960t or 965 + Overclock tips

[SpacedMoth]

I've been looking for a good processor and I'm stuck on the AMD Phenom II X4 960t or AMD Phenom II X4 965, they are virtually the same price so thats not an issue

The problem I'm having is that I keep hearing that is the 960t can be unclocked to a hexacore and that will increase performance.
I've also heard there isn't that high of a chance that I will get a 960t with 2 more locked cores

So my question is, what would be better? Would the 960t be able to outdo the 965 if it stays a quadcore?
Also I am planning on overclocking with a Hyper212 evo, so I'd appreciate a stable overclock for gaming (BTW I know the six cores aren't necessary for gaming but its nice to have em)

 

[amuffin]

960T has slower cores, however it has a chance of unlocking. BUT the 965BE is a much better overclocker! I would settle on the 965BE because games do not use more than 3 cores! Read this guide: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274820-29-black-edition-overclock-raising-multiplier-guide

 

[SpacedMoth]

will the extra cores help in other basic computing stuff? Like load times on opening programs, etc?

 

[amuffin]

Load times would depend on hard drive speed, not processor speed!

 

[vilenjan]

The 960t is a cut down X6. X6s run cooler and eat a little less power per cor the X4s did. Thus the 960T will run cooler and eat up less power than a 965BE. The BE will be easier to OC, but they will probably OC about equally, hitting a 4 Ghz ceiling. I think the 960T is a little better if you don't mind doing the OC using base clocks as apposed to a multiplier.

 

[amuffin]

Zosma cores aren't as fast! Clock per clock the 965BE will be faster!

 

[vilenjan]

Zosma cores aren't as fast! Clock per clock the 965BE will be faster!

If you never plan to OC, than its true, otherwise the 960t will OC as high or higher than the 965BE

 

[SpacedMoth]

4Ghz is probably the highest ill push it to. I'm using a CM 212 evo, so will the 960t 4ghz be better than 4ghz 965

 

[amuffin]

No, 965BE clock for clock is a faster processor.