<$300 Quad-core processor

[btarunr]

Given 300 bucks and asked to choose the best quad-core processor under it, what would you choose.

Consider the following too:

1. Chipset/socket support
2. Availability
3. Performance
4. Design

 

[JC316]

Q6600 hands down. The Phenom is not doing well yet and the Q is WELL known for it's overclocking ability.

 

[Fitseries3]

well the simplest answer is the Q6600. it kicks AMD's ass, works on most 775 boards out now and i dont see why the future 775 boards wouldn't be able to power it. i've see the Q6600 for as low as $239 recently. i have 2 and they are KICK ASS!

also the intel chips are know for their awesome overclockability. q6600 can easily hit 3.6ghz on air and 4ghz+ on water.

 

[Athlon2K15]

id go with phenom because of the platform longevity,it will be around for awhile so upgrading to a better quad is still in the picture if need be,with intel you will need a new board and mem if u want to upgrade later

 

[F-22]

I picked Q6600 because I own one. I'm actually an AMD fanboy. I hope the Phenom is better than the q6600

 

[nflesher87]

9600, crossfire X

 

[devguy]

Unlike AMD, Intel doesn't have newer processors working on the same sockets being a guarantee. For example some older Pentium 4/D motherboards can't run Allendales/Conroes even with a BIOS update. Some Core2 motherboards can't run the 45nm Core2s even with a BIOS flash. AMD however will let even the AM2 motherboards run AM3/AM2+ processors, so a single well thought out motherboard will last a long time in AMD land.

As you can see, AMD learned well from its S939 => AM2 mess. If you don't have a socket 775 motherboard, hold out for the 9600 Black Edition and an AM2+ motherboard. If you already have a quad core ready Intel motherboard, there isn't any real reason to switch over to AMD (especially if it is 45nm ready).

 

[KennyT772]

I chose q6600 for now.

My real choice would be a phenom once the clock errata error is fixed. Overclocking for the masses!

 

[desadarius2002]

Core™2 Extreme processor QX9650 3.0GHz 130W 12MB l2. this what i want. but its not 300 dollars. so i say the q6600 G0.

 

[Namslas90]

I think it's a bit to early to be asking this question....the Phenom's have not been out long enough to realy decide.

 

[robodude666]

I picked AMD Phenom X4 9500, because my real choice isn't up there.. I would buy the AMD Phenom 9600 Black Edition!! But since its not an option, I voted for AMD Phenom X4 9500... It doesn't beat the Q6600, no.. but I'm getting 2/3rds of an AMD Spider, so why not get the processor as well? Not to mention it has a GREAT 25-50% improvement over my current X2 3800+ .

-robodude666

 

[wazzledoozle]

No point in getting a Phenom when the Q6600 is much faster and cheaper.

 

[robodude666]

No point in getting a Phenom when the Q6600 is much faster and cheaper.

AMD, ftw. Plus, they need more money.

Too late now also. Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DQ6 coming this Wednesday.

 

[nailzer]

AMD for my money. DFI is supposed to have a BIOS upgrade to their AM2 Lanparty motherboards in January so the Phenom will work with it.

 

[Mussels]

id go with phenom because of the platform longevity,it will be around for awhile so upgrading to a better quad is still in the picture if need be,with intel you will need a new board and mem if u want to upgrade later

not quite, AM2 and AM2+ are out now, and AM3 isnt far off - you CAN use higher CPU's on the old mobo, but it will hamper the performance a bit.

So if you want the one mobo forever, then yes AMD has a good choice - longevity also works in intels favor, a 2.4GHz Q6600 is great for now, but in a years time you can OC it to 3.2 and get another 6 months out of it... the phenoms dont OC that well.

 

[Grings]

none of the above, i want (and will get) an intel 9xxx series quad (unless a magic 4ghz phenom comes out of course)

 

[newtekie1]

Unlike AMD, Intel doesn't have newer processors working on the same sockets being a guarantee. For example some older Pentium 4/D motherboards can't run Allendales/Conroes even with a BIOS update. Some Core2 motherboards can't run the 45nm Core2s even with a BIOS flash. AMD however will let even the AM2 motherboards run AM3/AM2+ processors, so a single well thought out motherboard will last a long time in AMD land.

