I am building a computer, and I was wondering what people's opinions on the AMD Phenom 9950 Black Edition CPU are. I'm not a gamer or anything like that by the way. I just browse the internet and do photo editing and stuff. I was thinking about getting an Intel, but that would make me have to change the motherboard that I picked out, so is it worth it for the extra $400?
AMD Phenom 9950 BLACK EDITION or and Intel CPU?
- Thread starter patm1313
- Start date
mac550
New Member
personly id say got for a E8400 or the Q6600, if your only going to use 1 GPU then you can get a mobo for less than $100. since AMD took over ATI they are working on GPU's and not CPU's, so at the moment i wont get an AMD. At the end of the day its up to you but there are a lot of people the will tell you that the E8400 and the Q6600 are damn good chips and are worth getting.
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
Wrong. They've been working their asses off trying to fix Phenom. And by the looks of it, they're doing pretty good progress...
In that case, a dual-core would be enough. I would look at Athlons, since you really don't need a quad for browsing, and Black Edition CPUs are intended for overclockers anyways. And even if you want a Phenom, go for something lower - the 9550 or 9350 would both be more than enough for your needs, you may even want to consider the triple-core Phenoms. Something like the 8250/8540 would more than suffice for your needs. But again, for your needs I'd rather pick an Athlon, since you don't need all the power of Phenoms.
+1 :d
hdtennistime
New Member
i just got a 9950be about a month ago...i surf the net n im adobe all the time, but im also
gaming alot too...so far ive had no problems, but they are kinda hot, if you get the 140W, i had to get a new heatsink to keep it under 45-55C, but i am using a low airflow matx case... i do think a dual core would be suitable too, neweggs got the 125w 9950 for like $180 which is a lil more than what i paid for my 140w
gaming alot too...so far ive had no problems, but they are kinda hot, if you get the 140W, i had to get a new heatsink to keep it under 45-55C, but i am using a low airflow matx case... i do think a dual core would be suitable too, neweggs got the 125w 9950 for like $180 which is a lil more than what i paid for my 140w
ZeroWing
New Member
I had this same dilemma except I definitely consider myself a gamer. Ended up switching over to Intel and now im waiting for my stuff. Cross over cost me $360, I hope it was worth it. I heard the phenom destroys Intel chips in some kind of work. Architectural whatever.... I could be wrong. If anyone cares, I ordered a P45 mobo, Q6600, and a xigmatek cooler that is on par with the t120 
. The excitement is torture ._.
. The excitement is torture ._.
Twist86
Active Member
They just threw a 125w version ^-^ thinking of buying it when I get the funds up!
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
But why? The 9950 Phenom outperforms Q6600, and last time I checked it was cheaper (and that's for the Black Edition!). Also, the Phenom perfoms way better at FP-intensive applications compared to Core2 (though this doesn't mean a lot for an average user). And if the OP went Intel, he'd have to get a new mobo... price/performance wise staying AMD would be a lot better move, IMOI. For the type of stuff the OP described, going Intel gives no advatage over staying with AMD.
IMO, no. BTW, what CPU do you have now? It may not even be worth upgrading... unless you really think you need the extra speed. But for surfing, web, photos etc. ANY CPU from the last 5 years should be good enough...
Cleric7x9
Active Member
the q6600 is only about $5 more, and it will overclock a lot further than the 9950 and has much lower power consumption. im not sure why the OP said changing his motherboard would increase the overall cost of his build by $400, since he said he is building a computer. i would imagine he hasnt bought any of the parts yet
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
Not really a valid argument since not even nearly everyone OC's in the first place, plus the best Q6600s on air only beat best Phenoms on air by a few hundred MHz, for what I've heard... I've heard that Q6600s don't go past 3.6GHz and even that is achieved by cranking up the voltage, whereas Phenoms max out at around 3.4GHz (though they run hotter at those speeds)... but for overclocking, I'd probably recommend Intel as well.
I do disagree with "much" lower, since Phenoms have been packed with so many new power-saving features, I don't think the power consumption/running costs in the end would be a lot higher than those of the Q6600.
Yea...misunderstood someting, I though he already had a board since he said he's have to switch it out, guess I should be more careful with my reading.
Cleric7x9
Active Member
yeah but AMD's flagship processor is cheap, and doesnt really outperform (arguably) intel's entry level CPU.
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
It does, actually, though by an insignificant margin. Unless, again, we bring in FPU-intensive applications... that's where Intel gets thrashed.
Cleric7x9
Active Member
here is an anandtech review that says the q6600 is a better choice:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3344&p=17
Also, if you google 'amd 9950 or intel q6600' here is what you get:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=amd+9950+or+intel+q6600&aq=f&oq=
i read through the first 10 results, and every one of them favors the intel. idk hackapelite, it seems the computer building community will have to disagree with you. tomshardware seems pretty even, ranking the amd better in some tests, and the intel better in others. but in no test do i see the amd "thrashing" the intel. in fact, in the tests where the intel is better, it beats the amd by quite a bit.
just curious, how much is AMD paying you hackapelite?
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3344&p=17
Also, if you google 'amd 9950 or intel q6600' here is what you get:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=amd+9950+or+intel+q6600&aq=f&oq=
i read through the first 10 results, and every one of them favors the intel. idk hackapelite, it seems the computer building community will have to disagree with you. tomshardware seems pretty even, ranking the amd better in some tests, and the intel better in others. but in no test do i see the amd "thrashing" the intel. in fact, in the tests where the intel is better, it beats the amd by quite a bit.
just curious, how much is AMD paying you hackapelite?
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
AMD CPUs only soundly beat Core2s in FPU-intensive stuff, you'd have to run a program that only -or mainly- stresses the FPU(s). And that's AMDs only advantage. As for all the benchmarks I've seen, most of the time Q6600 and 9950 tie, dunno why but all benchmarks I've come across have been the ones that favor Phenoms *cough*
AUS$37,000 per annum, full medical care, 2 yearly holiday trips to a destination of choice, and a car. Cheapasses could only afford me a Carrera Sjust curious, how much is AMD paying you hackapelite?
Dont think patm1313 is coming back. One post 2 weeks ago. From his post he doesnt need a 9850/9950 or a Q6600. He could save some money and just go with a smaller 9550 or even a 8750BE. Save himself 40 bucks and never know the difference.