AMD Processer advice

[jake-pickering]

About to build myself a system. Getting the ASRock 880gxh with AM3 Socket motherboard so was thinking off getting the
AMD Quad Core Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz now this is the lower end of the Phenon Quad-Cores but it's right on my budget at ?87 just wondering if anybody could suggest a better AM3 Socket CPU at a similar price.

Cheers

[blueflash234]

check out if you can get a triple core and u may be able to unlock the core not used

[Sirus]

The newer dual core phenom x2's can also be unlocked to 4 cores

Do some research on what the best motherboards are to unlock them easily. There are a few mentioned on Overclockers UK.. go to the phenom x2's and read the reviews, some people have listed the motherboard they used to unlock it.

Although saying that, the 840 seems very good for the price

[jake-pickering]

Cheers guys, yeh don't really get that unlocking stuff? I know the board im getting though has a Core Unlocking feature..

[billy2]

also have a look at amd athlon x4 640

[omglol]

also have a look at amd athlon x4 640

I agree. Worth taking a look!

[Sirus]

I've just noticed something worth mentioning. None of them processors even have L3 cache, and worse only have 2mb shared L2 cache.That can cause performance issues.

Maybe you should fork out a bit more and go for something like a Phenom II 955... atleast that has 6mb of L3 cache and 2mb L2 cache.. so total of 8mb cache

You'll need plenty of cache when doing something demanding like playing a latest game... games love cache. 2mb of L2 cache isn't enough if you ask me. If you want a future proof system go for a L3 cache cpu.

[blueflash234]

just seen on ebuyer amd athlon x3 445 processer for ?55.99 or a amd x2 555 black edition for ?67.99