So Many Choices
The idea for this review came about when AMD announced a few new CPU models a week or so ago. With these new models, and Intel’s Core i3 series, there is a huge variety of choice in all price ranges. But it is particularly interesting in the $100-150 range for a number of reasons. First of all, it is a pretty good ’sweet spot’ to spend when building a new system. Doing so allows more budget for a good video card, or just for a good medium-budget PC overall. Secondly, the variety at this price range is staggering. You have everything from dual cores, to quad cores, to dual cores with HyperThreading, and even triple cores. And then you have CPUs with full cache, mid-sized cache, and even no final-stage cache at all. There are some brand new CPUs that slot into the $100-150 price range, and some that have come down from $250 to $300 when they were first launched.
The $100-150 price range is fascinating, and we’re going to cover it all, with 10 CPUs to look at today.
Let’s take a quick look at how they stack up against each other:
| Model | Family | Clock Speed | Cores Threads | Final Stage Cache | TDP | Release Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Yorkfield | 2.5 GHz | 4/4 | 2x2MB | 95W | 11/08 | $150 |
| Phenom II X4 945 | Deneb | 3.0 GHz | 4/4 | 6MB | 95W | 07/09 | $150 |
| Core 2 Duo E7600 | Wolfdale | 3.06 GHz | 2/2 | 3MB | 65W | 06/09 | $145 |
| Core i3 540 | Clarkdale | 3.06 GHz | 2/4 | 4MB | 73W | 01/10 | $140 |
| Phenom II X4 925 | Deneb | 2.8 GHz | 4/4 | 6MB | 95W | 07/09 | $140 |
| Core i3 530 | Clarkdale | 2.93 GHz | 2/4 | 4MB | 73W | 01/10 | $125 |
| Phenom II X3 720 | Heka | 2.8 GHz | 3/3 | 6MB | 95W | 02/09 | $125 |
| Athlon II X4 635 | Propus | 2.9 GHz | 4/4 | 4x512KB | 95W | 01/10 | $120 |
| Phenom II X2 555 | Callisto | 3.2 GHz | 2/2 | 6MB | 80W | 01/10 | $99 |
| Athlon II X4 620 | Propus | 2.6 GHz | 4/4 | 4x512KB | 95W | 09/09 | $99 |
As you can see, I arranged these based on price. Sitting at the very top is the oldest CPU with the lowest clock speed. In fact, if it wasn’t for the Core i3, this article would have been pretty much all about AMD . But now that Intel has finally paid some attention to this price range, it will be interesting to see how they do against AMD, who have been pretty much forced to stay in the sub-$200 range with even their highest-end chip (the 965 Black Edition, which currently costs about $180).
Next you have the 945, which is just below the top desktop CPU from AMD. It has a full L3 cache, and isn’t crippled in any way other than clock speed. The 925 is the same – just a lower clock speed.
Drop down $5 and you could get yourself a dual core E7600. Wolfdale, The original Phenom-Killer, was a great chip when it came out almost 2 years ago. The E7xxx series has a 3MB cache that is shared between the two cores, but is otherwise the same as the E8xxx. With just two cores, no HyperThreading, and a small cache, this chip is starting to show its age. At least at this price point.
For just $5 less, you can have another dual core that is a whole different story. We reviewed the Core i5 661 last month, and while it was impressive in some ways, it was certainly a niche product. At $145 and less though, the Core i3’s could give AMD a run for their money. With HyperThreading (but no Turbo Mode) and next-gen microarchitecture, the Core i3 should make the E7600 look obsolete (or even plain silly).
Still kicking it at $125 (or less, if you get the OEM version) is the X3 720. Basically this is the same chip as the X4 925, but with one core disabled for binning reasons (IE the chip fails as an 925 but is perfectly fine as a 720). It has a full 6MB of L3 cache, shared among the three cores. I belive this model has been discontinued by AMD, so it may not be around for long. How much that matters, we’ll find out.
Sitting at $120 is one of the cheapest true quad-cores you can get – the brand new Athlon II X4 635. It has an impressive 2.9 GHz clock speed, but no L3 cache at all. This can either be completely irrelevant, or a huge detriment, depending on application. You can also get a X4 620 for just around $100.
Also at $100 is AMD’s fastest-ever dual core – the Phenom II X2 555. This has a full 6MB L3 cache, shared between the two cores. It also has a completely unlocked multiplier, making overclocking ridiculously easy. At 3.2 GHz though, there may not be much headroom.
