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Best gaming CPU for $170:
Phenom II X4 945 (Check Prices)
| Phenom II X4 945 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Deneb |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 4 |
| Clock Speed: | 3 GHz |
| Socket: | AM3 |
| L1 Cache: | 4 x 128KB |
| L2 Cache: | 4 x 512KB |
| L3 Cache: | 6MB |
| HyperTransport: | 4,000 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 125W |
With the introduction of the Phenom II X4 965 BE, we've seen the rest of the Phenom II X4 family drop in price. Happily, the Phenom II X4 945 is now $170 and makes for an easy recommendation with its four CPU cores and high operating frequency.
Best gaming CPU for $190: None
Now that the Core i5-750 is available at $200, there is very little reason to consider these formerly class-leading processors. However, they still make great upgrades for folks who already own LGA 775 or AM2+/AM3 platforms, so we'll keep them here as honorable mentions with that application in mind:
Honorable Mentions:
Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (Check Prices)
| Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Deneb |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 4 |
| Clock Speed: | 3.2 GHz |
| Socket: | AM3 |
| L1 Cache: | 4 x 128KB |
| L2 Cache: | 4 x 512KB |
| L3 Cache: | 6MB |
| HyperTransport: | 4,000 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 125W |
A former flagship of AMD's Phenom II family, the Phenom II X4 955 BE has been relegated to second place status by the newer Phenom II X4 965 BE model. However, it's hard to recommend the Phenom II X4 965 when the 955 sports the same unlocked multiplier and a $50 cheaper price tag. If you're comfortable overclocking, simply increment the chip's ratio by one and enjoy an extra 200 MHz of free clock rate.
Core 2 Quad Q9400 (Check Prices)
| Core 2 Quad Q9400 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Yorkfield |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 4 |
| Clock Speed: | 2.66 GHz |
| Socket: | LGA 775 |
| L2 Cache: | 2 x 3MB |
| Front Side Bus: | 1,333 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 95W |
The Core 2 Quad line is no slouch either, and tends to perform a little better than the Phenom II X4 when compared clock-for-clock. The Core 2 Quad Q9400 is a strong competitor for the Phenom II X4 955, and will overclock well despite its locked CPU multiplier.
Core 2 Duo E8500 (Check Prices)
| Core 2 Duo E8500 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Wolfdale |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 2 |
| Clock Speed: | 3.16 GHz |
| Socket: | LGA 775 |
| L2 Cache: | 6MB |
| Front Side Bus: | 1,333 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 65W |
- Core 2 Duo E8500 Dual...
We got a lot of negative feedback for this recommendation last month, but we re-checked the data and even found more reason to support this CPU's inclusion. The Core 2 Duo E8500 is, in fact, a powerful gaming processor. Any handicaps that this CPU might have by only offering two cores is compensated for by a 3.16 GHz clock speed and 6MB of L2 cache.
While a quad-core CPU is probably a better bet for multi-purpose use, this Wolfdale-based processor sports a low 65 watt thermal envelope, which makes the E8500 a good choice for a low-power gaming PC or gaming HTPC.
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Best gaming CPU for $170: Phenom II X4 945 Phenom II X4 945 Codename: Deneb Process: 45nm CPU Cores: 4 Clock Speed: 3 GHz Socket: AM3 L1 Cache: 4 x 128KB L2 Cache: 4 x 512KB L3 Cache: 6MB HyperTransport: 4,000 MHzThermal Envelope: 125W...
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Good mix, AMD CPUs are earning the recommendations but what's this? i7 920 is "Past the point of reason"?
This is especially the case since the Core i7-750 can be overclocked to great effect if more performance is desired,
my cpu didn't make the list
my cpu didn't make the list
Im sorry......I think Intel stopped making Pentium 4s.........
my opinion is that instead of best cpu for X amount of money i think they should make it best cpu for x pricerange or at least include it somewhere.
what i mean by that is if you have x dollars to spend on a new build you buy the cpu meant for x pricerange.
my opinion is that instead of best cpu for X amount of money i think they should make it best cpu for x pricerange or at least include it somewhere.what i mean by that is if you have x dollars to spend on a new build you buy the cpu meant for x pricerange.
