The best Cpu for your money: June 2008
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The Best Cpu for your money: June 2008
Have you ever wondered what cpu should you buy, with let’s say 200$? Would it be worth it to upgrade to a faster model? Should I go for AMD or Intel? Single, dual, triple or quad core? I’ll answer all these questions and much more, right now!
This is also a dual between AMD and Intel, the two mains manufactuers of X86 Cpus in the world. It is a common thing to see AMD fanboys pretend that AMD is WAY better than Intel and the other way arround, with Intel fanboys pretend that Intel is WAY superior to AMD. I find it funny to observe them. My opinion? Both companies offer great products. While Intel has the performance edge, in the mainstream, high-end and extreme segments, AMD is very competitive with their low cost, especially in the low cost, low-end and mainstream segment. I’m pretty impartial, I’ll just buy whatever product is the best for a given price.
Well, first of all, Single core cpus are getting rare these days. AMD and Intel both introduced dual-cores cpu under the 50$ bar.
As for dual core vs quad core, it depends on your usage. Gamers should really focus on core speed and the size of the cache, which is higher on a dual core compared to a quad core at the same price. Photo/Video pros are better with a quad core cpu, as photoshop and most image and video editing programs are optimized to use the extra cores. For the rest of us, it depends on the clock speed of the dual-core vs the quad-core. Triple cores cpu from AMD are not worth it in my opinion, as they are more expensive then some of the quad-core, both from AMD and Intel.
AMD or Intel? Whichever offers the best product for a given price, which you will see in the next section of this post.
Best Cpu for 50$
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+
2.0GHz, 512KB Cache, 1000MHz (2000 MT/s) FSB, Windsor Core, Dual Core, OEM, Socket AM2, for only 48.99$.
Click here to buy it, for only 48.99$!
Intel only offers their Celeron E1200, with only 1.6ghz core speed, small cache and a slow logic core. AMD offers is much better in my opinion, especially with this price reduction that puts the X2 3600+ under the 50$ bar. Advantage AMD.
Best Cpu for 100$
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2.70GHz, 1MB Cache, 1000MHz (2000 MT/s) FSB, Brisbane Core, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket AM2 for only 98.99$.
Click here to buy it, for only 98.99$!
Intel’s E2180, at 2.0ghz and with the Allendale core, is simply crushed in this segment. The AMD X2 5200+ is way faster, with it’s 2.70ghz core speed. Big advantage AMD. It’s a big step over the X2 3600+ in the 50$ segment too!
Best Cpu for 150$
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz, 1MB Cache, 1000MHz (2000 MT/s) FSB, Windsor Core, Dual-Core, OEM, Socket for only 139.99$.
Click here to buy it, for only 139.99$!
Intel’s E2200, with its 2.20ghz core speed is just not up to the task. AMD’s X2 6000+ , with it’s 3.0GHZ, is much faster! Once again, big advantage AMD. Smaller improvement compared to the X2 5200+, but still worth it, for only 40$.
Best cpu for 200$
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz, 6MB Cache, 1333MHz FSB, Wolfdale, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket 775 for only 189.99$.
Click here to buy it, for only 189.99$!
Amd’s best offer in this price segment is the X3 8450, the tri-core Phenom cpu. The problem with it is it’s core speed, at 2.1ghz, it stand no chance agaisnt Intel’s E8400, which already have a superior cpu architecture, is based on the new Wolfdale core and on top of that, is clocked at 3.0ghz. Big advantage Intel. Quite a big improvement over AMD’s X2 6000+, as the Core 2 Duo architecture is superior, this is the new Wolfdale core and it comes with 6MB of cache vs only 1MB on the X2 6000+.
Best cpu for 250$
If you don’t overclock
AMD Phenom X4 9850 Quad Core – Black Edition, Unlocked 2.50GHz, 4MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) FSB, Agena, Quad-Core, Retail, Socket AM2+ for only 235.99$.
Click here to buy it, for only 235.99$!
If you don’t intend to overclock, the X4 9850 is better than Intel’s Q6600, at stock speeds.
If you do overclock
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 – 2.40GHz, 8MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Kentsfield, Quad-Core, OEM, Socket 775 for only 209.99$.
Click here to buy it, for only 209.99$!
However, if you do intend to overclock, Intel’s Q6600 have a much bigger headroom for overclocking than the X4 9850. It is also cheaper by 25$. Intel and AMD are head to head here. Big improvement over the previous segment, as those two cpus are quad-core vs the dual-core E8400. However, in some situations, the E8400 will be faster, due to its higher clock speed, despite having only 2 cores.
Best cpu for 300$
No cpu in the 250 to 300$ segment are worth looking at. You are better with either a 250$ segment cpu or a 400$ one.
Best cpu for 400$
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Processor BX80570E8500 – 3.16GHz, 6MB Cache, 1333MHz FSB, Wolfdale,
Dual-Core, Retail, Socket 775, for only 353.99$.
Click here to buy it, for only 353.99$!
The fastest dual-core cpu, period. AMD just cannot offer a cpu that can challenge the E8500. At 3.16ghz, 6MB of cache, based on the Wolfdale core, it is a monster of speed! Clear advantage Intel. Small improvement over the previous cpu segments, but still.
Best cpu for 500$
No cpu in the 400-500$ segment is worth looking at. You are better off with the E8500, or if money is not a problem for you and you just want the best, keep reading.
Best cpu, no price limit
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 – 45nm, 3.20GHz, 12MB Cache, 1600MHz FSB, Yorkfield XE, Quad-Core, Retail, Socket 771 for 2012.99$.
Click here to buy it, for 2012.99$!
This is the current ultimate cpu. With 4 cores, clocked at 3.20ghz, along with 12MB of cache and a 1600Mhz FSB, this is the best, most powerful cpu available on the market right now! Advantage Intel, as AMD has no product in this segment. Small improvement over the previous segments, but this is the fastest cpu nonetheless.
Which cpus are the most interesting ones at the moment?
In my opinion, if you are on a tight budget, AMD’s X2 5200+ for only 98.99$ is great! At 209.99$ Intel’s Q6600 is a steal! It’s a powerhouse, with 4 cores at 2.4ghz! Anything more expensive than that obeys the law of diminishing returns, as AMD cannot offer a decent competition to Intel in more expensive/powerful segments.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and look forward to see an update on this every month!
Cheers, Mathieu
