Best AMD desktop CPU

[Darxide]

Hello!
I've been out of the loop for a while, so excuse my ignorance lol.
It's time to replace my gaming desktop, and I need some advice.

First, before I make my decision, is there anything big on the horizon from AMD? Like in the next 6 months?
When are we expecting steamroller to arrive if at all?
I always seem to fall into the trap of buying just before something new comes along.

ATM my desktop is an Asus M3A79-T deluxe with Phenom II 940 black, oc'd to 3.6Ghz, and 4Gb of PC2-8500.
So I'm thinking an upgrade is due as I'm stuck with DDR2, SATA2 USB 2 etc etc...
What I'm looking at is the FX8350 black with 8Gb of DDR3.
Would that be a major improvement from my current?
Also what type of RAM does that chip need? I know DDR3, but does it need a specific speed? I assume I can use higher to allow OC'ing?

I'm posting in the AMD section because although I could go Intel, and I haven't ruled that out, I've always found AMD to be better value for money. I don't need the 'absolute best', I'm not a benchmark whore lol.

Anyway any advice welcome.

[tbone8ty]

Wait for kaveri steamroller

Fx-8350 would be a nice upgrade

New mobo?

[Darxide]

Wait for kaveri steamroller

Fx-8350 would be a nice upgrade

New mobo?

D'oh! Forgot to mention motherboard. Looking at the Asus Crosshair V 990FX.
Hmm, are we expecting steamroller anytime soon? I'm sort of wanting to do this soon. Do you think steamroller will use AM3+ or a new socket?

[Andi64]

I'm gonna get killed for saying this on the AMD forum, but when you're shopping for mid-range for that price Intel has better options.

IMHO, a good AMD combo would be a cheap 990FX, like MSI 990FXA-GD65V2, with a FX-8320 thats about U$S285. If you're looking to expend ~450 bucks (8350/Crosshair V) I would go for a 4670/Z87 or 4770/Z87 combo even with a lower end board...

[tbone8ty]

My fx-8350 oc to 4.6ghz

Don't expect much more than that on decent air cooling.

Also look at the fx-6300 if u wanna save some dough

Also check out new amd apu richland part (a10-6800k)

People are getting nice OC's 4.8-5.2ghz on good air cooling

Also new amd chips do well with high freq ddr3 memory look at 2133 or 2400

[Andi64]

My fx-8350 oc to 4.6ghz

Don't expect much more than that on decent air cooling.

Also look at the fx-6300 if u wanna save some dough

Also check out new amd apu richland part (a10-6800k)

People are getting nice OC's 4.8-5.2ghz on good air cooling

Also new amd chips do well with high freq ddr3 memory look at 2133 or 2400

If he goes for discrete graphics, and looking at his signature he will, there is no point for even considering the 6800K. I would love to see how that 6800K stands against a 4 core Phenom II, I really don't believe there is much difference (4Ghz Ph2 vs 5Ghz 6800K). I really love those APUs, but because of the entire CPU+GPU package. If you look only at the CPU, it's just an FX4300 2M/4C, that even at 5Ghz kinda sucks.

[tbone8ty]

I'd go a10-6800k with 2400mhz memory and a nice fm2 a85x mobo

[Andi64]

Again, why would anybody buy a 6800K over a FX8320 if you are using discrete graphics? Both are U$S150.

[Evantaur]

new CPUs announced next week in E3... wait until then atleast

[tbone8ty]

Can't wait!

This 2!

http://wccftech.com/amd-possibly-unv...eries-e3-2013/

[tbone8ty]

Again, why would anybody buy a 6800K over a FX8320 if you are using discrete graphics? Both are U$S150.

Because it runs at a higher clock than the 8320 so ipc will be better plus better power consumption

[Andi64]

Some of them hit 5Ghz, not all. For gods sake, it's a 2 modules CPU vs a 4 modules CPU and you would pick the 6800K for 200 to 400Mhz difference and the OBVIOUS power consumption difference 'cause it is HALF the CPU the 8320 is??

The entire point of buying an APU is the freaking integrated GPU, that Darxide WILL NOT USE. The guy want's to make an upgrade you know?

[Darxide]

Hmm, couple of good points there.
I would tend to rule out the APU chips on the grounds that I don't need it. I will be using a discrete card. The PC is used mostly for gaming.
I have a decent budget, and I haven't ruled out going Intel, as you can see from my sig I'm NOT a fanboi of either camp, I have both. I love my i7 laptop, but that's mostly used for gaming away from home. I actually find it quite amusing that my laptop has both Intel and AMD stickers on it! (Intel CPU and AMD GPU) But I digress...
My plan here is to have an eyefinity setup in the game room.
I would rather spend more on a top quality motherboard, I'm fussy that way, I like my desktop to have a good solid board with lots of features. And as I'm going 3 monitor, I might end up running dual GPU's. So a low end board is out.
Someone mentioned new CPU's being announced at E3? Is that likely? If it is, I highly doubt it will be steamroller. From what I'm reading that's 2014 at the earliest.

