Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: November 2010

[cleeve]

There aren't any processor launches in this month's column. However, some of Intel's CPUs are becoming more affordable, changing their standing in the recommendations, as are AMD's hexa-core Phenom II X6 chips. Meanwhile, the X4s are going up in price.

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: November 2010 : Read more

 

[dogman_1234]

It's nice to see the Phenom II x6 is still kicking. Can't wait until SB and Bulldozer.

C'mon guys, I want to see the next "CPU for the Money" with the new chips at hand!

 

[tony singh]

Phenom 2 965 & 970 both @ 3.4 Ghz ?? Come on Tom..

 

[buckcm]

Why isn't the Phenom II X4 940 not a recommendation at less than $100? Isn't another $50 in a video card better than getter DDR3 and AM3 vs DDR2 and AM2+?

 

[crisan_tiberiu]

My Core 2 Duo e6750 (purchased 2 years ago) OCd to 3.4 GHZ (2,66 stock) performs preety well in games. The only thing i changed was my nvidia 8800 GT to GeForce gtx 460 and its enaugh for now. Ill wait for the next gen CPUs next year

 

[dogman_1234]

[citation][nom]buckcm[/nom]Why isn't the Phenom II X4 940 not a recommendation at less than $100? Isn't another $50 in a video card better than getter DDR3 and AM3 vs DDR2 and AM2+?[/citation]

Depends.

 

[dogman_1234]

[citation][nom]crisan_tiberiu[/nom]My Core 2 Duo e6750 (purchased 2 years ago) OCd to 3.4 GHZ (2,66 stock) performs preety well in games. The only thing i changed was my nvidia 8800 GT to GeForce gtx 460 and its enaugh for now. Ill wait for the next gen CPUs next year[/citation]

Good idea. Seems we have a happy camper...

 

[duk3]

The clock speed of the Phenom x4 970 is 3.5 not 3.4 ghz.

 

[fstrthnu]

Seems like this late in the year, it'd be better to wait for Sandy Bridge than to get anything right now. February and March aren't THAT far away by now

 

[sudeshc]

Agreed W8ing for Sandy Bridge would be worth and it not that long.

 

[Stardude82]

AMD is no longer so future proof and because of this it's too bad we aren't seeing AM3+ boards out yet. With RAM prices dropping, it would be great to make a jump to DDR3 now.

I'm thinking it's not a great time now to make a system switch at all with ALL the sockets changing in the near future.

 

[blibba]

Q9650 on the same hierarchy level as the 980X while the rest of the chart features hierarchy levels often separated by no more than 200mhz? Is this an exponential scale?

 

[Guest]

can anyone guide me where to buy the Phenom II X3 740 Black Edition (OEM)
as it not available anywhere in my local store with the rest of phenom II x3. they only have phenom II x2 and x4 and x6 no x3 at all >_

 

[darkchazz]

Glad to see my Phenom II 955 is on this list , I never regretted buying that cpu.

 

[Onus]

I know they'll never earn a recommendation as they are overpriced and likely relatively slow, but please add the X4 605e and other low-power chips to the chart. For older or less-demanding games, it might be "good enough," depending on where it falls.

 

[enzo matrix]

[citation][nom]DarkMeat[/nom]can anyone guide me where to buy the Phenom II X3 740 Black Edition (OEM)as it not available anywhere in my local store with the rest of phenom II x3. they only have phenom II x2 and x4 and x6 no x3 at all >_[/citation]
1. Hang on let me use my psychic powers to find out where you live.
2. This is what the forums are for, not the comments. Make a thread on the forums and link me to it in a PM and I will be more than happy to help.

 

[enzo matrix]

Ok, why is the i5 760 only an honourable mention? You guys never explained why it was an honourable mention and not a recommended?

 

[englandr753]

As buckcm mentioned, this is a very good deal and I swept up two of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103644&cm_re=amd_940-_-19-103-644-_-Product

I know its an OEM but should at least deserve an honorable mention. For those of us that have heatsinks for paperweights lying around, this is a no brainer purchase if you have a pre-existing system to upgrade.

When is the last time anyone has had to RMA a cpu? I'd like to hear that story...

 

[jj463rd]

[citation][nom]buckcm[/nom]Why isn't the Phenom II X4 940 not a recommendation at less than $100? Isn't another $50 in a video card better than getter DDR3 and AM3 vs DDR2 and AM2+?[/citation]
Yeah that's the OEM version (and no heatsink and fan comes with it).
Although it's an AM2+ CPU at about $96 over at newegg it's a fantastic buy
especially for AM2+ board upgraders.I was looking at the passmark website where they they had a list of the performance vs cost of CPU's.It indeed is near the top of that list.

 

[schwizer]

I'm guessing the specs for the 970 were copy/pasted from the 965 but the title and clock speed were not updated.

 

[pinkfloydminnesota]

Microcenter has had the i7 950 for $280 for over a month, and lately on sale for $200, no rebates no nothing.

Since they don't advertize here you don't put that price up?

 

[ohseus]

[citation][nom]pinkfloydminnesota[/nom]Microcenter has had the i7 950 for $280 for over a month, and lately on sale for $200, no rebates no nothing.Since they don't advertize here you don't put that price up?[/citation]

Or because the price is in store only and there are are very few of the actual stores. (Someone always says every value article)

 

[saint19]

[citation][nom]pinkfloydminnesota[/nom]Microcenter has had the i7 950 for $280 for over a month, and lately on sale for $200, no rebates no nothing.Since they don't advertize here you don't put that price up?[/citation]

Microcerter always have a good price, but always add shipping price to that price,so, if you use your maths the price will be the same.

 

[Guest]

Where is the dual core E6800 in the hierarchy chart? =(

 

[gm0n3y]

I'm currently running a dual core 6750 and have been thinking of upgrading. I just upgraded my GFX and am wondering whether I should upgrade to a new MB+CPU+RAM now, or would it be best to wait a few months for the new chipsets. I just don't want to dump $400 into a CPU+MB just to have the chipset discontinued a couple months down the road. At the same time, if its going to take 6 months for a $250 or less Sandybridge CPU to come out, then I may just take the plunge. Any thoughts?