AMD FX-8120 Eight-Core vs AMD FX-6300 Six-Core

[ruskininja]

I'm pretty new to computer components and I'm building a PC, I'm wondering if the AMD FX-6300 Six-Core CPU is better than the AMD FX-8120 Eight-Core CPU? What does this CPU Mark mean and why is this cheaper CPU better according to this test?

 

[photonboy]

Here's a good CPU comparison in several games:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6396/the-vishera-review-amd-fx8350-fx8320-fx6300-and-fx4300-tested/5

*Now the FX-6300 can be found for $140 and the i5-3570K is much more expensive at $220.

On the other hand, we see cases of up to 50% difference in frame rates! Even if we just use an average of roughly 30% difference that's a big difference.

On an $800 build the $80 difference in cost is 10%, for a much larger gain in performance. Sure, it gets tricky because we could put that towards a better graphics card but that only helps so much when the CPU is clearly becoming a bottleneck.

*Don't flame me, I'm just presenting FACTS. It's not fanboism, nothing's made up. These are the benchmarks and numbers. If you still think AMD is the better way for gaming then I won't argue. I just want you to have all the correct information and make an informed decision.

 

[photonboy]

MONITOR:
FYI, the Acer you picked has VERY POOR viewing angles. It's like most laptop screens. I know you have a low budget, but maybe find one with good reviews.

You'd be far better off with something like this ASUS:
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=38845&vpn=VH236H&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1296

(note the reviews are quite good for a monitor of this price and the 2ms response should be great for gaming.)

 

[photonboy]

Motherboard:
You said you're really stretched for money. Anything wrong with this micro-ATX board?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128564

I tried to pick an inexpensive board that is likely still a good quality build.

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

The main issue I have with that board is that it's SATA II... you'd be building a whole system around a bottleneck in disk speed. If you ever go SSD, which I assume you will before this computer is out of date, you'd be really sorry you skimped on the SATA III. The Asus M5A88 micro ATX boards are just under $100 and are SATA III. I am actually typing on a system using one right now. The Asus M5A97 is the next step forward; basically the same board but in full ATX size, so you get the crossfire capability and a bit more room. Ultimately though, I would shoot for the Asus M5A99X-EVO. Amazon has it on sale for $130 right now, with a $20 mail in rebate for $110 final cost. That board has 6+2 power phasing as opposed to I believe 4+2 for both of the other boards I noted. That will come into play in a major way if you plan on overclocking the CPU. They may have the MA599FX Pro on sale for the same price at the moment actually- which would be an even better deal. Either way, the 990 series chipset on the last two boards along with the power phasing is going to crush the performance ceiling of what the others would be giving you.

 

[noob2222]

don't forget to check combo deals.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1094305

parts picker doesn't take those into account.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1095208

also

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102983

thats one heck of a deal on that card.

compared to the 7850, at 186.56 with shipping the only real difference is the extra $5 from the MIR.

7870 1ghz for $199 + free shipping beats the 7850 in value.

 

[ruskininja]

wow, thanks guys for all the suggestions. i got to sit down and read all of this. and ocmusicjunkie...which board are you talking about? i can't seem to find the SATAII board, is it the Micro-ATX or the one in my estimate?

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

Oh, the SATAII board was the one that Photonboy posted right before my message (M5a78). The ASRock board you had linked to would work fine if it lists compatibility with the processor, but I still think that depending on the overclocking hopes that you have for the system, I would look to first get a 990-chipset board (ie Asus M5A99X-EVO/M5A99FX Pro, Ect) as opposed to a 970-series chipset. After that, I would shoot for either 6+2 or 8+2 power phasing if possible- although the M5A88 I am on right now has had fairly robust OC ability for a board that is a notch below those specs. I am referencing Asus boards here because that's the only brand I know off the top of my head- and the only one I'd consider myself other than (dependent on price) Gigabyte.

One thing I would say is that you should also consider, if at all possible, looking at a bit higher grade power supply. Corsair does make some really great units, but I just have seen mixed reviews of the ripple/noise performance of their entry level units. The Seasonic S12II 430w here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151074 is a great unit from arguably the best PSU manufacturer in the business. I've had the 520w and 620w versions of the same model and couldn't say enough about them.

Oh, and just because I am OCD, I also have to mention that you may want to offset a bit of the other cost increases I suggested by going with this HDD instead http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088PUEPK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_9?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER. The newest 1tb Caviar Blue models are actually benchmarking higher than the same size Caviar Blacks, plus they lack the noise issue that seem to bother some about the Black line.

 

[photonboy]

The main issue I have with that board is that it's SATA II... you'd be building a whole system around a bottleneck in disk speed. If you ever go SSD, which I assume you will before this computer is out of date, you'd be really sorry you skimped on the SATA III. The Asus M5A88 micro ATX boards are just under $100 and are SATA III. I am actually typing on a system using one right now. The Asus M5A97 is the next step forward; basically the same board but in full ATX size, so you get the crossfire capability and a bit more room. Ultimately though, I would shoot for the Asus M5A99X-EVO. Amazon has it on sale for $130 right now, with a $20 mail in rebate for $110 final cost. That board has 6+2 power phasing as opposed to I believe 4+2 for both of the other boards I noted. That will come into play in a major way if you plan on overclocking the CPU. They may have the MA599FX Pro on sale for the same price at the moment actually- which would be an even better deal. Either way, the 990 series chipset on the last two boards along with the power phasing is going to crush the performance ceiling of what the others would be giving you.

It's not the board I would buy, but earlier he was talking about a board under $100 and talking about how he really had to get his costs down.

Give me a $1000 and it's pretty easy to pick parts for a gaming PC. Give me $800 and it gets a lot harder.

 

[ruskininja]

Best answer selected by ruskininja.

 

[nitroexplosion]

I bought the AMD FX-6300 and i OC it to 4.8Ghz, Intel fanboys also tried to push me to go Intel but with the price comparison fron an I5 2500k to the AMD FX-6300 how can you not choose the FX-6300, Once OC it will be so Awesome, but anyway you wanted a MOBO recommendation so here it is, for good OC stability you need a good MOBO and the one i use is ASrock 990 FX Extreme4, its a great board and i got it for around $190 at the time and supports CFX/SLI so you can have the both of both worlds heres a link to newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157266