Upgrading CPU , what should i get?

[uzayr99]

So , i'm going to upgrade my CPU and i'm pretty sure i want the AMD Phenom II X6 1055T (http://shop.amd.com/uk/All/Detail/Processor/HDT55TFBGRBOX?SearchFacets=category%3AProcessor&SearchTerms=phenom)

So my question is , does it outperform my current cpu ? (AMD athlon X2 250 @3Ghz)
Sorry if it seems obvious but i'm new to this.

P.s , i've checked that it's compatible with my motherboard

 

[hacbarton]

Outperforms your current by far, but I would go the quad-core rout and get the Phenom II 975 Black edition, because it would allow overclocking, and tends to be a better gaming processor. Has a much higher stock clock as well. More cores isn't always better, you want a good clock speed too. .Anything more than a quad core is overkill for games.

 

[uzayr99]

If i were to buy what you've suggested , would i see a much higher performance that he X6 without overclocking , because i'm not to comfortable with that at the moment

 

[hacbarton]

Yes, especially in games. Most games will only run 2-3 threads at once MAX, with the x4 they would be able to run much faster than on the x6. The only reason you would want that many cores is or hardcore video rendering/editing, Number crunching, etc.

 

[uzayr99]

Ok , thanks and just to make sure this :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-HDZ965FBGMBOX-Phenom-II-965/dp/B002SRQ214/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1336935333&sr=1-1
is the Chip you're talking about?

 

[hacbarton]

That'd be it.

 

[uzayr99]

Ok, also , any idea how i'll be able to tell if my PSU is can handle it as it uses about 2x the Watts as the athlon does

 

[hacbarton]

Well, what is the wattage on your PSU? Should be marked somewhere, also, what other components do you have in your case? Hard drives, Video cards, etc.

 

[uzayr99]

The psu is 450Watts , Got 2 hard drives , Hd 5770 Gpu ( recommends a PSU of 400)
I don't have any disk drives

And i think that's all that matters right? correct me if i'm wrong

 

[hacbarton]

Your PSU Should be able to handle it without issue.

 

[uzayr99]

Ok , thanks but one last thing the Chip doesn't seem to be on my motherboards compatibility list , but there are Cpu's there that are pretty damn similar will it still work?

List:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/cpu.asp?Model=N68C-S%20UCC

 

[hacbarton]

Just realized your board only supports up to 95w TDP CPU's. The 1055T you listed would have worked either, as it is a 125W CPU. I would suggest the 955 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113007
3.3 Ghz, still significantly faster and cheaper than the Thuban. It's not on the supported CPU's list either, but there is no reason it wouldn't work, the speeds and wattage are right. If you really want to keep it on the list, The X4 945 is still on the list, and would probably give you a measurable performance boost. I'm pretty sure the 955 was released ater you Motherboard though, and wouldn't be listed on the compatibility list.

 

[ohyouknow]

Careful with that. Your mb appears to only support 95watt TDP. Not 100% sure you should go with the 955 and on phenoms since they are 125 TDP. I'd recommend you go with the 1045t as it says on your mobo list.

 

[hacbarton]

The 955 non black edition is a 95W cpu. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113007. Also, if he wants a speed crease, going for more cores with a lower clock is not the answer. He'll see reduced performance in a lot o gaming scenarios. He currently has a dual core 3.0 a six core 2.6 won't net him that much performance gain. He'll get more by staying at the same clock with a 960T, which is a quad 3.0 Zozma, or trying the standard 955, which is a 95w 3.2.

 

[cbrunnem]

Yes, especially in games. Most games will only run 2-3 threads at once MAX, with the x4 they would be able to run much faster than on the x6. The only reason you would want that many cores is or hardcore video rendering/editing, Number crunching, etc.

be careful with how you say this. most older games dont use more the 3 cores but newer games like bf3 have used basically as many cores as you have.

 

[hacbarton]

Yeah, but waht do they run on those cores? Network? You'll still be limited by core speed. I run BF3 fine on my FX-4100. Crap chip, quad core, 3.6. Never maxes any of my cores, and only has ever run four threads, with only one o them using 90% of a core. And BF3 is one of few games that will run several threads like that. Skyrim is almost new, and runs 2 threads, All of the new COD games run 2 threads. Just because a game is labled as 'Multi threaded' doesn't mean its evenly multi threaded.

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126091 A little outdated, but still valid.

 

[cbrunnem]

Yeah, but waht do they run on those cores? Network? You'll still be limited by core speed. I run BF3 fine on my FX-4100. Crap chip, quad core, 3.6. Never maxes any of my cores, and only has ever run four threads, with only one o them using 90% of a core. And BF3 is one of few games that will run several threads like that. Skyrim is almost new, and runs 2 threads, All of the new COD games run 2 threads. Just because a game is labled as 'Multi threaded' doesn't mean its evenly multi threaded.

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126091 A little outdated, but still valid.

the point is that more and more games every month will use more then 2-3 cores. especially with the new consoles that will have at least quad cores in them( cant remember the exact count).

 

[uzayr99]

Ok , any other CPU's other than the 955 that'll get pretty much the same performance , only because i can't seem to find it anywhere in the uk couldn't find it on amazon , scan , newegg , ebuyer , pcworld , misco and even the AMD website

 

[cbrunnem]

Ok , any other CPU's other than the 955 that'll get pretty much the same performance , only because i can't seem to find it anywhere in the uk couldn't find it on amazon , scan , newegg , ebuyer , pcworld , misco and even the AMD website

if you have ddr3 ram you could upgrade to an sandy bridge build for about 250 with the i3 which is better then the phenom x4 in general.

 

[uzayr99]

First off , i only have DDR2 ram , i had intended to upgrade once my i got my new CPU.
And i've only got about 120 quid to spend so..

 

[uzayr99]

The only other 95W CPU's i can see are these:
http://shop.amd.com/uk/All/Compare/Products?SearchFacets=category%3AProcessor%3Bpowerwattage%3A95&SearchTerms=phenom&id=ADX250OCK23GM&id=HDT45TWFGRBOX&id=HDX840WFGMBOX&id=HD96ZTWFGRBOX
(includes my current CPU)
again do any of these offer a significant increase in speed?
any help>?