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Black edition dual core VS locked quad core

Which CPU is the best?

  • $108, AMD Phenom II X2 560 Black Edition Callisto 3.3GHz, 6MB L3 Cache, AM3, 80W, Dual-Core

    Votes: 8 25.8%
  • $116, AMD Athlon II X4 645 Propus 3.1GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, No L3 Cache, AM3, 95W, Quad-Core

    Votes: 12 38.7%
  • $180, AMD Phenom II X4 945 Quad Core, 3.00GHz, AM3, 6MB Cache,

    Votes: 11 35.5%

  • Total voters
    31

jmbrettler

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Hi all! I am limited due to my motherboard to a 95watt CPU. What I really want to know is which one is better, an overclocked dual core, or locked quad core? \

If I can overclock the dual core to 4.0ghz but the quad core is stuck at 3.1ghz, is the quad core really a better buy?


AMD Phenom II X2 560 Black Edition Callisto 3.3GHz 6MB L3 Cache, AM3, 80W Dual-Core , $108 on Newegg (Can overclock to 4ghz+)

VS

AMD Athlon II X4 645 Propus 3.1GHz, No L3 Cache, AM3, 95W Quad-Core
$116

VS

Phenom II X4 945 Quad Core Processor - 3.00GHz, AM3, 6MB Cache, 95 Watt Quad-Core,
$187.99 @ TigerDirect
 

DarkMaster

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Looking at the rest of your system specs, I'd go for the Dual Core and unlock it.
 

Fourstaff

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Would go straight for the Athlon II X4, I have a soft spot for that processor ever since it became the first $99 4 core processor.
 
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I hope you do realise that unlocking or overclocking processor increases it's power draw. just sayin...
Phenom II X4 945 If you have the money.
 
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I have an athlon x4 - it is not stuck at 3.1Gz unless you have a really crappy mobo. You can overclock the bus and it will prolly hit 3.8. around 3.5-3.6 on stock volts

That said the dualie has more cache, but you would be better off with the quad IMO.
 

jmbrettler

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thanks for the replies!

The problem with unlocking is that my motherboard doesnt have the ACC or NCC option.
Not sure if a Bios update contains a new menu for unlocking. I won't plan on getting a new motherboard anytime soon, since I just went SLI. How much better is option 3 versus option 1?
 
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I can only say that I love my quad(almost the same as option 3), and I know that most games still can't use all cores, but most new games benefit from extra cores and that tendency grows, so you will be more future proof with quad. I like the feeling that my CPU has plenty of power for my needs, and when new game comes out, I will still be able to play it. You will benefit from option 1 only if game uses 1 core. In all other cases better is quad.
 
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Bo$$

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it should have NCC on the latest bios, buy a Althon X4 then see if the L3 is unlockable
 

cdawall

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it does have NVCC and could unlock the chip. however i wouldn't overclock on that pile of shit i have blown 3 of those mobos trying to get a phenom 9600 over 2.3ghz

my vote is athlon x4
 

brandonwh64

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I love unlocking the chips but when ACC is turned out, you cannot see the temps of the CPU cores thats my only complain
 
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I'd go for the athlon x4,

A quad core, even without L3cache will run all your games fine at 3,1GHz
For every future release of some game/program you'll probably get more performance from that quad core than you'd ever get from the dual core.

Buying a dual core when you can get a quad for roughly the same price/power draw which doesnt really perform noticably less would be a bit of a waste imho.
 
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I think unlocked multis are a waste of money personally, not that much harder to change fsb and volts instead of multi and volts.
 

Magikherbs

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I love unlocking the chips but when ACC is turned out, you cannot see the temps of the CPU cores thats my only complain

I do miss seeing the core readings lol.. You mean core temps right ?
 

brandonwh64

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Yea you can see it shows 0 and HWmonitor shows a CPU temp but it was about 13 deg off so if motherboard makers can have it unlock and show proper temps then that would be hella good
 

JrRacinFan

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I just grabbed a PII X2 555BE 3.2 GHz and here it is unlocked with stock cooling @ 1.5v

 

Magikherbs

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Yea you can see it shows 0 and HWmonitor shows a CPU temp but it was about 13 deg off so if motherboard makers can have it unlock and show proper temps then that would be hella good

What is 13C off ? Your mobo ? If your temps are off, its probably the sensor on the cpu.
I had a Phenom x4 9150e that showed the CPU @38C while the vcore bounced between 55-62C lmao ! .. on two different boards hehe..
 
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I've had the Phenom II X4 945 and I took it to 3.8 and I also have a Phenom II X2 555 and unlocked it and it is sometimes stable at 4.0 however if I were you I'd go for the Athlon II cause the price of the Phenom II X4 945 seems quite high to me.
 

hat

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Just because others have unlocked theirs doesn't mean every PII x2 will unlock to an x4. A friend of mine tried it and it didn't work for him, and he even has the C3 amp.
 

dna1x

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I've upgraded from a 7750 Kuma to a 550 BE. The higher clocks and L3 cache was nice. Plus it overclocked to 3.8 stable. But for all the settings and all the forum tips, the chip was never 100% stable with a third or all four cores unlocked. Two years later, having extra cores would have been better.

If I had your choices and could go back, I'd get the 945. If you can wait, get a new system
 
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Bo$$

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good choice mate, hope you are happy with your decision
 
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