Interesting idea, but I know myself I wanted a i7, and was willing to sacrifice elsewere.
A i7 was no were near my budget... don't regret it at all though.
But tacoslave, wouldn't that be harder to define? A gaming new build can be for multi-threading gaming (WiC, GTA4), super heavy graphics gaming (Crysis), or gaming while multi-tasking.
Given that each build have different main purposes, the 'ingredients' will vary too. Like, a $500 gaming build should have X CPU if doing multi-threading/tasking or Y CPU with better GPU for gaming.
Since other parts; PSU, GPU, RAM, Mobo, etc, have their individual spec, it'll be more like which CPU can fit in the budget left for it e.g budget = $500, other components = $400, CPU budget = $100
Well, just my personal opinion
Still glad to see the E7500 and E8500 as I have an E7400 and am waiting for Generation 2 Core i7 1366 chips. This chart has always been a useful indicator for gamers.
Although it would be nice to see different categories for instance Video/audiophiles would enjoy a different platform and not necessarily a gaming CPU, it would be nice to see charts for that segment of PC user.
Also it would great to see some graphs to directly compare cpus.
You obviously wrote Core i7 850 instead of Core i7 860 in the Gaming CPU Hierarchy Chart. Anyways, I think that Core i7 860 should not be forgotten even for recommendation (at least honorable mention) because, while it performs at the same level with i7 920 and it even costs the same, i7 860 is more power efficient not to mention that the 860's platform as a whole, costs less than 920's platform (P55 against X58).
Man, my E6400 is starting to show his age... Gonna start saving for the 750...
Good article and very useful. I just think that should be some diferences between recomending for example an Q9550 and an 750 because the first only costs the price of the CPU, because there is a lot of 775 MBs out there, while the second costs the price of the CPU and the MB and RAM, so maybe it´s not worth the price diference.
Just a thought...
Did anyone consider cheaper CPU, I'd like to know how good the Atom CPU is.
The Atom CPU would not be a good choice for gaming; It is not very powerful and also I believe only comes built-in to the motherboard.
The Atom might not be, but I think the Sempron 140 with the 2nd core unlocked holds up against 5200+ and it's cheaper.
You just can't go wrong with an i5-750.Low TPD,insane over clocks,low system motherboard,memory,CPU cost it should be the most popular new platform out there especially for gamers.Pair it up with 2 Radeon 5850 cards and you have a stacked deck of cards (bang per buck with lots of bang.You can go the i7 route though but you're paying up the *ss for it.
what i really wish toms would do when it comes to its recomandation of gaming cpu's is.
Let me see how to explain.
say the athlon 250, yes its an ok cpu for its money, but when considering building a gaming rig u need to know how powerful gpu solution can that cpu support.
can it drive a gtx 275 or 4890 without beeing a bottelneck, can it drive a 5850 and so on. In order to do the best and best bang for buck build u need to know where the limits for a cpu goes when it comes to feed the graphic cards with input.
I really wish Toms would do a test like that for cpu/gpu combination. Because that really would settel the best gaming cpu in all classes.
X3 720 only an honourable mention? Not if you're a gamer, it doesn't make sense to go with the X4 620 which has no L3 Cache, compared to the X3 720 with has 6MB. It makes a big difference.
RE: the $190 category:
Honorable Mentions:
Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
Very little reason?!?!? It is absolutely ridiculous not to list the 955 as the best CPU @ $190.
I've owned the x3 720 (destroyed by USPS) and currently own the x2 550, very pleased with both, great performance vs. price and overclocking.
Why would anyone with any real-world experience knock the E8500? Easily overclockable to 3.6Ghz, for the price it's one of the best CPU's out there if you're making a gaming rig. Go TH for sticking to your guns on this one.
AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX240OCGQBOX - Retail $62.99
Look, the 5200 was a great CPU, but why in God's name you would recommend the $60 5200 over the $63 45nm Athlon II x2 is beyond me. That's not even a fluke price, it's been that way for weeks.