AMD Phenom II X4 965 Options

[Layers]

I've been thinking a lot about it now and I still can't make a clear decision on the setup. Looking at the brands, I'm frustrated with how much real control a buyer has these days.

Intel offers a more powerful platform if you're considering using the computer not just for gaming but also for programs such as Photoshop or iTunes (when you've got a library like mine...). There's a considerable difference in the Core i's over the best that AMD has to offer. Having said that - someone mentioned it - both offerings are neck and neck on the graphics front. AMD offer a better price on the motherboards and the CPU and I can stand to save around $100 - $200 give or take. That's a bit of money and is a more stronger selling point than 5fps faster on a game to me. On the heat and power hungry front, Intel wins but is it really that much of a concern? I might do a small overclock but nothing serious.

The chipsets is where it really gets interesting. The latest Intel P55 offering only supports 8x PCI-E if you're planning to do a dual card setup... now, I'm not sure if I'll go for it but it's strange how the X58 and 790FX chipsets, which are older, can support 16x PCI-E on a dual card setup. I haven't been able to catch up on the performance results between 8x and 16x dual setups but that's one of the next things on my lists to research. My plan would be to buy a 5870 now and one later. Perhaps leaving it at one card will be enough for all games to run smoothly and a P55 chipset isn't as bad as it seems.

Motherboard choice is all over the place for all chipsets. Asus, EVGA and Gigabyte are the big 3 at the moment but the difference between boards is confusing and the advertising is lacking reality. Gigabyte are a proven company but they've had some upsetting moments too. I do believe that 24 phases of power is quite ridiculous unless you park your computer next to a 16KvA generator or you're an overclocking junkie that uses a liquid nitrogen cooling system.

I'm not leaving out ASUS even though they do have some quality boards, they're also known to pack their boards with so much bloatware. The new Sabretooth board is an overkill IMO. I'm a career military technician and the fact that they've designed this board to 'military standard' is one big fat LOL. I've never heard of a 'Salt Spray' test and that is purely hand-on-genitalia advertising. Let's go surf with my new computer dudes :D

EVGA are new to the game... haven't tried them out yet so I might consider a board from them although some of their prices are a bit rich. I cannot justify burning around $500 for a board unless it wipes my ass for me when I go for my peaceful nugget and as it stands, that is not going to happen unfortunately. I think they're trying to make a money grab there for no apparant reason.

I dunno. It's a bit silly at the moment. Mabye I should wait some more even though I'm overdue for a new computer to which I have none at the moment and I'm doing the good 'ol 'steal the wifey's laptop' regime for now.

I'd add MSI to that mobo list too, their 790FX-GD70 looks nice, specs wise aswell. Not much more than $200.

Power management has been refined in the new C3 965BE stepping, using hardware controlled individual core clock gating. So heat would be no problem, not that it was that much of one before. :)

This post has been edited by Layers: Nov 5 2009, 07:10 PM

[SceptreCore]

You don't need a fully tricked out board.. something like the Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H would do the trick. Great little board, and the 785G chipset offers a lot for very little.

[Layers]

You don't need a fully tricked out board.. something like the Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H would do the trick. Great little board, and the 785G chipset offers a lot for very little.

that's cool, just a suggestion if you wanted to run a 965 cpu, as the ud3h only supports upto a 955.

[SceptreCore]

You don't need a fully tricked out board.. something like the Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H would do the trick. Great little board, and the 785G chipset offers a lot for very little.

that's cool, just a suggestion if you wanted to run a 965 cpu, as the ud3h only supports upto a 955.

It's rated to support 140W CPUs, so I'm guessing they just haven't updated their documentation?

[Layers]

You don't need a fully tricked out board.. something like the Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H would do the trick. Great little board, and the 785G chipset offers a lot for very little.

that's cool, just a suggestion if you wanted to run a 965 cpu, as the ud3h only supports upto a 955.

