X3 Vs. X4

~Darkseeker~ · 02-16-2010, 06:12 PM

is there much of a performance boost between triple cored cpus and quad cored cpus?

im trying to keep my build budget low, and theres a price increase of around £80 from the Athlon X3 to the Phenom X4.

i know the PX4 has a L3 cache, but overall performance wise for gaming, what would the difference be?

clawbog · 02-17-2010, 01:00 PM

Theres also a Phenom X3?

~Darkseeker~ · 02-17-2010, 01:47 PM

There is?

i havent seen it, but that doesnt mean its not there.

Mutant Corn · 02-18-2010, 05:28 PM

Yes, there's a Phenom x3. In both cases, Athlon and Phenom, it's simply an x4 with a locked core.

720 OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103821

705e Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103683

720 Black Edition OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103652

nbrikha · 02-19-2010, 04:10 AM

Phenom II cpus are all built on the same architecture, but the X2s and X3s have locked those additional cores (sometimes due to instability but I think it's because it's cheaper than building three separate architectures). Getting the Black Edition of any Phenom II, means those locked cores are now accessible. Certain motherboards and BIOS can unlock them. Easiest one is Asus, which also gives you the option to unlock just one additional core (in the case of of the 550 and 555) in case one of the optional two aren't stable.
If you get a Phenom II X3 BE, you can unlock that fourth core, but you're not guaranteed stability and not every board can do it. Do some research...but I know all the newer Asus mobos do unlock the cores.

And yes, there is a bit of benefit in having an additional core. We're not talking about an extra 50 fps, but an additional 10 fps isn't out of the question depending on what games you're playing. In any case, I'd go with the Phenom II, 720 BE or the 550 BE and then try unlocking.

Cabbs · 02-19-2010, 02:52 PM

The other thing that multicore CPU's help with is multithreaded games that make heavy use of physics such as L4D2.

foothead · 02-20-2010, 02:25 AM

There are still some applications that cannot use triple cores properly.

tbh, I don't know why people buy them. The x4 version is only a couple dollars more now, and the performance boost is worth it in most cases.

Mutant Corn · 02-20-2010, 02:40 AM

^ Wasn't always the case. For a while the 720 were right in the middle of the 550 and 955.

Some things do see a boost from it. Dual-threaded programs can use two cores while the OS takes up the other. I think GTA4 and a couple of other console-native games are actually coded for three cores.

sniperviper21 · 02-23-2010, 03:30 AM

Well Dark.

When you do get your rig together, and if your using a Triple Core CPU, with rig specs close to mine, you run 3d mark Vantage an i will to. And will see if there is a big different between quad and triple. At stock clocks ofcourse.

02-16-2010, 06:12 PM	#1
~Darkseeker~ Fully Optimized Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,968	X3 Vs. X4 is there much of a performance boost between triple cored cpus and quad cored cpus? im trying to keep my build budget low, and theres a price increase of around £80 from the Athlon X3 to the Phenom X4. i know the PX4 has a L3 cache, but overall performance wise for gaming, what would the difference be? __________________ Customised Packard-Bell iPower:- AMD Athlon X2 4600+, 2GB DDR, 2x7600GT (SLI) Steam+XBL: ReincarnHATE925, Blizzard RealID: Ibanezjunkie94@hotmail.co.uk

02-17-2010, 01:00 PM	#2
clawbog Baseband Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 45	Re: X3 Vs. X4 Theres also a Phenom X3?

02-17-2010, 01:47 PM	#3
~Darkseeker~ Fully Optimized Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,968	Re: X3 Vs. X4 There is? i havent seen it, but that doesnt mean its not there. __________________ Customised Packard-Bell iPower:- AMD Athlon X2 4600+, 2GB DDR, 2x7600GT (SLI) Steam+XBL: ReincarnHATE925, Blizzard RealID: Ibanezjunkie94@hotmail.co.uk

