy this phenom 965, but could anyone tell me is this the C3 Revision? or the new one. because the picture of the box is different. I might buy either from microcenter and best buy.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/325874/Phenom_II_X4_965_Black_Edition_34GHz_Boxed_Processor


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/AMD+-+Phenom+II+X4+3.40+GHz+Processor+-+Socket+AM3+PGA-941/1304655828.p?id=mp1304655828&skuId=1304655828


I would also like to ask if I put a ddr3 1866 ram on it, is it compatible with the processor? because I saw a tomshardware article "best gaming cpu for money march 2013" that phenom 965 supports ddr3 1333. And will the phenom 965 not bottleneck the HD 7870. thanks in advance.

 

[kiezz]

the one from micro center is c2 and the one from best buy is c3, it won't bottleneck the 7870 but I would say you'll need to get good cooling and overclock to 4ghz, some cpu intensive settings in games may need to be lowered but its still a capable processor but i would consider how much i am saving by getting that and not an fx 6300 which is $40 dearer i know is a lot when on a budget but its definitely worth the stretch id consider dropping to a 7850 if it gave you the extra money for it, 1866 ram will also depend on what your mobo supports but there won't be any performance gain once you go over 1333mhz

 

[hardasrock]

I see, well do you think it is worth buying the C2 version over the C3? if not I'll consider buying the C3 one. By the way, how did you know that BestBuy sells the C3 version? I can't see it on their website, in the specs section. I have one more question, I saw a Phenom 975 and Phenom 980 on Frys and it sells at $96 and $102 respectively, do you think I should get it over the 965? Thanks for your response kiezz . I appreciate it.

 

[kiezz]

well each product has a upc (universal product code) so i tracked it that way, well the stepping only really effects overclocking ability as far as i know the c3 been the better version for overclocking, here is a benchmark http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/362?vs=102 it doesn't take into consideration any overclocking but theres not much between the 2 cpu's

 

[logainofhades]

What is your current motherboard and ram?

 

[clutchc]

According to the Mfr part number, HDZ965FBGMBOX, the processor at Microcenter is indeed a C3 Revision:
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AMD-Phenom%20II%20X4%20965%20Black%20Edition%20-%20HDZ965FBK4DGM%20%28HDZ965FBGMBOX%29.html
I would imagine that 'new' C2 revisions are all dried up by now. The chances of getting one of those new is pretty slim.

 

[kiezz]

According to the Mfr part number, HDZ965FBGMBOX, the processor at Microcenter is indeed a C3 Revision:
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AMD-Phenom%20II%20X4%20965%20Black%20Edition%20-%20HDZ965FBK4DGM%20%28HDZ965FBGMBOX%29.html
I would imagine that 'new' C2 revisions are all dried up by now. The chances of getting one of those new is pretty slim.

well that is funny as micro center advertise it as stepping c2 and if you check the upc they have you get part number HDZ965BK4DGI which is c2, isn't c3 the newest stepping anyhow, but best to ask micro center as $80 for c3 stepping is a good deal