Best Gaming CPU: $100-$150
Best gaming CPU for $100: Tie
Athlon II X4 620
| Athlon II X4 620 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Propus |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 4 |
| Clock Speed: | 2.6 GHz |
| Socket: | AM3 |
| L1 Cache: | 4 x 128KB |
| L2 Cache: | 4 x 512KB |
| HyperTransport: | 4,000 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 95W |
AMD has introduced a solid quad-core processor for the masses with its Athlon II X4 620. On paper, this CPU is similar to a Phenom II X4 810, stripped of it's L3 cache and given a slight HyperTransport speed boost (of course, we know it centers on a smaller, more economical Propus die). In our testing, the Athlon II X4 620 demonstrated clear dominance over comparably-priced CPUs in apps and games that can take advantage of multiple threads.
Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition (Check Prices)
| Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Callisto |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 2 |
| Clock Speed: | 3.1 GHz |
| Socket: | AM3 |
| L1 Cache: | 2 x 128KB |
| L2 Cache: | 2 x 512KB |
| L3 Cache: | 6MB |
| HyperTransport: | 4,000 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 80W |
Although the dual-core Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition might be a bit slower than the comparably-priced Phenom II X3 710 when it comes to gaming, it offers something that the 710 doesn't have: an unlocked multiplier. Like all of AMD's Black Edition processors, the Phenom II X2 550 can be effortlessly overclocked by simply upping the multiplier, earning this CPU a place on our recommended list for overclocking fans.
Best gaming CPU for $120: None
With the Athlon II X4 640 and Phenom II X2 550 BE offering great performace at the $100 price point, there's little benefit offered from the following $120 CPUs. However, these models can provide extra headroom for overclockers willing to massage them a bit:
Honorable Mentions:
Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition (Check Prices)
| Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Heka |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 3 |
| Clock Speed: | 2.8 GHz |
| Socket: | AM3 |
| L1 Cache: | 3 x 128KB |
| L2 Cache: | 3 x 512KB |
| L3 Cache: | 6MB |
| HyperTransport: | 4,000 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 95W |
Is the mere 200 MHz clock speed increase over the Phenom II X3 710 worth $20? Maybe, but the unlocked multiplier feature that AMD's Black Edition processors sport is worth a lot more to overclockers who want easy access to the headroom available in AMD's Deneb die.
Core 2 Duo E7500 (Check Prices)
| Core 2 Duo E7500 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Wolfdale-3M |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 2 |
| Clock Speed: | 2.93 GHz |
| Socket: | LGA 775 |
| L2 Cache: | 3MB |
| Front Side Bus: | 1,066 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 65W |
At 2.93 GHz, the Core 2 Duo E7500 is a good match-up against the Phenom II X3 720. Even without an unlocked multiplier, the E7500 is an excellent overclocker and won't disappoint. It has a slight clock rate advantage over AMD's contender, but its dual-core design won't be as nimble in threaded apps. The direction you go at this price level will really depend on the type of software you run.
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Was looking into getting a new rig to play Batman on. But the game needs windows live account for its DRm. So I'll never buy it. That saved me a few hundred!!! This DRM tosh saves me a fortune every month.
"With rapidly-increasing prices over $200 offering smaller and smaller performance boosts in games, we have a hard time recommending anything more expensive than the Core i5-750"
but then
"While the Core i5 performs closely, there are a few applications and games that can take advantage of the Core i7 900-series' HyperThreading and triple-channel memory features"
so there IS a reason to stretch a little more for i7 920 then as you clearly state that there are some games out there that will benefit from the technology present in the chip.
What if I want my gaming PC to play everything at the very best quality? Can an i5 handle 5870s in Quadfire? How much faster do hyperthread-aware games run on the i7? Granted we are talking high-budget machines here but why is this sort of data ALWAYS omitted from these types of comparisons?
Yes, there is no point in going i7 975 when the i7 920 can overclock to match (and beat), but there is a point in considering the i7 920 over the i5 750 when it can do something the cheaper chip can't - the $250-$300 bracket is a perfectly valid one to consider.
Totally agree with LePhuronn, in fact I'd go further, the "best gaming graphics cards for the money" and "best gaming cpus for the money" articles really need to be combined.
What I'd like to know is what cpu's are best paired with what gfx cards and vice versa. (To avoid bottle necks that is)
I was having a conversation with my housemate this week as he is thinking about upgrading and he says that he alternates upgrading the cpu and the gfx and always gets be best available of each. I explained that that is counter productive as you will just be alternating your bottle necks and never getting the full value for money out of either...
I'm thinking about getting one of the higher Phenom Black Editions and pairing it with a 5850, is that good? Hard to tell right now!
Well, this didn't tell me what I wanted to hear (ie. That a Q9550 would be an excellent buy) but maybe that's a good thing.
I agree that a $250-300 bracket should be included. Even if many of us don't have the cash, some people do. (I would bring up the $ on a .co.uk website point again, but it doesn't look like it's going to change soon and I suppose it's an 'international' site.)
friggin socketmania
im so sick changing motherboard whenever i want to upgrade cpu
yay, found a BNIB Q9400 from PC World for under 100GBP to put some life back into my 775 system! Decent GTA 4 frames here we come!
People with Budget PC's, that took the leap in buying AMD Athlonx2 on an AM2 back in the day, really can't complain as yet. I was running my 4600+ x2 for about 2+years, and only upgraded GPU's, and finaly, when my CPU started to sruggle, I popped in a Phenom II X4 Black Edition 955, in the SAME AM2 mobo and voila, good to go for another long run....