So you can see what I meant when I said there is a ton of variety in the $100-150 price range. And I barely even included any models that merely have a lower clock speed! Just the Phenom II X4 and Core i3.
Then, using processors both, I remain with AMD, never has given problems me.
Got an Intel in my first laptop and with in a week, i could take a calculator and compute faster than my computer. on my computer that i have now, built it, i have an AMD phenom II. It runs like a dream even six months later. i would totally get an AMD again, plus i can get the same stuff that intel makes for a lot cheaper. Intel has the market, but AMD has the quality.
Thanks for this review! It was very helpful and very detailed. Much appreciated. Cheers!
I think I’ll pick up the i3 after this, it’s slightly cheaper than the AMDs and apparently Intel have been doing a better job anyway.
Cheers
it’s more than 1 year that intel can’t beat amd, in each price, amd processor are always more powerful than intel ones, and i can’t understand all the people that continues to think that intel is better only because it is more expensive…there are a lot of causes for the highter cost of intel, and surely it’s not because of the power of his processors…i suggest to all intel supporter to study a little of amd\intel history
Lol @ game over.
Actually no. How about you stop talking about the history. How about now? In terms of performance, the top amd parts is still competing with midrange intel products such as the i5 or even the q**** series.
Ever since the Q6600 Intel has been in the lead for people who wanted the best possible performance from a CPU.
Also even the i7 920 which is one of the cheapest i7’s has been known to be overclocked to 4.5ghz on AIR. Plus hyperthreading and all. Intel is tough to beat.
ALSO!!! Look at this.
i7 920 running at 5.0ghz on AIR. That is a 2.34ghz overclock. That is insane. And its done under load on air.
I mean come on. How in the world does that make Intel lower than AMD?
Yeah I read my history, maybe you should read hard facts and do research.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=222967
There is the link.
Nice work, good comparison
Phenom ii x4 wins!! Getting mine after I sell my phenom x3 haha!
Want to know why Intel is more expensive than AMD? Read the shocking news here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/may/13/intel-european-commission
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8047546.stm
Intel uses the extra money that they charge the consumer to pay for more marketing, and hence increasing their popularity at the cost of the consumer’s hard earned money.
Amd is better today look at the AMD 6core :D only 300$ and is only a couple bucks more expensive than the I5 and is 200$ cheaper then the i7 not to mention they didnt have to come out with a whole new Socket like intel so thats like 200$ cheaper again.
oops as it turns out the 6 core is only $204.99 :D so…..
[...] omgacracker: oops as it turns out the 6 core is only $204.99 :D so….. [...]
thats simple AMD is perfect
intel had launched i7 which is advanced thn any AMD procssor but wait for a month or two you get thuban with 6core that is un beatable even by i9
intel is running successfully because lot of people don’t know about amd and its quality they just know one name intel that’s all…..
intel waste ……..amd is best……..
[...] yogeshy: intel waste ……..amd is best…….. [...]
Intel is better unless your only goal is buying the best budget CPU for like $100. Go beyond the the low end CPU’s and Intel runs circles around AMD.
AMD has it’s fanboys like Macs do.
amd quality,performance and hard rock.amd is best.
I love AMD. All my pc and laptops are AMD
i thinking loooong and hard about jumping the fence, and going the amd path. Especially now those tdp’s are now under the 100w mark! for quads anyway
Clock speed doesn’t really matter, if you have a processor clocked at 2.5 ghz with a 1 mb cache and one clocked at 2 ghz with a 2 mb cache the one with a bigger cache usually runs faster.
LOL !!! 6core AMD can’t even compete with 4core i7. In fact the T1090 beat the i7 920 by 5%, that means it loses to the i7 930. Or equals it at best.
So, AMD has quality, yes, but Intel has power. I7 are still unbeatable. I9 is coming out, Intel already makes massive 32nm processors, i3 and i5 @ 32nm are in the way.
AMD have the best -$100 proc. the best -$200 proc. But, +$200 proc. Intel is the way to go. Consumes less power, heats less and performs better.
AMD 6core heats a lot more than an i7 930, consumes A LOT more(130W vs 95W) and performs WORSE.
THE AMD SIMPLY ROCCKKSS BUT IT IS NOT POPULAR DUE TO NON-PUBLICITY OF ITS PRODUCTS……..