AMD processor upgrade - which should i go for? buying today!

[Reefer86]

hi guys, ive finally decided to take the plunge and replace my ageing 5000+ BE running at 3.2 and to be honest it is proberly a bottleneck on my system now as i upgraded to a 4890.

I have had a good look at whats on offer by AMD for my system. Ive just got my windows 7 activated permanently so looking to see what overclocks i can get with a new shiny processor.

I see the options as : (links are from Scan and ebuyer, obviously prices will be diffrent at other sites)

x4 955 BE stock at 3.2 AM3 reports OC @ 3.6 - 4.0 £145.92
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/AMD-...ion-Sok-AM3-32GHz-8MB-Total-Cache-125W-Retail

x4 965 BE @ 3.4 AM3 reports OC @ 3.7 - 4.2 easily reachable £182.45

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/AMD-...-34GHz-512KB-Cache-FSB-HT-3600MHz-140W-Retail

x2 550 BE @ 3.1 AM3 reports 3.7 + £74.13

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/166518

x3 720 BE @ 2.8 reports AM3 3.6 - 4.0 + (4.0 rare) £100 around that on a few sites. 90 quid on overclockers.co.uk

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159071

x4 940 BE @ 3.0 AM2+ not sure on OC £131.66

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/155714

I dont think there are many others that would be up for consideration.

What would be my best buy price/performance and what is needed for future gaming next year or so.

I have a DFI DK M2rs AM2+ and can support all the latest AM3 chips.

Look forward to hearing your views.

 

[Assassin48]

if you can afford it go for the 965

and post up some results

 

[mosheen]

955

 

[DrPepper]

965 or 955 both are BE and quite good.

 

[Reefer86]

i can afford it but wasnt planning on spending that much but if it is going to be maybe my best option for price/ lastability then i will get it

 

[Reefer86]

well the 955 has reach around 3.7 - 3.8 but the reviews i have read that the 965 hits 3.9 - 4.2 with ease on air!

 

[DrPepper]

well the 955 has reach around 3.7 - 3.8 but the reviews i have read that the 965 hits 3.9 - 4.2 with ease on air!

They are the same cpu except for base clock speed. Apparently Phenom XII's have trouble going over 4ghz on any x64 system but not sure about that.

 

[Reefer86]

ah right ok... hmmm

 

[Reefer86]

any one else?? got about an hour or so, so please let me know

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I'd go with the 955, I don't think the little performance gain the 965 would give is worth the extra cost(I seriously doubt you would notice the gain).

 

[Zoelef]

X3 720 on a budget, X4 955 if it's not an issue.

 

[Reefer86]

well money isnt really the issue but spending money for the sake of it, isnt really my thing stopped doing that at around 18

 

[phanbuey]

my vote would be 720 BE... best bang/buck... then spend the rest on games. Ive read almost all the reviews of the 965 and I haven't seen one that was above 3.9Ghz... the 965 doesn't seem to OC much better than the 955..

I have yet to see an SS of a 965 at 4.2Ghz on air. Not saying that it didn't happen, just saying that it probably isnt easily reachable.

 

[Reefer86]

hi, guys just a quick question i have the 5000+ is it worth upgrading to a 720be or a 955be or should i wait a little longer for a stronger upgrade in AM3. also is the 5000+ proberly a bottleneck for me atm with my specs above? im just thinking and the fact that ive forgot what my username is for my ebuyer account

 

[ShadowFold]

If you're gonna be benching and doing 4ghz+ overclocking, get a 955 or 965. If you're just gonna be gaming and don't care about benches, grab a 720.

 

[LittleLizard]

agree with shadowfold, a 720 is more than enough for most games if not all. also u have the chance to unlock and thus have a 955 WAY CHEAPER.

 

[Reefer86]

yeah true so you think that a 720 will be a worthy upgrade for me then? can anyone with a great tech head tell me on this one.

I think im going to go for the 720 as its great for bang for buck. i dont give a shit about a bench i just game but allways enjoy a powerfull snappy system

 

[ShadowFold]

Then the 720 is the way to go. The extra 80$ for a 955 will give you almost no benefit in games. You'll notice quite a large jump in performance. I used to be on a Athlon X2 rig, as well as a core2. The 720 is very fast, nothing can beat it for the price!

 

[Reefer86]

excellent, well i have managed to convince the missus that i can part with the money for the 720....as i have a baby on the way.

"ofc it's essential, with out a new processor my pc might just decide to not work" or thats something like i pitched it! LOL

 

[LittleLizard]

u will have 2 new babies. the 720 and the real one

Really, congrats on the real one

 

[Reefer86]

lol, thanks mate we have been told its a boy, so im gona fill his head with everything there is to know about computers, gaming overclocking and the internet, then when its his birthday i can buy updated parts and give him my 'old' ones and have excuses to give to the missus!. already got everything planned you see! lol 9 weeks to go im shitting myself first bundle of joy for me!

 

[CDdude55]

Definitely the 965 if ya got the cash.

 

[Reefer86]

lol just when i thought i has decided, but seriously the 720 sounds nice and the overclocks of the two are not that far from each other and i will be overclocking thats for sure!

 

[Cuzza]

I would get the 550. Cheapest option, v. high clocks, and really I still think for most people 2 cores is still enough these days.

 

[trt740]

since you have a DDr2 board buy the 940 it will match the 955 and 965 in overclocking and you don't need the ddr3 controller since you have a DDR2 board.