AMD Phenom X4 9950 or Core 2 Quad Q9550?

[muamshai]

So I am thinking to build a system and I am wondering about the possibilities

 

AMD Phernom X4 9950 = 169 € (2.4 GHz)

Intel Q9550 = 289€ (2.6 GHz)

 

Don't know which motherboards are good.

 

I wonder how is the performance comparison between these two processors if I use ATI 4750x2. Would it be noticeable?

[Pilotasso]

Correction: Q9550 is 2.83Ghz at stock.

 

AMD CPU's get butchered across the board for gaming by any intell quad core right now.

[RobGordon]

I don't think that you can go wrong the Q9550. It's one hell of a CPU.

Eventually, it all depends on how much you want to spend.

 

The Quad is manufactured in 45nm (AMD: 65nm) and there's also quite a difference in TDP. Quad: 95W, X4: 125/140W.

 

You should actually compare the X4 with the Q6600/6700. The Q9550 is another league. :D

Check out some benchmarks on the net, there are plenty of them.

 

Bottom line: If you are willing to spend 300 bucks on a CPU then go for the Q9550 and you will be very happy. (I'm actually thinking about getting it myself. I'm tired of the AMD CPU's. They are fairly cheap but just aren't as beefy as the Intels).

[qrazi]

Looking at the choice of videocard, I guess you have a pretty hefty budget, and then I have to agree with the previous posters; the Q9550 is way faster then the X4 9950.

 

The only reason I would recommend a Phenom over a Core 2 Quad to anyone is in case of an upgrade....

[Pilotasso]

Nehalem is not for gaming, at least untill their prices drop.

 

http://diy.pconline.com.cn/cpu/reviews/0810/1438115_9.html

[51GRIZZLY]

Just got myself the AMD Phernom X4 9950 ( Black Edition)

 

Clamped it on a ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WIFI-APAMD 790FX MOBO

 

With 2 Gig's Cellchock DDR2 1066 Dual kit

 

All in all about 400€

 

 

Clocked it to 2.8 GHz ( im sure ill be able to get it way past 3.0 if i replace the stock cooler )

 

Together with my HIS Radeon 3870 Vid Card

 

It runs LockOn ( in fact any software i have installed like Crysis Warhead, ARMA and GRAW2 like a charm )

 

So if you'r looking a real Quad core at a reasonable price i think thats the best way to get a bang for your Buck

Edited October 30, 2008 by <51>GRIZZLY

[RobGordon]

Just got myself the AMD Phernom X4 9950 ( Black Edition)

 

Clamped it on a ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WIFI-APAMD 790FX MOBO

 

With 2 Gig's Cellchock DDR2 1066 Dual kit

 

All in all about 400€

 

 

Clocked it to 2.8 GHz ( im sure ill be able to get it way past 3.0 if i replace the stock cooler )

 

Together with my HIS Radeon 3870 Vid Card

 

It runs LockOn ( in fact any software i have installed like Crysis Warhead, ARMA and GRAW2 like a charm )

 

So if you'r looking a real Quad core at a reasonable price i think thats the best way to get a bang for your Buck

 

It should go way beyond 3.0GHz. I still have an X2 4200+ (I know, it's an old CPU but I'm upgrading my whole system end of this year) and I'm running it on 2.8GHz undervolted to 3.2V with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro cooler.

[qrazi]

Well, not way beyond. Phenom's used to be able to do 2.8 GHz most of the time, with some of them going on 3GHz or slightly beyond. AMD has changed a few settings with that new 790GX with 750SB southbridge chipset gives most Phenoms better OC capability, doing 3.0 -3.2 GHz most of the time.

 

Still, Phenom's are not the amazing overclockers we know from the Core 2 series, or even from the Brisbane era Athlon64 X2's.

 

That said, Phenom sure isn't a slow CPU, and I'm sure ir runs DCS:BS very well...

[Pilotasso]

So if you'r looking a real Quad core at a reasonable price i think thats the best way to get a bang for your Buck

 

 

"Real quad" expression is a myth created by some online review sites supporting AMD. WHile a "real quad", the Phenom is owned by the glued 2 dual cores "cheat" by intell wich actualy does the job quite better than AMD's unrefined architecture. Thats the sad thuth.

[51GRIZZLY]

"Real quad" expression is a myth created by some online review sites supporting AMD. WHile a "real quad", the Phenom is owned by the glued 2 dual cores "cheat" by intell wich actualy does the job quite better than AMD's unrefined architecture. Thats the sad thuth.

