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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: March 2010

Best Gaming CPU: Under $90


Best Gaming CPU for ~$60:


Athlon II X2 245


Athlon II X2 245
Codename:
Regor
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
2
Clock Speed:
  2.9 GHz
Socket:
AM2+/AM3
L1 Cache:
2 x 64KB
L2 Cache:
2 x 1MB
HyperTransport:
4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
65W

With better CPUs encroaching on the Athlon II X2 250's price point, we shed a few dollars and reinstated the 245 as our choice for a gaming CPU on a rock-bottom budget.

This chip allows the flexibility to go one of two different ways: either drop it in as an upgrade for your Socket AM2+-based platform or build a brand new, low-cost Socket AM3 machine based on it. With a high 2.9 GHz clock speed, the Athlon II X2 245 offers excellent gaming performance at the price. Moreover, its 65W thermal design power is great for electricity- and heat-conscious enthusiasts.

Best Gaming CPU for ~$75:


Athlon II X3 435

 
Athlon II X3 435
Codename:
Rana
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
3
Clock Speed:
  2.9 GHz
Socket:
AM2+/AM3
L1 Cache:
  3 x 64KB
L2 Cache:
  3 x 512KB
HyperTransport:
4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
95W

The Athlon II X3 435 boasts three execution cores. And, compared to a dual-core processor, that extra core will make a notable difference in multi-tasking performance, as well as game play. This model also has good overclocking headroom if you want to push it a little further. On top of everything else, it recently dropped in price now that the new Athlon II X3 440 model has arrived.

Best gaming CPU for ~$90:


Athlon II X3 440


Athlon II X3 440
Codename:
Rana
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
3
Clock Speed:
 3.0 GHz
Socket:
AM2+/AM3
L1 Cache:
  3 x 64KB
L2 Cache:
  3 x 512KB
HyperTransport:
4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
95W

From a stock performance standpoint, the Athlon II X3 440 only offers a 100 MHz speed bump over the Athlon II X3 435. However, the higher multiplier might help if your ultimate goal is overclocking.

When you consider the big picture, this CPU really offers an attractive combination of multiple CPU cores, high clock speed, low price, and overclockability. It is such a great gaming CPU, in fact, that it almost renders most of the CPUs in the $100 to $130 range redundant. As a result, most of our recommendations in this range are aimed specifically at overclockers and users upgrading an older platform.

Best Gaming CPU: $90-$110


Best gaming CPU for $100


Athlon II X4 620


Athlon II X4 620
Codename:
Propus
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
4
Clock Speed:
2.6 GHz
Socket:
AM3
L1 Cache:
  4 x 128KB
L2 Cache:
  4 x 512KB
HyperTransport:
4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
95W

Frankly, the high clock rate of the Athlon II X3 440 allows it to perform better than an Athlon II X4 620 at stock frequencies in a great majority of games.

However, there are a few titles out there that will take advantage of a fourth CPU core, making the Athlon II X4 a potentially-attractive choice to buyers who want all four CPU cores and are willing to overclock this processor. Moreover, as a general-purpose CPU (during the hours you don't spend gaming, of course), the quad-core solution is going to be superior. Now found as low as $96, true quad-core CPUs are well within the grasp of the budget gamer.

Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition


Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition
Codename:
Callisto
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
2
Clock Speed:
3.1 GHz
Socket:
AM3
L1 Cache:
2 x 128KB
L2 Cache:
2 x 512KB
L3 Cache:
6MB
HyperTransport:
4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
80W

Although the dual-core Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition might be a bit slower than the less-expensive Athlon II X3 435 when it comes to gaming, it offers something that the Athlon II X3 doesn't have: an unlocked clock multiplier. Like all of AMD's Black Edition processors, the Phenom II X2 555 can be easily overclocked by simply upping its multiplier in the motherboard BIOS of your choice, earning this CPU a place on our recommended list for overclocking fans. Found online at $100, this CPU offers high-end overclocking features for a budget price.

Increased availability over the past few weeks cements our honorable mention status for this chip, which, again, is best suited to the enthusiasts willing to finesse its clock rate as high as possible.

Best Gaming CPU: $110-$130


Best gaming CPU for $110-$130


Athlon II X4 635


Athlon II X4 635
Codename:
Propus
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
4
Clock Speed:
2.9 GHz
Socket:
AM3
L1 Cache:
  4 x 128KB
L2 Cache:
  4 x 512KB
HyperTransport:
4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
95W

Offering a 100 MHz speed boost over the Athlon II X4 630, the new Athlon II X4 635 cannot be denied as a good option for overclockers who want four processing core.

This model isn't unlocked (it's not one of AMD's Black Edition chips), but it does sport a higher multiplier than the Athlon II X4 630, making it a solid quad-core processor with (ideally) a bit of scalability on the cheap. With a $120 asking price, there is a lot of value here.

