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me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO
·Google Fiber

me1212

Member

[OC] Overclocking/unlocking a phenom ll x4 960t.

Yeah, my little brother asked me to help him build a gaming desktop. the 960t is the best cpu in his budget, and I know it can OC to about 4ghz and some of them can unlock an extra core or two. My question to you all is, is it worth unlocking the extra two cores for now? I mean games dont use more then 4 cores yet, and the extra heat and im a bit afraid that the voltage from unlocking two more cores could result in a lower overall stable overclock. sure maybe in a few years if 5 and 6 cores start being used for games it could be worth it to sacrifice some speed to get better over-all performance and possibly longer gaming life could be worth it. In todays computing world are the two cores worth it for gaming pcs?

Krisnatharok
PC Builder, Gamer
Premium Member
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit

Krisnatharok

Premium Member

Games depend more on sheer clock speed, assuming you have a minimum of two cores. Get the i3-2300. Or, if you can afford $25 more than the $125 960T, an i5-2500K from MicroCenter, which is hands down the best bang-for-buck gaming CPU out there, period.

At this point in time, stay away from all AMD CPUs. The current gen is a flop and even Tom's has said it cannot recommend an AMD CPU at any pricepoint.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO
·Google Fiber

me1212

Member

there arent any motherboard deals for the 2500k or any i3 at microcenter right now. just the 960t($40 off any motherboard,) which is a decent cpu for what my brother would be using it for I just wanted to know if the extra 2 cores is worth the increase in heat and power used and potential lower oc or if I should just oc higher and not unlock, or if I got a fx-4100 a free $100 am3+ mobo(which under any other circumstance I would not consider but $100 for a usable cpu and a good mobo is hard to beat)

Krisnatharok
PC Builder, Gamer
Premium Member
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit

Krisnatharok

Premium Member

said by me1212:

or if I got a fx-4100 a free $100 am3+ mobo(which under any other circumstance I would not consider but $100 for a usable cpu and a good mobo is hard to beat)

That would probably be the better deal than the 960, imo.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO
·Google Fiber

me1212

Member

a better deal yes, but its stil lan fx which is far less powerful than the 960t, but that price is hard to beat. or for $40(»www.microcenter.com/spec ··· OMO.html) more I can get eh 6100 and a better motherboard. Im just kinda torn on what to do right now. power of the 960t or price of the 6100 or 4100.
18172841 (banned)
join:2001-10-06
Lagrangeville, NY

18172841 (banned) to me1212

Member

to me1212
In 5-6 years that cpu aint gona play shit, hell it can't play shit now rofl.

you will need to buy a cooler to overclock it... take the cooler money put it towards an intel cpu with MUCH better IPC.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO
·Google Fiber

me1212

Member

yeah no, I can play a lot, most, stuff right now from what I have seen people do with it. heck a core 2 duo can play skyrim on high. But its gonna cost waaaay more than the cost of a heat sink to go intel. with fx I would get a free board, the 960t I get $40 off a board, the only sb processor microcenter has a deal with right now is the 2600k, which is I think $280 and $50 off a motherboard. I can get the 212+ for $20 for cooling. the i3 2100 is like $120 + the cost of a motherboard and cant overclock. in 3 or so years I would be replacing the motherboard and CPU on both builds, unless I can find an ivy bridge still for sale then, but the most likely path would be a rebuild.

Krisnatharok
PC Builder, Gamer
Premium Member
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit

Krisnatharok

Premium Member

So put up the cost of the 2500K now, put the 212+ on it, and be set at 4.7 - 5.0 GHz for the next several years. And there won't be any compromises in terms of power you're giving up.
18172841 (banned)
join:2001-10-06
Lagrangeville, NY

18172841 (banned) to me1212

Member

to me1212
Um, yes you can overclock it... a limited amount.

Stock i3 faster than OC 960t...

»www.tomshardware.com/rev ··· -10.html

....

Games, the extra cores are not worth it, you will get more heat and may need MORE voltage just because of unlocking bad cores...

Smoove910
Premium Member
join:2005-08-01
Nampa, ID

Smoove910 to me1212

Premium Member

to me1212
Intel fanboy-ism much??? The question was about a 960t, not about Intel.

Now to the OP, I have a 960t and have ran it on stock voltage at 3.6ghz with both cores unlocked, which is faster than the 1090t and the 1100t. Runs anything I throw at it. Do I regret not buying a 4100? Absolutely not. Bulldozer needs to mature before I try doing anything with it. Do I give a shit about Intel's offerings? Nope...
18172841 (banned)
join:2001-10-06
Lagrangeville, NY

18172841 (banned)

Member

O I'm sorry, intel fan boy = telling it as it is? lol wtf

Hey go find me a site that recommends an AMD cpu right now for anything, price, performance, anything.

$100 says you find nothing or a site 100% bias towards amd...

We are trying to get the OP the best bang for the buck (since at least I see overclocking as just trying to that the little more out of it). Why start off with a crap cpu when you can for the same money get a better one?

I am hear to help and *learn* if you can please show me any place where these AMD cpus do better than an intel please link it as I would like to provide correct information and that would help me do so.