What to look for in a Processor?

[Shaun]

I was just looking at this processor, an AMD 5000+ 64 bit X2 AM2 socket, and wondered if its any good. I know the 2.6GHz clock is incredibily fast, and the dual core and AM2 socket helps, but I have no idea what the other things mean.

Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core
Model 5000+
Ordering P/N (Tray) ADO5000IAA5CU
Ordering P/N (PIB) ADO5000CUBOX
Operating Mode 32/64
Stepping F2
Frequency 2600Mhz
HT Speed 2000
Voltage 1.30V/1.35V
Max Temp 55-70°C
Thermal Power 89W
L1 Cache 128KB x2
L2 Cache 512KB x2
CMOS Technology 90nm SOI
Socket Socket AM2


The Max temp seems a bit low, and so does the voltage, so what do you all think?

[King Edward I]

amd'S do run much cooler with intel and I cant see you really needing to overclock that much - im going to be getting an FX-62 soon and i might take that upto 3GHz on stock if I can but I wouldnt worry too much

oh and lower temp = better for overclocking and would be quiter as well! (less fans needed!)

[Custor]

...so what do you all think?

Is it compatable with your current mobo and heatsink or are you buying a new mobo?

[Shaun]

Is it compatable with your current mobo and heatsink or are you buying a new mobo?

I am buying a new AM2 mobo, and I suppose I will alsp have to get a new heatsink as well.

[Custor]

OK then remember to get a 'retail' version that comes with a heatsink as standard OR an OEM and an additional heatsink. If I remmeber correctly AM2s use a new design of heatsink, so you'll not be able to use your current one. Need someone to confirm that.
The AM2 chipsets uses DDR2 so you'll need new RAM too but as youre getting a new set up no worries there.

Do you intend to overclock? If you do then the stepping etc may be important to you.

The new Intel DUO chips are now being released. They appear from first benchmarks to have stolen the AMD crown. The DUOs have faster performance for a lower clock rate, run on lower power (so should be quieter) and at the moment are cheaper £ per fps than the AMD cpus at the high end fo the market.

Expect some major realignments in pricing over the coming months as AMD responds.

In the meantime I reccomend that you have a look at the benchmarks available on the net for AMD5000X2(£223) versus the E6400 (£182) and E6600(£252 - prices supplied from same website and are likely to vary between vendors). In every benchie I've seen the E6400 is 1-10% quicker than the AMD5000 whilst the E6600 is 10-20% quicker which in games like Oblivion makes a big difference.
This is gaming performance too. That together with the major power cut requirments should make the Duo a very interesting system especially as the low end Duos should have alotof overclocking headroom compared to high end AMD cpus.
e.g.
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...spx?i=2802&p=1

Edit
Apologies for going off topic and not concentrating on answering your question but the more I looked at the figures for you the more sense it makes (at todays pricing schemes!) to check out the Intel Duos. Keep an eye on those prices AMD are goign to have to drop prices substancially to maintain market position.

[King Edward I]

well the FX-62 is already nearly £150 cheaper than the extreme conroe and Id really expect it to drop even further - current trens estimate it to be around £550 whereasas the conroe extreme at nearly £750!

[Shaun]

Well thanks for all the advice, but just one more question - is there enough L1 and L2 cache?

[Custor]

The performance of the CPU is what it is. The manufacturer will 'balance' cache and hertz to fill the performance niche of the market, or should that be price point of the market.
There is nothing you can do about cache level so don't worry about it.

@ King Ed.
The E6600 is half the price of the AMD FX62 and canes it in the games benchmarks. There is no point in comparing the top of the range processor prices when top of the range performance is absent.