AMD x6 chips

[Crazybob's Son]

Does anyone here have a PC that is using an x6 chip? My BIL is considering building a new pc (since his current one after the most recent Starcraft II update wont run the game anymore). He has been thinking about it for a while and the game issue just accelerated the need/want to build.

He was thinking of just doing a build w/the PhenomII x4 chip primarily because he hasn't really known anyone that has had the x6 and pros/cons so I figured I'd throw it to the team here.

[Fire$torm]

BIL ???

Time for an Internet Search.........


Acronym__Definition
BIL ------ Brother-In-Law <--- This one I would guess :P
BIL ------ Billion
BIL ------ Bilateral
BIL ------ Band Interleaved by Line
BIL ------ Basic Impulse Level (electrical power switches)
BIL ------ Basic Insulation Level (IEC)
BIL ------ Billings, MT, USA - Billings Logan Intnl Airport (Airport Code)
BIL ------ Built-In Logic
BIL ------ Bharti Infotel Ltd
BIL ------ Business Importance Level
BIL ------ Biocon India Limited
BIL ------ Blue Indicating Light


Any-hoot DrPop has an AMD X6 in either the Phenom II X6 1055T (Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851)) or the Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition (Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103849)). AFAIK he swears by it. I think JPM has an X6 also.

[Crazybob's Son]

BIL ???

Time for an Internet Search.........


Acronym__Definition
BIL ------ Brother-In-Law <--- This one I would guess :P
BIL ------ Billion
BIL ------ Bilateral
BIL ------ Band Interleaved by Line
BIL ------ Basic Impulse Level (electrical power switches)
BIL ------ Basic Insulation Level (IEC)
BIL ------ Billings, MT, USA - Billings Logan Intnl Airport (Airport Code)
BIL ------ Built-In Logic
BIL ------ Bharti Infotel Ltd
BIL ------ Business Importance Level
BIL ------ Biocon India Limited
BIL ------ Blue Indicating Light


Any-hoot DrPop has an AMD X6 in either the Phenom II X6 1055T (Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851)) or the Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition (Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103849)). AFAIK he swears by it. I think JPM has an X6 also.

LMFAO!!!! I nearly fell out of my chair while eating dinner last night. (even got the wife to laugh)

Thanks for the info I'll check with DrP and JPM.

[Mike029]

I have the X6 1090T BE. Good chip but an energy hog. I'd look at a I5 or I7 Sandybridge if you have the money.

[Crazybob's Son]

I have the X6 1090T BE. Good chip but an energy hog. I'd look at a I5 or I7 Sandybridge if you have the money.

He's only looking to spend around $5-600 so not sure that we'd be able to fit the intel chips into that budget.

Here's the specs he's aiming for
at least x4 CPU
Asus Mobo
8GB RAM
Video card power enough to play Starcraft II
Win7 x64 OS

[Fire$torm]

Here is one set of suggestions.
I attempted to future proof as much as possible for the AMD platform within your budget with a MB price of $150.00 or less. Unfortunately non of these MBs offer PCIe 3.0 support.

Obviously this is a mix and match list.

MB Feature set for all MB include
AM3+ (Unless otherwise noted)
USB 3.0
SATA 6Gb/s
(x2) PCI Express 2.0 x16
DDR3 1600/1333/1066
Full ATX (Unless otherwise noted)

All pricing is from Newegg and listed in order of Customer rating.

Motherboards with AMD3+ support.
ASUS M5A99X EVO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131754) - $144.99 w/Free Shipping (**)

ASUS M5A97 EVO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131757) - $119.99 Shipping $7.87

ASUS M5A88-V EVO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131733) - $119.99 w/Free Shipping

ASUS M5A88-M (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131758) - $104.99 Shipping $7.56

Motherboards with AMD3 support.
ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131631) - $139.99 Shipping $8.50

ASUS M4A87TD EVO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131647) - $102.99 Shipping $2.99

ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131646) - $122.99 Shipping $8.50


CPU
For AMD CPUs note that Newegg and others are currently phasing out Phenom II 800 series and lower end 900 series CPUs. Probably because BullDozer (AM3+) is nearing release.
All CPUs include Free Shipping

Quad Core
AMD Phenom II X4 945 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103809) - $109.99 (On Backorder)

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808) $119.99

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727) $129.99 (Before $10.00 discount w/Promo Code HARDOCPX928C, ends 10/4)

Hex Core
AMD Phenom II X6 1035T Thuban 2.6GHz (95W TDP) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103856) - $139.99 (**)

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz (125W TDP) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851) - $149.99 ($10 promotional gift card w/ purchase, ends 10/2)

AMD Phenom II X6 1075T Thuban 3.0GHz (125W TDP) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103858) - $149.99 ($10 promotional gift card w/ purchase, ends 10/2)

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition 3.2GHz (125W TDP) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103849) - $169.99 ($15 promotional gift card w/ purchase, ends 10/2)


Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 CL-9 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314) - $51.99 w/Free Shipping

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 CL-8 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445) - $69.99 w/Free Shipping (20% off w/ promo code EMCKAHC38, ends 10/3) (**)

Note: CAS Latency (CL) effects data throughput Speed. Lower is faster but higher priced.


