AMD Phenom II X6 1055T

[hyrule4927]

I use my desktop extensively for watching HD movies & TV Shows & playing occasional games (FIFA Series)...

I feel like it is worth mentioning that for such light use (unless you play some more intensive games that you didn't mention), you really don't need anything close to i7 performance, not that future-proofing hurts.

 

[Bman123]

Well if budget is a concern for just getting it together I would say go with a i3 2100. For light usage like you described it should be more then enough and it is a very good cpu. I use a i3 2100 and for only being a dual core it really is a beast of a cpu

 

[mrugeshsamel]

I feel like it is worth mentioning that for such light use (unless you play some more intensive games that you didn't mention), you really don't need anything close to i7 performance, not that future-proofing hurts.

@ hyrule4927: I download a lot on my PC. Almost 80-90 GB a month. Mostly HD movies & TV shows. I play occasional games such as FIFA, Virtua Tennis 4 & Ashes Cricket 2009. And my PC is always on for downloading the stuff. Next 4-5 years down the line, I do not see any drastic changes in my usage. Guess I5 2500K should be good enough.... Really wanted to go for AMD due to cheaper CPUs... However, after reading some very valid points in this thread, I'd rather go for Intel.

 

[anay3000]

I'm really glad that I checked with you guys before taking any decision... I think I have to get Intel Core i5-2500K 6MB 3.30 GHz even if that means going over the budget a bit... I was really wondering how come AMD is so cheaper... Now I know why.... :biggrin:

Fellows, since Mrugesh has hinted at a budget, may I ask what would be the financial advantage if we use a lower spec CPU (maybe AMD higher end or an i3) to save CPU cost, and get a decent spec Graphics card?
I don't know the immediate cost benefits, but wouldn't this mean that there was some budget left for a decent spec GPU?

Just need your kind advice, since I too went through a similar dilemma some time ago...

 

[Zargon]

Yes that's better for gaming but more expensive than going for a any Phenom II x 4 series CPU.

hes sitting there talking about X6's which arent that far off

you can get used 2500k's for 160 or so which is where a new 1055T seems to land.

Fellows, since Mrugesh has hinted at a budget, may I ask what would be the financial advantage if we use a lower spec CPU (maybe AMD higher end or an i3) to save CPU cost, and get a decent spec Graphics card?
I don't know the immediate cost benefits, but wouldn't this mean that there was some budget left for a decent spec GPU?

Just need your kind advice, since I too went through a similar dilemma some time ago...

depends on what you want to do, OP was pretty vague so the random spattering of answers he has gotten was to be expected

the problem with an i3 would be cores, if you do anything that multithreads well you are kinda screwed

 

[Magic Carpet]

@ hyrule4927: I download a lot on my PC. Almost 80-90 GB a month. Mostly HD movies & TV shows. I play occasional games such as FIFA, Virtua Tennis 4 & Ashes Cricket 2009. And my PC is always on for downloading the stuff. Next 4-5 years down the line, I do not see any drastic changes in my usage. Guess I5 2500K should be good enough.... Really wanted to go for AMD due to cheaper CPUs... However, after reading some very valid points in this thread, I'd rather go for Intel.

Looking at your work load above. 1055T should be ideal. That's not hardcore enough for 2500k ;-p

 

[dafunklull]

get the 1100t 6 core... with the Power of Advanced Core Calibration in the bios your phenomII 1100t is virtually EVERY phenomII model ever made change it to a 5 core 4 core 3 core 2 core 1 core 1100t can have multiple personalitys the 1055t not so much as its probably has a much lower head room for over clocking probably wont get to 4ghz on the 1055t.

altho cant argue with the 2500k just price. it does work well just beware of bad motherboards.
the only i5 owner i know has had a bad asus motherboard fresh out the box borked pcie slot causing screen distortion and sata ports that just died with no reason.
but that can happen to anyone.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Get an X6 1090T and pump that baby up to 4.0Ghz.

This thing manages(d?) to keep up with the 990X for $700 less. SB is the equivalent of a 990X, so for $170~, it doesn't stand up too bad to the big boys

 

[Stayfr0sty]

Most 1055ts can OC to around 4 ghz with the right mobo.

Dont listen to the intel zealots. Yes the 2500k beats it in a lot of benches but its pointless especially if your gaming. Why? THe AMD is cheaper and with the money you save on the processor you can put it into a more powerfull video card, which will matter.

 

[BD231]

Guys,

I'm upgrading my desktop soon & as much as I'd like to have an Intel I7, I really cannot afford it. On a tight budget here... A friend suggested I rather go for AMD which will give me equivalent computing power @ almost half the price. I've always wanted to try AMD & here is my chance but can your opinions on:

• Is AMD Phenom II X6 1055T good/better compared to Intel I7?
• Which would be a compatible motherboard for AMD Phenom II X6 1055T?
• What would be desirable amount of RAM for this?

Regards,
Mrugesh.

You'd be better off with a 2500k if you have a microcenter around you as it wouldn't cost you much more at all, something like a 20 or 30 dollar premium at best? A very small price to pay for the massive IPC gains. The reason I say this is because the x6 phenoms are only as fast as Intel chips in limited situations where all cores are utilized.

Sadly that's becoming irrelevant though.

I've come to a point where the added cores are useless for video encoding now that both AMD/nVidia support GPU accelerated encoding which is a lot faster in combination. Personally I'd rather have more GPU cores than CPU cores for encoding. Far less taxing on GPU's than it is CPU's and the performance goes up exponentially where as with more cores you're still stuck within the same cache limitations and your gains aren't nearly as good.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Microcenter no longer has deal on the I5's, has to be an I7. So actually if your getting a free mobo the 2600 would be very similar in price.

Also don't get a 2550. They do not overclock better, its 100 MHZ faster but you lose the GMA3000. But if a 2500k can't overclock that extra 100mhz at pretty much no extra cost in power or voltage usage, then you have a defective CPU. Seriously no overclock is guaranteed but a 100mhz upgrade without changing anything should be damn close. Save the couple of dollars and keep that emergency GPU and the quick-sync it brings with it.

Nope, not at least in Texas... in fact the promotion is expanded to include all 1155 motherboards. That's according to the Intel mobo section rep at my local MC. Still $50 off any board.

I have a feeling that the OP doesn't live anywhere near a MC, though. OP, I have a 1055t and a 960t (unlocks to all six cores) for sale. If you're interested in saving a bit of cash, PM me to see if we can get this ball rolling. (If this isn't allowed, please delete this.)

Edit: this thread is over half a month old... I'm pretty sure the OP got what he needed a long time ago.

 

[Topweasel]

Nope, not at least in Texas... in fact the promotion is expanded to include all 1155 motherboards. That's according to the Intel mobo section rep at my local MC. Still $50 off any board.

I have a feeling that the OP doesn't live anywhere near a MC, though. OP, I have a 1055t and a 960t (unlocks to all six cores) for sale. If you're interested in saving a bit of cash, PM me to see if we can get this ball rolling. (If this isn't allowed, please delete this.)

Edit: this thread is over half a month old... I'm pretty sure the OP got what he needed a long time ago.

It could have changed again. But for nearly two months it was i7 only.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

It could have changed again. But for nearly two months it was i7 only.

Really? I could've sworn the fliers I got in the mail said i5s were included... maybe I'm just getting old

 

[BD231]

Base price of the i5 @ micro center is $179.

 

[Stayfr0sty]

Base price of the i5 @ micro center is $179.

220 at newegg.
Thats about a 70 dollar difference from a 1055t

Those 70 bucks could make a nice difference with video card

 

[RaistlinZ]

Even if you have to get it from Newegg, $70 over the next 4 years is nothing. Save up a little bit extra and buy when you have the cash. The 2500K is so worth it over the 1055t it's not even funny.

You want a gaming rig OP? Just look at Anand's Bench comparison between the two. Not only does the 2500k own the gaming benchmarks it's even faster in multi-threaded performance.

It's o.k. to "splurge" a little when it's worth it. Life is short, treat yourself sometimes.

 

[Stayfr0sty]

Even if you have to get it from Newegg, $70 over the next 4 years is nothing. Save up a little bit extra and buy when you have the cash. The 2500K is so worth it over the 1055t it's not even funny.

You want a gaming rig OP? Just look at Anand's Bench comparison between the two. Not only does the 2500k own the gaming benchmarks it's even faster in multi-threaded performance.

It's o.k. to "splurge" a little when it's worth it. Life is short, treat yourself sometimes.

Im an AMD jedi, never will I join the darkside of sintel

In any case like I said, at high resolutions I dont think you will be seeing much a difference in gaming between the 2 cpus.

 

[AtenRa]

I believe you will find my latest review very helpful for budget CPU DX-11 gaming.

Link in my sing bellow.

 

[sm625]

i5-750 on ebay right now, $81 is the high bid. It aint gonna go over 125 because there are a bunch selling at that price. Its an easy overclock to 3.5GHz. There is nothing that performs better anywhere near this price range.

 

[BD231]

220 at newegg.
Thats about a 70 dollar difference from a 1055t

Those 70 bucks could make a nice difference with video card

New gen video cards are overpriced right now and unless he's buying top end he'd be getting ripped off in any lesser segment as the same performance can be had for half the cost going with a previous gen card. I definitely wouldn't go i5 @ $220, but I don't think that's the case here. OP wants i7 performance and the i5 is exactly that minus the hyper threading so I say he should go for what he really wants if he has a microcenter within distance which his original post suggests.

You don't have to spend much to get good gaming performance these days, even a simple overclocked GTX 460 is enough to max out any console port out there at a decent res which can be had for 150 or less retail.

Better to get the CPU now and wait for GPU price's to fall in line.

 

[mrugeshsamel]

Even if you have to get it from Newegg, $70 over the next 4 years is nothing. Save up a little bit extra and buy when you have the cash. The 2500K is so worth it over the 1055t it's not even funny.

You want a gaming rig OP? Just look at Anand's Bench comparison between the two. Not only does the 2500k own the gaming benchmarks it's even faster in multi-threaded performance.

It's o.k. to "splurge" a little when it's worth it. Life is short, treat yourself sometimes.

Thanks for all your views people. And sincere apologies for not replying frequently enough on this thread... BTW, I do not live near any Micro Center. Infact, I stay in Mumbai (India).

I've decided to go for i5-2500K since the price difference is hardly Rs.3000 (~ $60).

I kind of agree with RaistlinZ WRT Anand's Bench Comparison...

 

[mrugeshsamel]

New gen video cards are overpriced right now and unless he's buying top end he'd be getting ripped off in any lesser segment as the same performance can be had for half the cost going with a previous gen card. I definitely wouldn't go i5 @ $220, but I don't think that's the case here. OP wants i7 performance and the i5 is exactly that minus the hyper threading so I say he should go for what he really wants if he has a microcenter within distance which his original post suggests.

You don't have to spend much to get good gaming performance these days, even a simple overclocked GTX 460 is enough to max out any console port out there at a decent res which can be had for 150 or less retail.

Better to get the CPU now and wait for GPU price's to fall in line.

I will wait till GPU prices come down... Till then my ATI Radeon HD 4350 will have to do!!!

 

[Topweasel]

Really? I could've sworn the fliers I got in the mail said i5s were included... maybe I'm just getting old

Seems they have changed up the deals a bit. Used to be you would get a major $ amount off or free a pretty decent mobo if you got an 2500 or higher, they eventually add BD to it. When they did that they shifted it around a bit. A 4k would get a free $60 board, the 6k a $80 board, and an 8k like $100 board. They also made the free board for the Intel stuff be only for i7. Now they seem to have adapted that to pretty much a straight $50 off of a preselected board for a preselected level of CPU.

 

[Makaveli]

I would go with the 2500k see if you can find a combo deal for it.

I would not go with the AMD chip below its not even as fast as Nehalem yet alone SB and ivy.

AMD FX-8150 Zambezi.

 

[Makaveli]

Get an X6 1090T and pump that baby up to 4.0Ghz.

This thing manages(d?) to keep up with the 990X for $700 less. SB is the equivalent of a 990X, so for $170~, it doesn't stand up too bad to the big boys

This would be correct if you are comparing a stock 990X to an overclocked 1100T.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core-i7-2600k-990x_9.html#sect1

This review says other wise!