processor type

[unoobtu]

Hello. I don't have a problem with my hardware I have a question about future hardware. A processor is very important to me and I'm curious what processor to get for a new computer build. I will be using Ubuntu for most things except iTunes, HD movies, and a few low spec requiring games on Win 7. I am building it as right now I have a half year old netbook that can do most things just fails at game play and movies but it's alright. And I have a desktop with just Ubuntu that's about the same quality but 8 years old. I want to build a computer that will be very fast for the next 4 years enough to get me to college and buy a nice laptop. I am on a small budget of around 500- 750 dollars. I have most things picked out but processor has me stumped. To me processor is a bit tricky to replace and I'd rather get a higher-end one to start and stick with that than buy another CPU two years down the road. I don't mind upgrading RAM, GPU, and or even the HDD at a later point but I want to get the CPU as close to perfect as possible. First I heard AMD processors tend to be a bit hot. I was wondering what cooler is $50 or less that does a great job at cooling a AMD AM3 socket CPU. I do plan to overclock a very small bit perhaps up to .3 GHz plus max. First I was thinking a nice core i5 at $200 and never really checked anything else. Then, I was thinking a hexa-core at 2.8 GHz I think but decided too much and didn't need six cores. The AMD socket type also supported USB 3.0 which I instantly fell in love with. Then I found a quad core Phenom II x4 black edition at 3.20 GHz for around $160.I liked the core unlocker and it looked incredible. Now I'm rethinking a bit again. I found a dual-core that is same thing as the other AMD one above except well only two cores. I think that would do me fine I'd I'd save $60 by getting 2 less cores. With the things I use a computer for (Ubuntu, Win7, HD quality playback, minor gaming like Runescape, and small multitasking like openoffice a browser or two and perhaps some pictures, game or movie.) I also want to be able to do this quickly for the next 4 years without a hiccup or at least to a minimum if possible. I really don't want to upgrade CPU once I get that bad boy in there. I also want it ready for higher versions of Windows like Windows 8 is supposedly coming sometime in 2012 I've heard. I just want the best CPU to be fast and efficient, run cool, and work well for me for the next 4 years. Thanks to any opinions!

[oz]

Just my personal opinion and recommendation of course, but if I were looking to buy a new processor right now, it would be the Intel Core i7-930:

Intel® Core? i7-930 Processor (8M Cache, 2.80 GHz, 4.80 GT/s Intel® QPI) with SPEC Code(s) SLBKP

It's not the most powerful CPU out there but it will take pretty much anything you can throw at it and it will remain that way for some time to come. In addition, they run great with Linux and they also like Windows 7 should you go that route. I see them on sale for around $280 to $300 quite often. My second choice would be the i7 920, but I already have that one.

[MASONTX]

Try Toms Hardware Guides CPU charts Benchmarks 2009 Desktop CPU Charts (Update 1) . The chart is for 2009, but the upper CPU's of 2009 should be down to a price in budget by now. It lets you see the benchmarks that are important to you, and how the different CPU's stack up.
As for my 2 cents (I cant afford expensive processors either), I would go for the AMD Athlon II X4 630 or the 635 (not on the charts yet). They would meet my needs, and can be found for around $100. Your mileage may vary, as the ads say.

[Mudgen]

Just another personal opinion, but for the money I like the AMD Phenom II Black Editions. The 955 quad 3.2Ghz goes for $150-160, and if you want to take your chances on the two disabled cores being good when unlocked, the 555 can be had for about $100. There's tons of mobos out there that can unlock them. I built one last summer for about $400 by watching Newegg closely for deals. At the time, though, DDR3 memory was about half the cost it is now. I did splurge a little on a nice Lian Li case and an 850 watt PS.

[th1bill]

Just another personal opinion, but for the money I like the AMD Phenom II Black Editions. The 955 quad 3.2Ghz goes for $150-160, and if you want to take your chances on the two disabled cores being good when unlocked, the 555 can be had for about $100. There's tons of mobos out there that can unlock them. I built one last summer for about $400 by watching Newegg closely for deals. At the time, though, DDR3 memory was about half the cost it is now. I did splurge a little on a nice Lian Li case and an 850 watt PS.

I'm another old fossil that has been playing with building computers since the seventies and I'm going to reccommend the same family of processors, AMD Phenom II Black but I'm going to tell you why.

Just before AMD came out with their X2 chips I was running an AMD Athlon and a friend of mine brought his Machine over for me to repair it. With both of us doing the same project at the time we were both running the same OS and the same software for the project. His processor was rated, by Intel, at the same speed. We both were running 2 gig of ddr2 3400 memory. after fixing his machine I thought to get double the work on our project done in one evening.

I also wanted an honest apple to apple comparison and by the clock my machine processed and wrote 4.2 gig of information and saved it to the DVD in 27 minutes less than his Intel driven computer.

Foot note: He also runs AMD now!

Couple this with the, as much as, four times greater cost and I find it a no brainer.

[Kloschüssel]

But the Intels just (on the 19th july) put the prices down by 50% for lots of their chips because they start with the next generation (hexa core). I would never say: Intel is good but AMD is better. It's just not true. Just stick to the benchmarks for single chips!

Go and settle your requirements of the chip. What things you do most? Do you really need a fast multi core above two cores or do you need a even faster dual core? Mostly a single core is not a good idea for most users just like me that do a lot of things at the same time. I.e. I start a build process there, go to play a game in the meanwhile etc. With more cores you don't have the problem that programs need to share the CPU and have in both usecases maximum throughput. How much L1 / L2 cache suits me best? Bigger and more is always better, but all has its price.

Once you fixed your requirements, you can start thinking what CPU suits best your needs. Just telling "I don't mind the rest" doesn't help at this point.

I used to do that 4 years ago and bought a Athlon X2 4200+ which serves me very well nowadays. That time it was like the second dualcore generation cpu's, each core works with decent speed and has a load of cache in front (like two times the common dual cores have) which makes the cpu feel to be incredibly fast.

[Dave68]

@OZAR

I5 or I7. There is a minimal difference. I'm currently running a Lenovo Lappy 32 Bit with an I5. I.T. opted for the I5, even though the I7 was available as well.

It's Company Property, but I run high end CAD Software (Catia) as well as a Graphics Suite (CorelDesigner Technical Suite) with no problems. Pretty peppy.

@unoobtu

Here is a thread for a System Build Project that the Mint Community donated to for one of the Devs.

forums(.)linuxmint(.)com/viewtopic(.)php?f=110&t=43729&hilit=Buy+Merlwiz+a+ Computer (6 more posts to go )

Hope This Helps,
Dave