As you can see, AMD learned well from its S939 => AM2 mess. If you don't have a socket 775 motherboard, hold out for the 9600 Black Edition and an AM2+ motherboard. If you already have a quad core ready Intel motherboard, there isn't any real reason to switch over to AMD (especially if it is 45nm ready).

That isn't true, if you pick the right motherboard. New Intel Processors like Intel Chipsets. Usuually, if you buy the latest Intel Chipset when you are buying, you can be guaranteed it will support at least one more round of processors. The 975 and P965 motherboards are STILL supporting new processors, the 45nm quads work just fine in them. And the 975 chipset was released over two years ago.

 

[Random Murderer]

That isn't true, if you pick the right motherboard. New Intel Processors like Intel Chipsets. Usuually, if you buy the latest Intel Chipset when you are buying, you can be guaranteed it will support at least one more round of processors. The 975 and P965 motherboards are STILL supporting new processors, the 45nm quads work just fine in them. And the 975 chipset was released over two years ago.

been saying this for a while, but nobody listens.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Q6600 no doubt.Good chipset support and some nice boards to stick it into.

 

[devguy]

That isn't true, if you pick the right motherboard. New Intel Processors like Intel Chipsets. Usuually, if you buy the latest Intel Chipset when you are buying, you can be guaranteed it will support at least one more round of processors. The 975 and P965 motherboards are STILL supporting new processors, the 45nm quads work just fine in them. And the 975 chipset was released over two years ago.

I said that it isn't a guarantee that your motherboard will work with the 45nm, not that none of them work. More modern intel chipsets will do the job, but as far as Nvidia chipsets go, it is a gamble. Also, there are pre-975 LGA775 boards that don't support even the Allendales/Conroes.

No point in getting a Phenom when the Q6600 is much faster and cheaper.

There is plenty of point in getting a Phenom if you already have a nice AM2/AM2+ motherboard. There is little point in doing so if you already have a nice quad core ready LGA775 motherboard.

 

[JousteR]

I went for the quad....q6600
I went from a 850mhz AMD from many years ago through to the 4800+ D/C AMD
which My missis still owns..From there i went Intel hoping i didnt make a mistake.I dropped a e6420 in which impressed me from the start so i dropped this quad in i'am using now..


I wrote the above so u dont think i'am a fanboy of just one company..Tbh i would use any of the 2 companys chips in machines i build..

 

[newtekie1]

I said that it isn't a guarantee that your motherboard will work with the 45nm, not that none of them work. More modern intel chipsets will do the job, but as far as Nvidia chipsets go, it is a gamble. Also, there are pre-975 LGA775 boards that don't support even the Allendales/Conroes.

Yes, and those Pre-975 motherboards also outdate AM2 don't they. My point is that the same point applies to both platforms. A single well-thought out board will last you. There is no guarantee that the next batch of AMD processors will be supported by the current chipsets either.

Us NVidia users got screwed with the 45nm quad-core support, but the 45nm dual-cores are still supported. However, if I was looking for future support I would have bought and Intel chipset, because like I said, the Current Intel Chipsets usually support the next round of processors.

 

[KennyT772]

Name one Intel board that supports even one cpu released after the board was. There may be one or two but they are few and far in between. All AM2 boards support every AM2 chip out there, same goes for 939 Boards and CPU's.

Reason is Intel's are shackled to the northbridge for their memory controller and bus links. All 939/AM2s have the same CPU -northbridge/memory link and thus all are compatable. Manipulating FSB requires chipset changes, manipulating HT multipliers doesn't.

 

[Deleted member 3]

I vote L5320. 50W TDP at stock, overclockable far enough, can run with a brother.

 

[suraswami]

Always AMD. 9600 (atleast 9500). Since I don't have a Intel hardware set, don't need to compare and feel the pinch. As such 9600 will be way faster than what I have. For all my needs it suits me. But I will wait till the platform/proc combo stabilizes (atleast with overclocking).

Don't keep feeding the Giant until it is too late.