Core i3-530


Core i3-530
Codename:
Clarkdale
Process:
32nm
CPU Cores/Threads:
2/4
Clock Speed:
2.93 GHz
Socket:
LGA 1156
L1 Cache:
  4 x 32KB
L2 Cache:
  2 x 256KB
L3 Cache:
4MB
Thermal Envelope:
73W

The performance picture has gotten a little clearer since last month, and while the Core i3-530 looks like a promising CPU, it probably doesn't justify a full recommendation at the $125 price point. We're going to wait until we've done our own extensive benchmarking before we make the call, but until then, we can heartily give this processor an honorable mention as a viable alternative for folks in the market for an LGA 1156-based platform. At $125, this CPU is a great starting point.

Stock performance is usually quite good from what we've seen, although you can't expect Hyper-Threading to yield the same performance gains as an additional two physical cores.

Core 2 Duo E7500


 
Core 2 Duo E7500
Codename:
Wolfdale-3M
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
2
Clock Speed:
2.93 GHz
Socket:
LGA 775
L2 Cache:
  3MB
Front Side Bus:
1,066 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
65W

At 2.93 GHz, the Core 2 Duo E7500 remains a good match-up against the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition. Even without an unlocked multiplier, the E7500 is an excellent overclocker and won't disappoint. And the $116 price point is easy to swallow for upgraders.

It has a high clock rate, but its dual-core design won't be as nimble as AMD's triple-core offerings when it comes to multi-threaded apps. Most folks considering this CPU are probably trying to squeeze longevity from an older LGA 775 platform. If you're looking to upgrade your motherboard as well, it'd be best to consider a Phenom II or Core i3 instead.

At 2.93 GHz, the Core 2 Duo E7500 remains a good match-up against the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition. Even without an unlocked multiplier, the E7500 is an excellent overclocker and won't disappoint. And the $116 price point is easy to swallow for upgraders.

It has a high clock rate, but its dual-core design won't be as nimble as AMD's triple-core offerings when it comes to multi-threaded apps. Most folks considering this CPU are probably trying to squeeze longevity from an older LGA 775 platform. If you're looking to upgrade your motherboard as well, it'd be best to consider a Phenom II or Core i3 instead.

Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition


We try and stick to retail processors when it comes to CPU recommendations because the costs of a cooler introduces a sizable variable. But in the case of the Phenom II X3 720, flagging retail availability forces us to make an exception.

The OEM version of this CPU is now $105. Add a $15 aftermarket cooler, and you have a triple-core unlocked CPU on your hands for $120.

We're a bit torn here. On the one hand, we know that overclocking is the surest way to negate your warranty coverage. However, the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition not only has that unlocked multiplier, but we've also had some luck unlocking the fourth core on a handful of samples. The chance may or may not be worth the extra money you drop in this chip. Bear in mind, though, that it's an "expensive" model for AMD to sell, and its starting to disappear fast. We're already having trouble finding the retail version available online.

Best Gaming CPU: $140-$195


Best gaming CPU for $140


Core i3-540


Core i3-540
Codename:
Clarkdale
Process:
32nm
CPU Cores/Threads:
2/4
Clock Speed:
3.06 GHz
Socket:
LGA 1156
L1 Cache:
  4 x 32KB
L2 Cache:
  2 x 256KB
L3 Cache:
4MB
Thermal Envelope:
73W

Another one of Intel's new Core i3 processors, the gaming data we have seen for this i3-540 looks promising. While it isn't going to perform all that much better than the -530, its higher multiplier will be a boon for overclockers, and the price might be justified for some.

Bear in mind that, although Intel launched this processor alongside the H55 and H57 chipsets, gamers are likely going to want to stick with P55 when they shop for an LGA 1156-equipped motherboard, even if it means ignoring the integrated graphics core built onto the Core i3-540. When used with Clarkdale-based processors, Intel's H55 and H57 chipsets aren't able to divide on-package PCI Express connectivity between CrossFire and SLI graphics configurations.

Best gaming CPU for $160:


Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition


Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
Codename:
Deneb
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
4
Clock Speed:
  3.2 GHz
Socket:
AM3
L1 Cache:
  4 x 128KB
L2 Cache:
  4 x 512KB
L3 Cache:
6MB
HyperTransport:
4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
125W

A former flagship of AMD's Phenom II family, the Phenom II X4 955 BE has been relegated to second-place status by the newer Phenom II X4 965 BE model. Now at $160, it offers a very compelling price/performance ratio for a true quad-core unlocked processor with gobs of cache.

Best gaming CPU for $180


Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition (New C3 stepping)


Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition (C3 Stepping)
Codename:
Deneb
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
4
Clock Speed:
  3.4 GHz
Socket:
AM3
L1 Cache:
  4 x 128KB
L2 Cache:
  4 x 512KB
L3 Cache:
6MB
HyperTransport:
4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
125W

While the Phenom II X4 955 and 965 both share an unlocked multiplier, the new revision 965 model's C3 stepping has been shown to be quite overclock-friendly compared to previous models. If you're looking for an AMD processor with the maximum overclocking headroom, just make sure you're buying the new 125 watt C3 stepping of the processor, not the older 140 watt version.

