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CPU Round-up: $100 - $200 Intel and AMD Processors Tested
Techspot ^ | April 19, 2010 | Steven Walton

Posted on 04/19/2010 9:07:41 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Building your own computer

can be very time consuming and rewarding at the same time. While piecing the new hardware together is usually a relatively easy task, picking out the right components in the first place is what can make it more troublesome (that's where our PC buying guide comes in handy - but please, read on).

The first component that must be decided upon before any build takes place is the processor, as this will dictate which motherboard can be used and often the memory type. As one of the more expensive components you must choose wisely, so think about the purpose of your build and budget. Popular CPU choices often range between $100 and $200, and surprisingly in this limited price range consumers will find a huge number of AMD and Intel offerings.

In this price bracket processors can be found operating between 2.66GHz and 3.40GHz, but the differences between these go well beyond mere frequencies. The number of cores also varies with dual-core, triple-core and even quad-core processors available within this range. Other factors play an important role as well, such as cache and the thermal design power rating.

With so many choices at your disposal, we understand it's hard not to become overwhelmed. Therefore we have taken a dozen processors priced within the $100 - $200 price range and pitted them against each other, so you can draw clear conclusions on what will suit you the best.

Keep in mind that not every processor family is being represented by its flagship model. Rather, we have taken what we feel is the best value processor for that particular series. For example, the Core i5 661 falls within our target with an asking price of $200, but instead we have gone with the Core i5 650 because we feel it is a better value option.

Towards the end of the testing phase we have also added a segment that compares all 12 processors on a clock-for-clock basis. This comparison of architectures aims to remove the operating frequency impact on performance and allows us to show you exactly how these CPUs perform side-by-side. This is particularly useful for overclockers, showing just how much difference in performance there might be between two particular processors once overclocked to a certain frequency.

Besides the processors themselves, we will be also taking under consideration the value and performance differences between the platforms used, so motherboards and chipsets will be factored into the whole equation. And now, let's meet the contenders both from the green and blue camps...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: amd; hitech; intel; lowendcpus
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To: garyhope
I’m wondering what is the best future proof CPU that will still be worthwhile 2 or 3 years down the road.

If Linux is the flavor that's your choice, why worry about it? You'll probably have an version available that is more functional than the ones out now and still work fine with whatever modern CPU you choose. Regardless the ones available now won't be obsolete.

If 7 is you choice do you really expect MSFT to have an new OS 2 or 3 years from now? :-)

21 posted on 04/19/2010 10:00:00 AM PDT by Tribune7 (Only stupid, racists people support Obama.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Thanks for the info, will definitely check it out.
I’ve been looking at the the i7 870 so I could stick with a P55 mobo (although the X58 mobo’s have dropped considerably.)
I am constantly amazed at the price vs. performance ratio.


22 posted on 04/19/2010 10:04:14 AM PDT by astyanax (Liberalism: Logic's retarded cousin.)
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To: garyhope
... what will hold up the best over a few years?

I read a few years back that, for every 10 degrees you lower the CPU temperature, you double its life. So, lap the hell out of your heat sink and don't skimp on fans.

Granted, my 3 work computers loaf along, but I've never seen the CPU temperature above 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Then again, one of them sounds like a vacuum cleaner when it's running.

23 posted on 04/19/2010 10:06:06 AM PDT by kitchen (One battle rifle for each person, and a spare for each pair.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

bm


24 posted on 04/19/2010 10:08:31 AM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)
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To: JoeProBono
Intel has a lot of specific instructions that AMD does not have for decoding video streams...

They usually run away with those benchmarks.

I think they fall under SSE4 ...?

not sure if I have that right.

Must be somewhere in

Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manuals

25 posted on 04/19/2010 10:10:43 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

LMAO! I’m not challenging the cost of the chip. Just giving you the actual cost of a chip once everything is in place.


26 posted on 04/19/2010 10:13:09 AM PDT by Sprite518
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I don’t know. It’s kind of an obscure application for most general public computing.


27 posted on 04/19/2010 10:21:13 AM PDT by garyhope (It's World War IV, right here, right now, courtesy of Islam.)
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To: garyhope
Rather than the CPU and Future proofing....you might want to add the USB3 and SATA 6 G coming devices into the equation....

Here is the AMD Chipset announcement that delivers on the new devices....

AMD 890GX SB850 Chipset Debut: Phenom II X6 Ready

And one board from ASUS:

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

28 posted on 04/19/2010 10:22:53 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: garyhope

The only CPU bound activity I have is converting HD video from MPEG2 to MPEG4.

With the i7, it is now fast enough that I can finish a project in one evening. Three years from now I’ll be drooling over the new hardware but the i7 has given me enough speed that I can live without an upgrade.

I basically wore out the cooling fans on two dual core pentium computers that I had running day and night crunching video. The older dual core computer would require over 24 hours of computing time for one project.

Of course I say that now but when next year’s systems come out all bets are off.


29 posted on 04/19/2010 10:23:00 AM PDT by dangerdoc
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To: garyhope
Depending on how the application is written.,...an Excel spreadsheet benchmark might track closeyl....

Wouldn't think floating point would get used since we are talking Financials....Games use Floating point heavily usually.

30 posted on 04/19/2010 10:26:03 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: Sprite518

Sand doesn’t cost much.


31 posted on 04/19/2010 10:30:50 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: JoeProBono

From that chart, there doesn’t seem to be a real reason to upgrade from a Core 2 duo or quad at this point. Unless there is a clear doubling of processor power, an upgrade won’t be very noticeable.

There is only a 10% gain between the C2d and the lower end i3 and i5 processors. That’s not really worth paying for.


32 posted on 04/19/2010 10:32:01 AM PDT by MediaMole
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To: dangerdoc; JoeProBono

See #20...but notice the CPu Freq are set at 2.4.


33 posted on 04/19/2010 10:32:50 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: astyanax

See #28. also.


34 posted on 04/19/2010 10:34:27 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: MediaMole

Did you notice that all were run at the same freq?


35 posted on 04/19/2010 10:35:42 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: garyhope; astyanax
Review of the MoBo chipset :

Asus M4A89GTD Pro/USB3 Motherboard Review: AMD's 890GX Chipset Makes Its Debut

Gigabyte may have a board out too ...I think.

36 posted on 04/19/2010 10:44:50 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
37 posted on 04/19/2010 10:46:20 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Bingo


38 posted on 04/19/2010 10:47:26 AM PDT by Sprite518
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

That’s one feature I’ve always liked about AMD.
Their sockets tend to have a great “shelf life”.
As for USB 3.0, PCI-e cards are already available for $30, and will certainly be much cheaper in the near future.


39 posted on 04/19/2010 10:48:16 AM PDT by astyanax (Liberalism: Logic's retarded cousin.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Regarding the Gigabyt 890 board at # 37...be aware...

Cons: - no CPU unlocking

40 posted on 04/19/2010 10:52:52 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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