[Darxide]

I'm gonna get killed for saying this on the AMD forum, but when you're shopping for mid-range for that price Intel has better options.

IMHO, a good AMD combo would be a cheap 990FX, like MSI 990FXA-GD65V2, with a FX-8320 thats about U$S285. If you're looking to expend ~450 bucks (8350/Crosshair V) I would go for a 4670/Z87 or 4770/Z87 combo even with a lower end board...

That was a brave thing to say on an AMD forum lol.
There is some logic in what your saying, and as I say, I haven't ruled out Intel.
Where I am, UK, the i5 4670 is ?175, only slightly more than the FX8350 which is ?160, and I can get a good 1150 board like the Asus Sabretooth Z87 for the exact same price as the Crosshair V 990FX.
So price wise, they're pretty equal.
I hate decisions!

[tbone8ty]

Some of them hit 5Ghz, not all. For gods sake, it's a 2 modules CPU vs a 4 modules CPU and you would pick the 6800K for 200 to 400Mhz difference and the OBVIOUS power consumption difference 'cause it is HALF the CPU the 8320 is??

The entire point of buying an APU is the freaking integrated GPU, that Darxide WILL NOT USE. The guy want's to make an upgrade you know?

Higher clocked 2 module chip will always be faster than a lower clocked 4 module chip. And for gaming this is the perfect scenario.

[tbone8ty]

Hmm, couple of good points there.
I would tend to rule out the APU chips on the grounds that I don't need it. I will be using a discrete card. The PC is used mostly for gaming.
I have a decent budget, and I haven't ruled out going Intel, as you can see from my sig I'm NOT a fanboi of either camp, I have both. I love my i7 laptop, but that's mostly used for gaming away from home. I actually find it quite amusing that my laptop has both Intel and AMD stickers on it! (Intel CPU and AMD GPU) But I digress...
My plan here is to have an eyefinity setup in the game room.
I would rather spend more on a top quality motherboard, I'm fussy that way, I like my desktop to have a good solid board with lots of features. And as I'm going 3 monitor, I might end up running dual GPU's. So a low end board is out.
Someone mentioned new CPU's being announced at E3? Is that likely? If it is, I highly doubt it will be steamroller. From what I'm reading that's 2014 at the earliest.

Higher clocked visheras might be released.

If your going with a dual gpu eyefinity setup than go intel/nvidia

End of thread.

[imamage]

I would suggest FX-6300 is better deal compare with A10-6800K as he got discrete graphic
there is no point getting APU

[Evantaur]

If your going with a dual gpu eyefinity setup than go intel/nvidia
.

you can't have eyefinity with nvidia

[tbone8ty]

you can't have eyefinity with nvidia

Lol :-)

What's a 3 monitor setup for nvidia called again?

[MadDias]

i?ve got the same asus m3a79-t, but that quirky thing didn?t want to take my 940be over 3,2ghz
if u were on an am3 or am3+ board, i?d say go with a phneomII x6 or a fx8350. gaming performance should be euqal on both systems.
but as u have to buy everything new, i suggest u to really take a look in the blue camp.
90% of games don?t really use more than 4 threads, that?s why an intel i5 beats the fx8350 in almsot every game, when ur not gpu limited.
price/performance wise intel has the lead in gaming at the moment.
if ur nostalgic about amd and want something really special, wait for the 5ghz bulldozer, the only reason for me to still look after amd stuff. in a week we will know more about this monster chip.
so if ur main purpose is gaming and not rendering x264 videos, or unpacking archives with winrar all day, the fx8350 won?t be what ur looking for.

i would have upgraded to bulldozer myself, but seeing the performance was the same or even lower than my 4,1ghz phenomII x6, made me think about it.

[AbortRetryFail?]

Snag a PhII 965BE off Amazon UK for around ?70 while you are making up your mind ...

[MacClipper]

Finally officially announced, gimme 5GHz or gimme nothing!
AMD Unleashes First-Ever 5 GHz Processor

[FlanK3r]

yes, seems now only OEM, but maybe in next months...who know

[Darxide]

Snag a PhII 965BE off Amazon UK for around ?70 while you are making up your mind ...

That's AM3 isn't it? I think the 940 I have is the best my mobo can take.
I need a full rebuild, so need to make a decision soon.
I've been AMD for years, but I'm honestly looking hard at going Intel.

[AlleyViper]

It would still run on you MB (cpu list). These AM3 cpus have two memory controllers (one for DDR2).