 

 

You know what ........ I knew (in fact i was allmost 100% sure) you would say that :clap_2::D

[qrazi]

You know what ........ I knew (in fact i was allmost 100% sure) you would say that :clap_2::D

 

And why not? It's true. Sure, AMD's way to make a quad-core CPU is way more elegant, and it also scales way better.

 

Intel's approach is not as elegant, and it has some big drawbacks. The biggest being that for both dual-core dies to communicate with each other, they have to use the FSB. And it is pretty common knowledge that a FSB gets pretty crowded with communication without added core to core communication.

 

When Intel put two Pentium 4 cores together, the performance of the resulting dual-core was no match for AMD's native dual-core design. But that wasn't because of the way the cores where put together, but because the basic Pentium4 core itself was inferior to AMD's offering. Right now it's the other way around. Even though an Intel quad-core will not scale 100% compared to a dual-core, the end result is way more powerfull then AMD's quad-core (which can be almost 100% more powerfull then a AMD dual-core K10).

[Pilotasso]

CC the best way to predict the future is to invent it, or better, lead the path to it. ;)

[leafer]

Guys. Which mobo + dual core CPU can I get for around a hundred bucks?

[CAT_101st]

nuthing thats worth buying for games.

[leafer]

Well.

 

The only game I play now is Sins of a Solar Empire and my rig could handle it quite well. I don't play or plan on playing any of the FPS. The only games coming down the pipe that I want to play are BS, Demigod and Starcraft II.

 

I have an AMD Sempron with a generic GF 7600 in my puter -- I'd think even last year's low-end machine has got to be faster than mine. So any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

[CAT_101st]

you can build a good box for $1000 buy buying parts from newegg. I built mine curent box for $1000. and with the way prices have droped since you culd do it for less. with a AMD BE 9950 x4 that is my next CPU when BS goes to multy core suport. shuld be cheap buy then.:D

[leafer]

Thanks, CAT. Unfortunately, you missed my location. :D If I had 1000 buckaroos, I wouldn't be asking for a Mobo + CPU combo for under 100 buckaroos. :D

[Acedy]

Guys. Which mobo + dual core CPU can I get for around a hundred bucks?

 

I don't know at what price you can get these in Thailand, but here are two suggestions from www.newegg.com:

 

1. Intel Pentium E2200 + P45 mobo ~ $140

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116063

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000200280%204026%20107172615%201071740132&name=Intel%20P45

 

2. AMD Athlon X2 5200+ + AM2 mobo ~ $120

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103210

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000200022%201070930149%204026&name=%2450%20-%20%2475

 

I have no idea which chipset for AM2 socket mainboards is good, but the Intel P45 is a nice one. If you want to spend more/less money, you can also take a different X2 with higher/lower clockspeeds.

[qrazi]

Thanks, CAT. Unfortunately, you missed my location. :D If I had 1000 buckaroos, I wouldn't be asking for a Mobo + CPU combo for under 100 buckaroos. :D

You have a website with your local prices maybe? Is all about the best bang for your buck in this budget... :P

[leafer]

Thanks, guys.

 

I have no idea which socket is on my M2N mobo; bought it a long time ago and can't remember which one it was. I know it isn't SLI one but I think it supports AM2 socket. My question is, would it be worth it to upgrade on top of this mobo? Is there a dual core, AMD chip out there I could slap on this mobo to give BS a decent run?

 

I went to couple of shops and they told me it would be better to just save my money for Intel Core 2 Duo + mobo combo. Bastards.

[CAT_101st]

If you dont plan on over clocking the CPU the AMD 64 2x 6400 3.2gh will do the job. goes for $124 on newegg. Or the 64 2x 6000 if your going to OC and save a few bucks.

[qrazi]

Thanks, guys.

 

I have no idea which socket is on my M2N mobo; bought it a long time ago and can't remember which one it was. I know it isn't SLI one but I think it supports AM2 socket. My question is, would it be worth it to upgrade on top of this mobo? Is there a dual core, AMD chip out there I could slap on this mobo to give BS a decent run?

 

I went to couple of shops and they told me it would be better to just save my money for Intel Core 2 Duo + mobo combo. Bastards.

 

Your mobo doesn't support Phenom's, so the maximum you can put in is a Athlon X2 6400+. Asus CPU support list

 

Like I said before, I don't know the prices you are dealing with, but if it is reachable, I'd look into getting a middle class Core 2 Duo CPU, like a E7200 or E5200, especially with some overclocking. However, without overclocking, or with a price difference that isn't worth it, going for the highest clocked Athlon X2 that fits your budget seems like a pretty good choice... :)

[leafer]

the E5200 goes for around 88 bucks can't find anything for E7200 but E7300 goes for 130 dollars.

 

Thanks, guys.