Performance on the cheap!

87dtna

Active Member
Few weeks ago I scored a Phenom II 705e 65w triple core cpu at 2.5ghz, for $64 shipped. Stuck it in my backup rig, which is listed in my sig. I wanted to see what it could do, so I tried to OC it even though it wasn't really meant for that. Unfortunately the asus board in my backup is a low end board, so bios options were limited. I was only able to set the Vcore to .15 over stock which is 1.175 so I could only get 1.325 vcore. On that I was able to get 3.0ghz stable.
Then, I started to get curious about putting the cpu in my main rig to see if the 4th core would unlock and what I could OC too with more voltage. Turns out, 4th core is completely stable and it OC's to 3.25ghz as a quad with 1.475 Vcore. So I took it for a spin at 3dmark06, and was pretty pleased with the results. Not bad for $64!

705eX43dmark.jpg
 
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2048Megabytes

Active Member
Man, you got a score of over 15,000. I ran 3DMark06 and got a score of 4533. My system specifications are the following:

Processor: AMD Phenom 9550 Quad-Core Agena (2.2 gigahertz)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-M78SM-S2H SOCKET AM2+
Video card: MSI R3650-T2D512 OC Radeon HD 3650 512MB GDDR3 128-bit
Random Access Memory: 2 gigabytes PC2-6400 of Super Talent
Hard Drives: 232 gigabyte Seagate Barracuda Model ST3250310AS
Optical Drive: Sony NEC Optiarc Black AD-7200S-0B
Power Supply: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600 Watt

What components are holding back my score? Is it my video card?
 

87dtna

Active Member
Man, you got a score of over 15,000. I ran 3DMark06 and got a score of 4533. My system specifications are the following:

Processor: AMD Phenom 9550 Quad-Core Agena (2.2 gigahertz)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-M78SM-S2H SOCKET AM2+
Video card: MSI R3650-T2D512 OC Radeon HD 3650 512MB GDDR3 128-bit
Random Access Memory: 2 gigabytes PC2-6400 of Super Talent
Hard Drives: 232 gigabyte Seagate Barracuda Model ST3250310AS
Optical Drive: Sony NEC Optiarc Black AD-7200S-0B
Power Supply: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600 Watt

What components are holding back my score? Is it my video card?

Well, partially your CPU is causing a low score because of the low clock speed but yes mostly the video card.
I don't know how much you were looking to spend but the card I have is a gts250, this one here-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468

You have a decent motherboard, but it doesn't support too many AM3 cpu's. Here's probably the best option for CPU-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103675

I'm guessing you aren't big on overclocking, but your motherboard does support the 955 also which is a black edition so unlocked multiplier which makes overclocking a lot easier. So if you want to get into overclocking, get the 955. But if not, just stick with the 945 and you'll be fine.

With a gts250 and the 945 your score should atleast hit 12-13k. I have my card overclocked, and of course the CPU overclocked as well. With a 12k score you can pretty much play any game without lag.
 

JareeB

Active Member
Man, you got a score of over 15,000. I ran 3DMark06 and got a score of 4533. My system specifications are the following:

Processor: AMD Phenom 9550 Quad-Core Agena (2.2 gigahertz)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-M78SM-S2H SOCKET AM2+
Video card: MSI R3650-T2D512 OC Radeon HD 3650 512MB GDDR3 128-bit
Random Access Memory: 2 gigabytes PC2-6400 of Super Talent
Hard Drives: 232 gigabyte Seagate Barracuda Model ST3250310AS
Optical Drive: Sony NEC Optiarc Black AD-7200S-0B
Power Supply: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600 Watt

What components are holding back my score? Is it my video card?

yeah cuz i got like 66** something with my rig
 

elitejp

New Member
i have a question how does your backup computer compare to your new one. I mean this seems like an amazing feet for a 64 dollar chip. the phenom 945 is set at 3.0ghz and is $100 more expensive. I dont know what it could overclock to but I would think it could overclock to 3.25.
 

87dtna

Active Member
i have a question how does your backup computer compare to your new one. I mean this seems like an amazing feet for a 64 dollar chip. the phenom 945 is set at 3.0ghz and is $100 more expensive. I dont know what it could overclock to but I would think it could overclock to 3.25.

I just happed to get it for that cheap, it's $120 new.

The 945 is a great overclocker as well, all the 900 series Phenom II's overclock to about the same, around 3.8ghz. But the 955 being a black edition has an unlocked multiplier which makes it much easier.
 

just a noob

Well-Known Member
the problem is, is that not every cpu will unlock to be a quad core, as for performance, my rig scores 28k 3dmarks lol
 

87dtna

Active Member
the problem is, is that not every cpu will unlock to be a quad core, as for performance, my rig scores 28k 3dmarks lol

Thats why the thread title is performance on the cheap

You have $1000 probably between cpu/mobo/GPU. I have $250. So, 16k 3dmark for $250 vs a 28k score for $1k? Hmmm. 16k will pretty much play any game without lag.
 
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