02-18-2010, 05:28 PM	#4
Mutant Corn Daemon Poster Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 608	Re: X3 Vs. X4 Yes, there's a Phenom x3. In both cases, Athlon and Phenom, it's simply an x4 with a locked core. 720 OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103821 705e Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103683 720 Black Edition OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103652 __________________ Athlon II 635--CM Hyper 212+ ║ GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 ║ Powercolor HD5770 ║ 2x2GB G-Skill Ripjaws Blue ║ Antec Truepower New 550W ║ NZXT M59 ║ Win7 Pro 64-bit ║ Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

02-19-2010, 04:10 AM	#5
nbrikha In Runtime Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 336	Re: X3 Vs. X4 Phenom II cpus are all built on the same architecture, but the X2s and X3s have locked those additional cores (sometimes due to instability but I think it's because it's cheaper than building three separate architectures). Getting the Black Edition of any Phenom II, means those locked cores are now accessible. Certain motherboards and BIOS can unlock them. Easiest one is Asus, which also gives you the option to unlock just one additional core (in the case of of the 550 and 555) in case one of the optional two aren't stable. If you get a Phenom II X3 BE, you can unlock that fourth core, but you're not guaranteed stability and not every board can do it. Do some research...but I know all the newer Asus mobos do unlock the cores. And yes, there is a bit of benefit in having an additional core. We're not talking about an extra 50 fps, but an additional 10 fps isn't out of the question depending on what games you're playing. In any case, I'd go with the Phenom II, 720 BE or the 550 BE and then try unlocking. __________________ Desktop: AMD Phenom II 840 X4 @ 3.7Ghz // Asus Sabertooth 990FX // CM HAF 932 // XFX HD 5770 // 8GB Corsair Vengeance @1600 + 8GB G.skill Sniper @ 1600mhz (C9) // Cooler Master 600W // Zalman CNPS9900 // Sidewinder x8 Laptop: Dell Vostro 3555 // AMD A6-3400 1.4Ghz x4 w/ 6520 // 500GB HDD // 4GB Ram upgrading to 8GB soon // Backlit Spillproof Keyboard

02-19-2010, 02:52 PM	#6
Cabbs Golden Master Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 7,933	Re: X3 Vs. X4 The other thing that multicore CPU's help with is multithreaded games that make heavy use of physics such as L4D2. __________________ =Like anime? Come to AnimeAppeal.com!= \|\|DFI UT P35\|\|Q9550@3400 Mhz\|\|Geil 4GB RAM\|\|Radeon 5770\|\|

02-20-2010, 02:25 AM	#7
foothead ಠ_ಠ Join Date: May 2009 Location: 'Murica! Posts: 9,037	Re: X3 Vs. X4 There are still some applications that cannot use triple cores properly. tbh, I don't know why people buy them. The x4 version is only a couple dollars more now, and the performance boost is worth it in most cases. __________________ Desktop: PII 955, 4GB DDR3 1333, M4A79T, 250GB 7200.10, HD 5770, 3x HG281D Laptop: Q9000, 4GB DDR3, DV7 mb, 40GB Hitachi, HD 4650M, 23" AOC LED backlit panel Netbook: Pink ASUS 1005HAB, Atom N270, 1GB DDR2, 160GB HDD, Intel 945G, 63 Whr battery

02-20-2010, 02:40 AM	#8
Mutant Corn Daemon Poster Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 608	Re: X3 Vs. X4 ^ Wasn't always the case. For a while the 720 were right in the middle of the 550 and 955. Some things do see a boost from it. Dual-threaded programs can use two cores while the OS takes up the other. I think GTA4 and a couple of other console-native games are actually coded for three cores. __________________ Athlon II 635--CM Hyper 212+ ║ GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 ║ Powercolor HD5770 ║ 2x2GB G-Skill Ripjaws Blue ║ Antec Truepower New 550W ║ NZXT M59 ║ Win7 Pro 64-bit ║ Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

02-23-2010, 03:30 AM	#9
sniperviper21 Golden Master Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5,358	Re: X3 Vs. X4 Well Dark. When you do get your rig together, and if your using a Triple Core CPU, with rig specs close to mine, you run 3d mark Vantage an i will to. And will see if there is a big different between quad and triple. At stock clocks ofcourse. __________________ You got to have a Fiddle in the band!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode