AMD Black Box 5000+ or 6400+ Best For Gaming?

[JohnClark]

I'm looking at building a new rig with one of the Black Box processors. I know the 5000+ can go to 3.5-6-7 with great air cooling and the right mobo. I've also read that the 6400 barely overclocks. Right now, they are available at $99.95, and $179.95 respectively.

While I will be using it for standard tasks and things, my real question is this, which one will provide the best gaming performance? An overclocked 5000+, or a 6400+?

I plan to pair it with a DFI 790FX board. Down the road a bit, I may well replace it with one of the next generation of K10 Phenoms.

Thanks for your thoughts.


John

[EvilBellyLint]

Let's Compare.

* The 6400+ is built on a 90nm process, while the 5000+ uses a 65nm process.

* Consequently, the 5000+ draws about 1/2 the power of the 6400+,
thus produces far less heat, thus overclocks far better. (in fact, the 5000+
Black Edition draws 5W LESS power than the standard 5000+, due to the
G2 Stepping....)

* A stock 5000+ has a TDP of 65W. A stock 6400+ has a TDP of nearly 124W.
When overclocked, the thermal difference gets dramatically worse for the 6400+

* A modest 30% overclock raises the 5000+ TDP by only 8-9W,
while just a 10% overclock raises the 6400+ TDP by nearly 35W

* An overclocked 5000+ will trail an overclocked 6400+ in gaming
performance, but not dramatically.

* the 6400+ B.E., while having higher stock specs, never realizes its
overclocking potential due to the thermal issues. For 80-bucks less,
I'd rather go with the 5000+ (in fact, I did) especially if it is to be a
bridge-solution while waiting for a revised Phenom.

EBL

[JohnClark]

Thanks EBL.

John




Let's Compare.

* The 6400+ is built on a 90nm process, while the 5000+ uses a 65nm process.

* Consequently, the 5000+ draws about 1/2 the power of the 6400+,
thus produces far less heat, thus overclocks far better. (in fact, the 5000+
Black Edition draws 5W LESS power than the standard 5000+, due to the
G2 Stepping....)

* A stock 5000+ has a TDP of 65W. A stock 6400+ has a TDP of nearly 124W.
When overclocked, the thermal difference gets dramatically worse for the 6400+

* A modest 30% overclock raises the 5000+ TDP by only 8-9W,
while just a 10% overclock raises the 6400+ TDP by nearly 35W

* An overclocked 5000+ will trail an overclocked 6400+ in gaming
performance, but not dramatically.

* the 6400+ B.E., while having higher stock specs, never realizes its
overclocking potential due to the thermal issues. For 80-bucks less,
I'd rather go with the 5000+ (in fact, I did) especially if it is to be a
bridge-solution while waiting for a revised Phenom.

EBL

[Psycho_eddie]

Its common sense that immidate higher cost puts Amd 6400+ on top

A good 5000+ could do 3.5GHZ OC

All Amd 6400+ do 3.5Ghz (esptially with newest batch dates)

At stock speads 6400+ trounces 5000+ for obious reasons due to clock speed advantage but if both clocked to same speed Amd 6400+ will allways win due to having more memory on Chip 2Mb total Vs 1Mb on 5000+


If you looking for best chip 6400+

If your cheapskate then 5000+

[STEvil]

5000 black only has 1mb L2.

6400 black has 2mb L2... I think?

Anyways more L2 will be faster if you end up near the same end clock point.

I'd go with the 5000+ black edition just for fun.

[MrWizard6600]

Its common sense that immidate higher cost puts Amd 6400+ on top

A good 5000+ could do 3.5GHZ OC

All Amd 6400+ do 3.5Ghz (esptially with newest batch dates)

At stock speads 6400+ trounces 5000+ for obious reasons due to clock speed advantage but if both clocked to same speed Amd 6400+ will allways win due to having more memory on Chip 2Mb total Vs 1Mb on 5000+


If you looking for best chip 6400+

If your cheapskate then 5000+

thermal management at 3.5Ghz on a 6400+ will be nasty.

I used to shrug that off but... my newest monster... 680i + Ballistix PC8500 (2.2V) + 1.5V E6300 + OCed 8800GTS (no vmod tho) = dude... WAY too much heat. People joke that their PCs could heat a room but I really think mine can.

[zanzabar]

its no joke about heating ur room high speed computers all have in both servers and gaming rigz and ocing just makes it go like a space heater


the 5000 will be a better choice in the long run since it will use much less power saving u the money needed to get a working k10/11 with ht3.0 when the are out at the end of next year, and the 5k should get better clocks since it has less l2 and is 65nm

[Aussie FX]

John I posted in your other thread, that my rig (see sig) plays Crysis on high settings with ease.
It also oc's past 3.5ghz with a stock 6000+ cooler.
Downside to 6400 is not having a cooler, you will have to buy aftermarket. Not sure about 5000 Black in that regard.

You don't need to oc the 6400 to play Crysis @ 1920x1200, that's the upside....

But that with 2 3870's will play anything.

[Psycho_eddie]

I think the origonal post should spesify he belongs to green peace if he wanted energy efficent... Talking best performence you have to make sacrifices perhaps in head output but are so many good coolers no need to worry

[Sparky]

I'd go 5000+ because I'm cheap :p:

[GIZER]

i went with a 6400 BE because i wanted a guaranteed 3.2ghz chip which means it is plenty fast @ stock. Even with my old but loyal 7900 GTX i can play recent games. My next purchase will be two 8800 GT's since i can do SLI.

[roadie]

I would go for the 5000BE and spend the difference on a faster graphics card, as that would give the most performance per £ (or $).