Video Card
GIGABYTE GV-N26UD-896M REV2.0 GeForce GTX 260 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125391) - $99.99 Shipping $7.87
Note: Supports OpenCL-1.3 for Double Precision Crunching

ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121391) - $159.99 w/Free Shipping (Before $30.00 MIR, expires on 10/31/11) (**)


PSU
Antec EarthWatts Series EA-750 Green 750W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371051) - $89.99 w/Free Shipping (Before $25.00 MIR Expires on 10/5) (**)

My Ultimate Picks (**) Total = $604.95 with Free shipping on all items. (But does not include HDD, Case or OS)

[Dorsilfin]

I've got a 1090T 3.2ghz OC'ed to 3.7 and watercooled. Thing runs solid, I have no complaints. and for the price.. really cant be beat. IF you got money to burn, then yeah go intel.

[Clank [MM]]

What about:

AMD Opteron 6128 Magny-Cours 2.0GHz 8 x 512KB L2 Cache 12MB L3 Cache Socket G34 115W 8-Core Server Processor OS6128WKT8EGOWOF

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819105266

ASUS KGPE-D16 SSI EEB 3.61 Server Motherboard Dual Socket G34 AMD SR5690 DDR3 800/1066/1333

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131643

Not sure, but hyper transport sends data on both directions of the clock. So 2 - 8 core cpu's would effectively show as 32 processes, 16 up, 16 down. Slow but still 32. Throw some input at this, Thanks

2 CPU's - $249.99 each
Motherboard $429.99

I know there are other components but would this work? And yes you can throw lots of money at this for better components

[shralper]

My Ultimate Picks (**) Total = $604.95 with Free shipping on all items. (But does not include HDD, Case or OS)

The no OS is easy to fix. Convert to linux ;) save at least a hundred bucks right there. I'm in the process of putting a fresh install of Ubuntu on an old laptop to try and make it a dedicated cruncher. I haven't used ubuntu in several years but it feels really good to be using it again.

And about the x6 chips... This site http://www.cpubenchmark.net/common_cpus.html has a really good benchmark graph comparison. I'm pretty much convinced that for the next build I make, will be using an amd phenom x6 black edition. I'm going to be waiting a few months though, as i'm hoping the release of the bulldozer chips will drop the phenoms price.

[rgathright]

I concur with Clank...

Was able to build a very effective gaming/crunching machine using the ASUS KGPE-D16.

The motherboard is also compatible with the new 16 core Bulldozer / Interlagos cpus coming out this month.

Have a spare heatsink for a socket G34 processor should anyone need it. PM me and I will throw it in the mailbox for ya!

Here are more details about my build:
How fast are dual AMD Opteron 6128 G34 processors in the ASUS KGPE-D16? (http://www.epinions.com/content_553298202244)


Back on subject, here is my analysis of the AMD x4, x6 and even the new APU (CPU + GPU) line of processors:
AMD put a Radeon HD 6550D video card in their Fusion A8-3850 Quad Core CPU! (http://www.epinions.com/content_560662548100)
The AMD Phenom II 4x 965 packs a punch with 3.4Ghz of gaming power! (http://www.epinions.com/content_531955158660)
Benchmarking And Baking The Powerful AMD x6 1090T 3.2Ghz AM3 Processor!
(http://www.epinions.com/content_527182171780)

Now my final recommendation for your friend will surprise you! I think he should just go with an Intel QX9650 in a socket 775 motherboard. He wants to game and have the fastest processor at his price point right? The Intel QX9650 Quad Is Simply The Best Processor Available For Your Socket 775 Motherboard! (http://www.epinions.com/content_549170024068)


;23906']What about:

AMD Opteron 6128 Magny-Cours 2.0GHz 8 x 512KB L2 Cache 12MB L3 Cache Socket G34 115W 8-Core Server Processor OS6128WKT8EGOWOF

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819105266

ASUS KGPE-D16 SSI EEB 3.61 Server Motherboard Dual Socket G34 AMD SR5690 DDR3 800/1066/1333

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131643

Not sure, but hyper transport sends data on both directions of the clock. So 2 - 8 core cpu's would effectively show as 32 processes, 16 up, 16 down. Slow but still 32. Throw some input at this, Thanks

2 CPU's - $249.99 each
Motherboard $429.99

I know there are other components but would this work? And yes you can throw lots of money at this for better components

[DrPop]

Coming in late here, but I have an 1100T X6 which has been quite stable, can hit 4GHz easy when pushed; but it does burn more juice than Sandy Bridge, as Mike029 says...

