AMD Phenoms?

[Rich H]

Are they worth their small price? They look pretty cheap, especially in comparison to Intel i7 and Quad cores.
I was thinking of this as a new processor; or would it be worth to save and buy an i7 or something in the Intel Quad Q9 sort of range? Bearing in mind I am only 14, and have no job.
P.S. Or how about an i5?

[N. Chapman]

No complaints about my Phenom II 955 BE over here. Does everything I want it to and then some

[Slotback]

ONLY look at the Phenom II, as opposed to the original Phenom. The Phenom II is very good for the price.

But as always, you get what you pay for.


Get an i5 or i7 if you have more money (and need more performance).


And remember to read reviews.

I wouldn't bother with Core 2 Quad, either get Phenom II, Core i5 or Core i7.


If you are getting a Phenom II, try to get one of the newer revisions with a 95 watt thermal power, meaning less heat, noise, lower power bill, and better overclocking. It should be advertised, but if it isn't, don't worry about it (they cost the same).

Get the Phenom II that best suites your needs, or get a BLACK EDITION if you want easier overclocking.

[The Snake 87]

Intel all the way! Better OC if needed, more stable, and the stock heat sink is decent.

If you get an AMD, make sure to get a good after market heat sink, or it will fry up like fuel on fire.

[Slotback]

Better OC depends on what processor you get.

The Phenom II 945 3.0ghz will blow the intel Q8200 2.33ghz out of the water at stock speeds, and the 945 will overclock further also. They cost the same.

AMD does not have anything to compete with the Core i7, only Core i5. In my opinion the Core i5 is better than the Phenom II 965 and the i5 overclock further also, so look at the Core i5.

And like I said, if you need more performance go for i7.


In order of cost and performance of processor that I would buy:
Phenom II 945 --> Phenom II 955 ---> Core i5 750 ---> Core i7 860 (or 920 if you need more overclocking and better dual videocard support) ---> Core i7 950.

I am unfamiliar with older and slower products like the original Phenom.

More stable? BS.

Stock heatsink will do unless significant overclocking. This applies to both intel and AMD. And no it will not fry up like fuel on a fire.


Be careful what you say because the last thing you want is people wasting their money based on false information.

[nowmormat]

Well, I have a new 965 b.e. (125W) running at 3.7g using the stock cooler and a HD5850 on a asus 780gx mobo, 2*2gig corsair detonator mem and win7 X64. IMO it's a very good bang for the buck. I get a fair 25fps over KESA on ultra high...

[Rich H]

Thanks for the ideas. 

[N. Chapman]

Or if rumors are true you can go with the Phenom II 975 which is clocked stock at 3.6GHz.

[Mazza]

I'm getting the Phenom IIs because I have a MB to support them and to not want to fork out $200+ for a new one