It's rated to support 140W CPUs, so I'm guessing they just haven't updated their documentation?

i thought that too, considering thr 965 doesn't touch near 125W that much.

they did update my board with the C3 stepping though, and thats an AM2+ board.

This post has been edited by Layers: Nov 7 2009, 10:36 PM

[SceptreCore]

i thought that too, considering thr 965 doesn't touch near 125W that much.

they did update my board with the C3 stepping though, and thats an AM2+ board.

Even one of their listed 785G microATX boards supports the 965, so perhaps they just haven't got around to testing on that board.

[Volition]

Had a look at the other chipsets too. Don't get me wrong, they're good chipsets but some of the motherboards are absolute rubbish.

I'm looking at a build date of around January. I'll see how the prices go then and then I'll make a decision. Thanks for the info everyone :)

[sora3]

Well, January is quite a long way away to be honest. You'll also be looking at the Core i3s and perhaps the Larrabee if it does hit the timeframe. Otherwise, AMD will probably be looking at the their 6 core CPUs (Thurban) and the new 8*0 chipsets. So it's not as clear cut as you say it is.

[nesquick]

The new intel westmere chips (32nm) should also be out.

[Volition]

Well, January is quite a long way away to be honest. You'll also be looking at the Core i3s and perhaps the Larrabee if it does hit the timeframe. Otherwise, AMD will probably be looking at the their 6 core CPUs (Thurban) and the new 8*0 chipsets. So it's not as clear cut as you say it is.

Bit harsh lol

Why should I wait for the latest CPU's and chipsets to come out? That means I'll be up for a more expensive computer due to the premium of being the first to buy the latest equipment.

I would like to wait the mere 1 and a half months to see how the prices go. The lead up to christmas seems to push everything up and after the new year there are reductions on components. If the new CPU's and chipsets come out at the same time then all the more reason for the suppliers to further discount the current technology.

Reckon I'm being prudent about building the rig regardless of how 'clear cut' I am :)

[SceptreCore]

AMD may have some 32nm chips to offer mid 2010. According to Dirk Meyer anyway, just a couple of models.

[sora3]

Well, January is quite a long way away to be honest. You'll also be looking at the Core i3s and perhaps the Larrabee if it does hit the timeframe. Otherwise, AMD will probably be looking at the their 6 core CPUs (Thurban) and the new 8*0 chipsets. So it's not as clear cut as you say it is.

Bit harsh lol

Why should I wait for the latest CPU's and chipsets to come out? That means I'll be up for a more expensive computer due to the premium of being the first to buy the latest equipment.

I would like to wait the mere 1 and a half months to see how the prices go. The lead up to christmas seems to push everything up and after the new year there are reductions on components. If the new CPU's and chipsets come out at the same time then all the more reason for the suppliers to further discount the current technology.

Reckon I'm being prudent about building the rig regardless of how 'clear cut' I am :)

Well, that's how I operate. :P

And given how much I've seen at work, it's a given. Anyway, prices seem to have stabilised quite a bit these days. The reason why you can wait is that during the months before the release, most of the previous gen will be heavily discounted in order to make way for these stock. AMD should be nearing completion on their 6 core CPU soon as they did show off a silicon wafer of it. Intel should be on the way as well anyway. But it is your choice so meh, who am I to change it? :P

[SceptreCore]

Well, that's how I operate. :P

He doesn't wear flannelette shirts and eat beer cans for nothing ladies and gentlemen... this Sora3... he's tough!

:P

[A Hitman]

Think I will buy one within the next two weeks.
Wish useless shops would get it in stock.

[garyboulter]

Please do not have doubts re AMD I just completed an upgrade using the following AMD Phenom 11 x 4 955 Processor,3200mhz 4 core Black on a ASUS M4N82 Delux motherboard and I am very happy with the results What I like about AMD is you get more bang for your buck and you can buy other nice goodies to go with it Just my opion but you watch the intel boys come out in defence they are both good each in there own way all you have to do is make a choice

[A Hitman]

Is c3 stepping in Australia yet?
Still can't get any over here.