Best Current AM3 Option

[Ezekielplus1]

I have an aging system based on the AM3 chipset that I just slapped a gtx680 in. Currently I have a Triple core 2.9 ghz Rana processor with the fourth core + L3 cache unlocked that now identifies as a Deneb. I'm currently in the market to upgrade the processor.

It's my current understanding that the best option would be the 1090t, but it's no longer in production. I see the 1045t onsale, but it's performance seems very underwhelming. I'm guessing the 980 or the 975 is my best choice, but thought I would ask to see if anyone had any thoughts or insight. I also haven't rulled out paying 200 for a 1090t on ebay, but I'm not very confident in buying a used CPU.

I'm a gamer that would like for this purchase to last as long as possible since I have future proofed my GFX for a while.

Anyways, any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[amuffin]

980BE

 

[wr6133]

965,980 BE (either will OC to the 4GHZ mark easy enough)
http://www.cclonline.com/product/26600/HDZ965FBGMBOX/CPUs/AMD-Phenom-II-X4-965-Black-Edition-3-4GHz-Quad-Core-Processor/CPU1046/

if you want to gamble get a 960T it will also OC well but theres a chance it will also unlock to 6 cores and be a 1600T/1605T
http://www.ebuyer.com/311396-amd-960t-black-edition-3-0ghz-socket-am3-8mb-l2-cache-retail-boxed-hd96ztwfgrbox

Paying silly money for a 1100T or 1090T is pretty pointless the gain over the quads above wont be huge

 

[Uther39]

I have an aging system based on the AM3 chipset that I just slapped a gtx680 in. Currently I have a Triple core 2.9 ghz Rana processor with the fourth core + L3 cache unlocked that now identifies as a Deneb. I'm currently in the market to upgrade the processor.

It's my current understanding that the best option would be the 1090t, but it's no longer in production. I see the 1045t onsale, but it's performance seems very underwhelming. I'm guessing the 980 or the 975 is my best choice, but thought I would ask to see if anyone had any thoughts or insight. I also haven't rulled out paying 200 for a 1090t on ebay, but I'm not very confident in buying a used CPU.

I'm a gamer that would like for this purchase to last as long as possible since I have future proofed my GFX for a while.

Anyways, any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Can you tell us your complete system specs please.
Case, PSU, Motherboard, Memory, HDD, cooling set up.
This will enable us to advise you better.

But at the moment i reckon a 960t with an after market cooler like a hyper 212 EVO and unlock and OC the chip or failing that just OC it to 4ghz and beyond.

 

[whatsthatnoise]

955, 965, 975 and 980 are basically the same with different base clockspeed. The 955, 965 and 975 will result in more or less the same stable maximum overclock. So go for the cheapest one of those three for the best money/price ratio.

There are some 965's around for ~90€, currently. You can get a 975 (tray) for 129.99$ on newegg if you are in the US.

 

[whatsthatnoise]

Yeah or that one. 😉

 

[Uther39]

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Processors+-+AMD/AMD+Phenom+II+-+Socket+AM3/AMD+Phenom+II+X4+Quad+Core+965+Black+Edition+125W+3.40GHz+C3+%28Socket+AM3%29+Processor+-+Retail+?productId=38891

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Processors+-+AMD/AMD+Phenom+II+-+Socket+AM3/AMD+Phenom+II+X4+Quad+Core+960T+Black+Edition+95W+Edition+3.00GHz+%28Socket+AM3%29+Processor+-+Retail+?productId=47177

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi

1100T..... the BEST by far....IF you can find one...

All the best Brett

 

[Ezekielplus1]

Can you tell us your complete system specs please.
Case, PSU, Motherboard, Memory, HDD, cooling set up.
This will enable us to advise you better.

But at the moment i reckon a 960t with an after market cooler like a hyper 212 EVO and unlock and OC the chip or failing that just OC it to 4ghz and beyond.

MSI NF750-G55 AM3 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130235
ADATA Gaming Series 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) x4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211450
RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-630SS 630W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211450
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395
HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX Mid Tower Computer Chassis Gaming Case w/ Front Blue LED 120mm Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096
For cooling, It's all fan based no water. I have added several fans to the case totaling 3 120mm fans + 1 80mm fan.
even when I ran 2xgtx260's I never really had heat issues

 

[Ezekielplus1]

Thanks for the replies thus far. I'll look into all the suggestions thus far. I have to say I like the idea of unlocking the 6 cores. Probably just to feel like I got away with something like I did with getting a 4th core + the L3 with the Rana.

 

[Wisecracker]

The PhII 965BE is $90 in-store at MicroCenter.

With a nice cooler you should have no issues going 3.8 to 4GHz at 1.375-1.388v. Unless your mobo is a real dawg.

The cpu arch does better in gaming with 4 cores sharing the L3, so even with something like a unlocked 960T, re-locking and running 4 in gaming should provide slightly better frames.

You should bump your NB/IMC speed to really crank things up.

 

[Ezekielplus1]

Best answer selected by Ezekielplus1.