Getting an X4 955 while I wait for the i9?

[napamid69]

So I'm in the process of figuring out my first higher end pc build to replace a very old Pentium 4 Dell. The i7 no doubt performs the best, but what's the use in rushing to get an i7 since the i9 (6 cores!) is coming out in like 6 months?

I figure save a few bucks and get an AMD X4 955B on an AM3 board, DDR3 memory, an ATI 4870. This way I have a very decent gaming rig that can really play anything (especially with x-fired 4870s) while I wait for the i9.

This setup should last me at least until the i9 is released and comes down in price (2-3 years from now I guess). So is this smart, settling for the best price/performance setup with the X4 while I wait for the next generation of 6 core technology? (Not to mention PCI-E 3.0 should be coming out in a few years anyway)

 

[jj463rd]

There is a problem the Phenom II X4 940 is a AM2+ CPU that will work only on AM2+ and some AM2 motherboards with a CPU BIOS update.AM2+ CPU's only work on AM2+ and some AM2 motherboards.AM3 CPU's work on AM3 motherboards but are backwards compatible to work on AM2+ motherboards if there is a CPU BIOS update for the AM2+ motherboard.In other words the Phenom II X4 940 won't work on a AM3 motherboard.
So you will want instead the AM3 versions of the Phenom II to work on a AM3 motherboard.Like these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010340343%201050746347%201051746439&name=Socket%20AM3

 

[rooseveltdon]

So I'm in the process of figuring out my first higher end pc build to replace a very old Pentium 4 Dell. The i7 no doubt performs the best, but what's the use in rushing to get an i7 since the i9 (6 cores!) is coming out in like 6 months?

I figure save a few bucks and get an AMD X4 940 on an AM3 board, DDR3 memory, an ATI 4870. This way I have a very decent gaming rig that can really play anything (especially with x-fired 4870s) while I wait for the i9.

This setup should last me at least until the i9 is released and comes down in price (2-3 years from now I guess). So is this smart, settling for the best price/performance setup with the X4 while I wait for the next generation of 6 core technology? (Not to mention PCI-E 3.0 should be coming out in a few years anyway)

the 940 is an am2 chip not am3 if you want a phenom ll quad on an am3 platform you have to go with the 945 or the 955BE,the 940 has the best price to performance ratio albeit still using the am2+ socket the 955 is great over all and will give you all the performance you need for quite sometime...i honestly don't know what you plan on using six cores for unless you are into serious video encoding or tasks that rely specifically on the number of cores. if i were you i would either go with am3 set up or wait for the i5 next month....you really dont need six cores.

 

[napamid69]

You're right, should have noticed that. Still a noob when it comes to this so thanks for the help. So yeah, assuming I get a AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black for instance.

 

[rooseveltdon]

You're right, should have noticed that. Still a noob when it comes to this so thanks for the help. So yeah, assuming I get a AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black for instance.

Then you should be good to go after all its on the edge of performance as far as amd chips go you wont really need to upgrade for a while and by then you will have even many more options on the amd side of things the 955 is the best am3 solutions around if you want a quad core cpu

 

[napamid69]

I guess it is a pretty stupid question considering games now don't even use 4 cores, thanks for shedding some logic on the situation.

 

[daship]

This post makes no sense. If you go AMD when i9 comes you need new mobo and CPU, if you already have i7 all you need is new CPU. Also if you have i7 you will have no need for i9 unless you are a hardcore video encoder.

 

[Aoster87]

I would honestly go with an Pentium E5200 build. You can overclock the living hell out of them and have the best bang for the buck.

 

[reconviperone1]

Thats a lotta money u r throwing around, but if you must Id do the i7 or phenom 2

 

[josh7331]

I just got the Phenom II 945 installed today and man I'm hitting 40 frames per second with me rig with crysis!!!

AMD Phenom II 945 AM3 (stock cooler)
Visiontek 3850
2gb of ocz 1666mhz ram
585watt power supply
9 fans (it's very cool xD)

All settings on crysis are very high in dx 9 windows xp 32bit.

go with what you want but man are the phe II's fast!!!

 

[josh7331]

I guess it is a pretty stupid question considering games now don't even use 4 cores, thanks for shedding some logic on the situation.

Gta 4 and crysis ultilize 4 cores....

 

[evolve60]

Gta 4 and crysis ultilize 4 cores....

that's 2 games you've listed out of the hundreds of current day games that are out right now, that's like saying find a needle in a haystack

 

[belial2k]

This post makes no sense. If you go AMD when i9 comes you need new mobo and CPU, if you already have i7 all you need is new CPU. Also if you have i7 you will have no need for i9 unless you are a hardcore video encoder.

Ditto...You can build an i7 rig as cheap as you can a good 955 rig, so it would make no sense at all...and I think you'll find the i7 is all you'll need for a long time to come.

 

[belial2k]

I guess it is a pretty stupid question considering games now don't even use 4 cores, thanks for shedding some logic on the situation.

That is only somewhat true and completely ignores multitasking and app performance. If you want to shut down every process that is running on your computer every time before you game, sure, dual cores might keep up clock for clock in most games. But most people don't want to mess with that and would like the extra productivity quad cores provide. More and more games are providing support for more cores, so the longevity of dual cores for gaming is rather questionable. Since on average quads only cost $50 - $75 more than an equivalent clocked dual core, it makes more sense for most people building new gaming rigs to go to quad core.

 

[BadTrip]

I think it would be foolish to get the AMD when you plan on upgrading to i9. The i9 should be a drop in replacement on a x58 motherboard, so I would go ahead and get the 17 now instead of replacing the whole rig when i9 comes

 

[josh7331]

that's 2 games you've listed out of the hundreds of current day games that are out right now, that's like saying find a needle in a haystack

well if your like me and those are the only 2 games you play..... xD

 

[smithereen]

If you get a Ph2 955, you won't need to upgrade for quite a while, unless you are an encoder. If you get an i7 920, you need to upgrade for quite a while longer, unless you are a hardcore encoder. Eeesh, if you have that kinda money to build a 955 and then flip it as soon as the i9s are out (coming off a Pentium 4!!!), get your self a Mangy-Cours (12-core workstation) rig.

 

[chunkymonster]

If you want an i9 machine next year then buy an i7 machine today. The i9 is Skt1366 and is "supposed" to be a drop in replacement needing "only" a BIOS update to take advantage of the additional cores and features.

I put supposed and only in quotes because support largely depends on the mobo maker and if current production mobos meet i9 power requirements and if they provide the BIOS updates for i9.

Regardless, there are quality i7 mobos for under $200USD available and you can build an i7 machine for the same price if not for just a few dollars more than a high end Phenom 955BE based machine.

 

[Helloworld_98]

IMO, what's the point in getting the hexa-cores?

the 8 cores for 1366 come out within a year of them.