For my build, where do i start

[phait103]

I have this motherboard http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3447#sp
8gb DDR2 ram
radeon hd 6850 2gb
1tb caviar hdd
windows 7 ultimate x64

Where should I start when looking for a cpu?
The motherboard narrows it down to any Athlon, Phenom, or Sempron, but out of those which is THE best?

Budget- $150

-Thanks

 

[kelthic]

When deciding on a CPU, it's usually best to start with what you want to do with your pc. Day-to-day surfing and email is a whole different ball game compared to pc gaming or video editing, CAD, etc. So let's start there: what are you looking to do with this?

Using the CPU support list for this board at http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Gigabyte/GA-MA785GM-US2H(rev._1.3).html, it looks to me like you can go as high as a Phenom II x4 or a Phenom II x 6 with the newest Bios. Correct me if i'm wrong on that. These should be very solid day-to-day cpus. For Example, the Phenom II x4 from your list is $124.99 on new egg and well within your budget. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

 

[phait103]

Sorry i forgot to mention that, i will be gaming mostly, and running eyefinity on three monitors. so i would want the highest preforming cpu possible ^.^

how is the Phenom II X6 1045T?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106012

 

[WR2]

What are you upgrading from?

 

[phait103]

AMD Athlon II X2 240 2.8 ghz is my current one
dual core :V

(ignore my signature, that's what someone suggested to me)

 

[WR2]

i will be gaming mostly, and running eyefinity on three monitors.

kelthic's suggested Phenom I X4 965 (3.4Ghz plus OC'ing) is a better choice over the Phenom II X6 1045T 2.7GHz.
4 cores @ 3.4Ghz (plus OC) trumps 6 cores @ 2.7Ghz in gaming.

For Eyefinity - a single HD 6850 isn't going to get the job done.

 

[WR2]

Ok.......the Sig had me wondering....

 

[phait103]

"they" said a single 6670 wouldn't run anything in eyefinity, though i was able to play gta iv and crysis on lowest settings without lag/stuttering..
thanks for the help on the cpu's too, i would have thought a 6 core beats a 4 core any day

 

[devBunny]

i would have thought a 6 core beats a 4 core any day

That's correct. Depending on the respective clocks, instructions per clock and number of cores, 6 cores would tend to give more instructions per second than 4 cores ....

... however, WR2's advice was regarding 4 faster cores for gaming rather than 6 slower cores ... because games don't tend to utilise 6 cores well. The GPU is king and 4 CPU cores are enough, or more than enough, for most currently available games. The future may change that, of course. ;-)