My Bro has a 1055T that we got for his build, and it is solid as well...but yeah, can't touch Sandy Bridge for GFLOPS / Watt ratio.
However...Bulldozer can't be that far away now! Might be worth a short wait just to see what prices do, if nothing else! ;)

[rgathright]

Coming in late here, but I have an 1100T X6 which has been quite stable, can hit 4GHz easy when pushed; but it does burn more juice than Sandy Bridge, as Mike029 says...

My Bro has a 1055T that we got for his build, and it is solid as well...but yeah, can't touch Sandy Bridge for GFLOPS / Watt ratio.
However...Bulldozer can't be that far away now! Might be worth a short wait just to see what prices do, if nothing else! ;)

I am so ready... sorry for the multiple posts about Bulldozer... but dang!

The suspense is killing this PrimeGrid PPS crunching junkie! :-ss

32 threads at once! Enhanced 256FP unit and 32nm die. ^:)^

[Cruncher Pete]

I am so ready... sorry for the multiple posts about Bulldozer... but dang!

The suspense is killing this PrimeGrid PPS crunching junkie! :-ss

32 threads at once! Enhanced 256FP unit and 32nm die. ^:)^

To be honest, I am an Intel follower in view of the old saying once bitten twice say. I have been bitten by AMD twice before as they did not honor their warranty, always with some excuse of user error, etc. Since than I have built up a number of my machines to Intel I7 98o or 970, six core twelve threads. I have never compared them to AMD, but if the reviews especially from you is favorable than i will update a couple of my old Intel quad Q6600 for the job. Bring it on...:D

[Crazybob's Son]

OK, so I saw this in an email and he decided to go with an i7 2600k...

http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1355284&sku=B69-5411#

They had very similar RAM at the store for $40
http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=894285&sku=K24-8833

http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7195036&CatId=1483

http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=61389&CatId=2459

http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4829307&sku=L12-1312%20OEM

We were able to split the order into 3 transactions allowing us to use the $10 off of $100 3 times so total after tax it was roughly $650. He put Win7Pro x64 on it as well.


For the moment he's borrowing an older Ultra/Antec case that I had lying around but he's eventually going to go with a HAF 922.

The only downside at the moment is that I run the ASUS utility and it says that each core is running @ 1600mhz..... The chip has a stock clock of 3.4Ghz so at the moment I'm trying to figure out what setting is wrong because that should be running way faster.

[Fire$torm]

I hope he enjoys the new toy :D


The only downside at the moment is that I run the ASUS utility and it says that each core is running @ 1600mhz..... The chip has a stock clock of 3.4Ghz so at the moment I'm trying to figure out what setting is wrong because that should be running way faster.

Have you used CPU-Z to check clocks???

[valyn42]

The Sandy Bridges do have that power saving feature that drops the clocks to 1600 when not in use to save power. Saw that when playing with the clocks on mine before I had BOINC runnin.

[Fire$torm]

The Sandy Bridges do have that power saving feature that drops the clocks to 1600 when not in use to save power. Saw that when playing with the clocks on mine before I had BOINC runnin.

Can that "Feature" be disabled in BIOS?

[Crazybob's Son]

I hope he enjoys the new toy :D



Have you used CPU-Z to check clocks???

That is exactly what I did and saw the 3400Mhz clock so that made me feel a lot better. Then I started playing around w/the quick overclock settings in the bios and just with a click of a picture it upp'd the clock to 3.5Ghz. Would have had to do manual oc settings to get it to go higher but figured he was fine w/the stock clock at least until he adds a PCI-e video card.

[Fire$torm]

....Have you used CPU-Z to check clocks???


That is exactly what I did and saw the 3400Mhz clock so that made me feel a lot better. Then I started playing around w/the quick overclock settings in the bios and just with a click of a picture it upp'd the clock to 3.5Ghz. Would have had to do manual oc settings to get it to go higher but figured he was fine w/the stock clock at least until he adds a PCI-e video card.

Glad to hear the good report.

[Crazybob's Son]

Glad to hear the good report.

Yep, the only unfortunate thing is he's not a boinc'er :( However I did get a day's worth of Prima, FreeHAL, and WuProp out of it while trying to figure out the clock thing.

[Fire$torm]

Yep, the only unfortunate thing is he's not a boinc'er :( However I did get a day's worth of Prima, FreeHAL, and WuProp out of it while trying to figure out the clock thing.

But you can always leverage you service skills to "Encourage" his participation. :D