Best gaming CPU for $190


Core 2 Quad Q9400


Core 2 Quad Q9400
Codename:
Yorkfield
Process:
45nm
CPU Cores:
4
Clock Speed:
2.66 GHz
Socket:
LGA 775
L2 Cache:
2 x 3MB
Front Side Bus:
1,333 MHz
Thermal Envelope:
95W

The Core 2 Quad line isn't as strong as Intel's lone Lynnfield-based Core i5 model, but the older processors certainly aren't slouches either. On a clock-for-clock basis, the Core 2 Quad tends to perform a little bit better than AMD's Phenom II X4.

The Core 2 Quad Q9400 is a strong competitor for the Phenom II X4 955 and will overclock well, despite its locked CPU multiplier. Even in the face of a somewhat low stock clock, 6MB of shared L2 cache and a speedy 1,333 MHz front side bus help the chip compete aggressively for less than $200. With the Phenom II X4 965 and Core i5-750 priced so close, this one should only really be a consideration for the gamer upgrading an LGA 775-based machine.

CPU Heirarchy Chart


Gaming CPU Hierarchy Chart
Intel
AMD
Core i7-965, -975 Extreme
Core i7-860, -870, -920, -930, -940, -950
Core i5-750
Core 2 Extreme QX9775, QX9770, QX9650
Core 2 Quad Q9650
Core 2 Extreme QX6850, QX6800
Core 2 Quad Q9550, Q9450, Q9400
Core i5-650, -660, -661, -670
Phenom II X4 Black Edition 955, 965
Core 2 Extreme QX6700
Core 2 Quad Q6700, Q9300, Q8400, Q6600, Q8300
Core 2 Duo E8600, E8500, E8400, E7600
Core i3 -530, -540
Phenom II X4 945, 940, 920, 910, 910e, 810
Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition
Athlon II X4 635, 630
Athlon II X3 440, 435
Core 2 Extreme X6800
Core 2 Quad Q8200
Core 2 Duo E8300, E8200, E8190, E7500, E7400, E6850, E6750
Phenom II X4 905e, 805
Phenom II X3 710, 705e
Phenom II X2 555 BE, 550 BE, 545
Phenom X4 9950
Athlon II X4 620
Athlon II X3 425
Core 2 Duo E7200, E6550, E7300, E6540, E6700
Pentium Dual-Core E6300, E6500, E6600
Pentium G9650
Phenom X4 9850, 9750, 9650, 9600
Phenom X3 8850, 8750
Athlon 64 X2 6400+
Core 2 Duo E4700, E4600, E6600, E4500, E6420
Pentium Dual-Core E5400, E5300, E5200
Phenom X4 9500, 9550, 9450e, 9350e
Phenom X3 8650, 8600, 8550, 8450e, 8450, 8400, 8250e
Athlon II X2 240, 245, 250
Athlon X2 7850, 7750
Athlon 64 X2 6000+, 5600+
Core 2 Duo E4400, E4300, E6400, E6320
Celeron E3300
Phenom X4 9150e, 9100e
Athlon X2 7550, 7450, 5050e, 4850e/b
Athlon 64 X2 5400+, 5200+, 5000+, 4800+
Core 2 Duo E6300
Pentium Dual-Core E2220, E2200, E2210
Celeron E3200
Athlon X2 6550, 6500, 4450e/b,
Athlon X2 4600+, 4400+, 4200+, BE-2400
Pentium Dual-Core E2180
Celeron E1600
Athlon 64 X2 4000+, 3800+
Athlon X2 4050e, BE-2300
Pentium Dual-Core E2160, E2140
Celeron E1500, E1400, E1200
This will happen. In fact, it's guaranteed to happen because availability and prices change quickly. So how do you know if that CPU you've got your eye on is a good buy in its price range?

Here is a resource to help you judge if a CPU is a good buy or not: the gaming CPU hierarchy chart, which groups CPUs with similar overall gaming performance levels into tiers. The top tier contains the highest-performing gaming CPUs available and gaming performance decreases as you go down the tiers from there.

However, a word of caution: this hierarchy is based on the average performance each CPU achieved in our charts test suite using only four game titles: Crysis, Unreal Tournament 3, World in Conflict, and Supreme Commander. While we feel this represents an acceptable cross-section of typical gaming scenarios, a specific game title will likely perform differently. Some games, for example, will be severely graphics subsystem-limited, while others may react positively to more CPU cores, larger amounts of CPU cache, or even a specific architecture. We also did not have access to every CPU on the market, so some of the CPU performance estimates are based on the numbers similar architectures deliver. Indeed, this hierarchy chart is useful as a general guideline, but certainly not as a gospel one-size-fits-all perfect CPU comparison resource.

You can use this hierarchy to compare the pricing between two processors, to see which one is a better deal, and also to determine if an upgrade is worthwhile. I don't recommend upgrading your CPU unless the potential replacement is at least three tiers higher. Otherwise, the upgrade is somewhat parallel and you may not notice a worthwhile difference in game performance.

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