Should I get the FX-8120?

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Reils777

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As many might (or might not know), Micro Center is selling the AMD FX-8120 for cheap. Having been an Intel fan-boy for a long time and totally new to using an AMD processor.. I am in need of a new processor/mobo and some advice.

With my current system (a cheap Gateway computer -- an Intel Core i3 530 @ 2.93 GHz, with a PNY GeForce GTX 260 (216 Shader) video card coupled with 6 GB of ram) seems to have this one peculiar lag while playing Battlefield 3.

Said lag is when I join on 64-player servers. Visually, I don't get too much lag. But this said lag is a stuttering mouse lag. Upon turning left and right (or even looking up and down), the mouse jumps. Upon even more close inspection to my CPU performance, it seems that the issue is when I am in only the 64/32-count/player servers -- evidenced by my CPU maxing out at 95-100%. My friends -- all who have better CPUs than mine, a few AMD, others Intel, don't experience this. Only I do.

TL/DR: I have a mouse stutter in Battlefield 3 when my CPU maxes out at 100% usage.

Now, I'm getting mixed reviews about the FX-8150 (which, for now, I'll just put it in the same family as the FX-8120). Some people swear upon staying with Intel, others are going with the Bulldozer FX-8150/8120. Is it worth getting the FX-8120 for gaming over the 'older' Intel Core i3 530? If so, is $213 USD ($233 with tax) worth for the Processor / Mobo bundle?

On a quick note, I don't have too much money to work with here. Infact, I got the GTX 260 when it was $200, and that was some years ago. The card works fine for me and I have no plans to update it any time soon. Though I know the processor of this computer is showing age.
 
Of course the FX-8120 will be faster than your current i3 530. But considering the i5 2500K only costs slightly more I'd go for that instead.
 
The 8120 FX has a slower IPC then the phenom 2's.

The Phenom 2's were slower then the I3 530 you have.

Thus you will be downgrading yourself.
 
BF3, despite being a horrible game, is good at using a lot of cores and the 8 integer cores in bulldozer should outrun the dual core with HT I3 in BF3.

If the OP gets an 8120 and OC's it to 4 GHz, it should be adequate for running any current game on one screen at 60 Hz. But yes he would be getting a better gaming processor by going the Intel route, as even the cheapest quad from Intel is a better choice for games in general, based on the currently available games.
 
runs2far said:
If the OP gets an 8120 and OC's it to 4 GHz, it should be adequate for running any current game on one screen at 60 Hz. But yes he would be getting a better gaming processor by going the Intel route, as even the cheapest quad from Intel is a better choice for games in general, based on the currently available games.
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Understandably, Intel is the best bang for my buck. But since the Core i5 2500k (with a matching mobo) is a little out of my league, the 8120 is starting to look good.

Speaking of, it looks like I could possibly use the 8120 for streaming -- something I've longed to do on my i3 530, but couldn't cut it due to both cores working on a game and streaming software.

How does the 8120 fare in such things anyways? Also, any idea how the Stock fan goes for cooling when the CPU is OC'd?
 
In general, the Intel 2500k is a better gaming chip, but also more expensive. However, in games that can use more cores like BF3, the AMD 8120 or 8150 perform just as well (excluding overclocking scenarios).

What you might consider is getting a lower non K intel chip such as the i5 3450 and a less expensive motherboard motherboard. That way you have lower costs and better overall performance than the AMD chips
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388579&bc=
 
Reils777 said:
Understandably, Intel is the best bang for my buck. But since the Core i5 2500k (with a matching mobo) is a little out of my league, the 8120 is starting to look good.
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2500k is $10 more than 8120 at Microcenter and you get that difference back with a bigger motherboard combo discount. How exactly is that out of your league? What motherboard are you buying with the 8120? Are you sure it can overclock?
 
Prav said:
2500k is $10 more than 8120 at Microcenter and you get that difference back with a bigger motherboard combo discount. How exactly is that out of your league? What motherboard are you buying with the 8120? Are you sure it can overclock?
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This is a good point. If you are getting a 2500k at microcenter...its the way better deal over AMD period.

You dont need a $200 mobo to get into the 2500k.

The 2500k is faster at stock, Uses way less power as well.
 
I'm stuck between either getting a mATX mobo (using the same case as the one I'm using) or an ATX mobo (using a much older 2000-era case). The ATX mobos I'm seeing for the i5 2500k at Micro Center goes for $100~, not including the $169 or so for the 2500k. (So around $270-$300 for everything)

ATX search for LGA 1155 at Micro Center
mATX Search for LGA 1155 with 4xRAM Slots

Though, it seems you guys are fixated on the 2500k. I'll see what's possible. Though, as the person above has posted, the i5 3450 might be an option. But again, fall under the pricing of the motherboards. (Remember the good ol' LGA 775, and mobos used to cost $50 -- but they worked?)

Also, to clarify what I mostly do on this computer; I listen to music, watch videos and I do gaming. All I really require is for the ONLY game that is having issues -- Battlefield 3 -- to play smoothly on heavily populated servers. I'm not much for the newer games with their DirectCU / CUDA / whatever else that's out. The only games I really play are Minecraft, World of Warcraft, Company of Heroes / Starcraft 2, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3. All but the latter runs fine on my i3. BF3 is the wake up call for me to update my system atleast enough to handle the next game I might want. I'm not after the most extreme graphics. Hell, I'm quite fine with BF3 on High textures / medium everything else. Outside of that, I host a Teamspeak .. and used to host a Minecraft server on my computer until my i3 started to derp / mess up on said hosting due to me trying to game and host. (The limitations of two cores with hyper-threading).

Now that I got that out of my system, I'm just after something to get my computer up to speed a bit and to give my mobo/cpu to my younger sibling who is suffering with a Pentium D 820.
 
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You receive a $50 discount to your motherboard with a 2500k so $220-$250 combo price with a Z77 board. That is roughly the same price as an 8120+ 970 or better motherboard.
None of the mATX AMD solutions can overclock 8120 well without adding additional aftermarket VRM cooling. They will just throttle your CPU voltage to protect themselves under load. So if you are thinking of AMD 8120 overclocking and mATX, think again.

If you decide on 8120 , make sure the motherboard you pick can OC. This list may be helpful to you:
http://www.overclock.net/t/946407/amd-motherboard-vrm-information-list
 
Thanks Pray, that gave me a little more information that I needed.. I'll talk to my friends and see what they say. I came here first to be armed with info (and to debate with you guys a bit). We can probably stop posting here, since it seems I have two options and both are good.
 
Np. Good luck with your build. I just didn't want to see another AMD buyer leave Microcenter with a older 780 or 880 "free" motherboard only to find out later than it doesn't OC well at all, and then be disappointed. If you go AMD at least make sure your motherboard can OC enough to cut the performance gap with Intel ;)
 
Id also vote for the 2500k. the microcenter 8120 combo comes with a 970 motherboard, so it will overclock... but no telling how long the VRM's will last with voltage thirsty 8120. you would probably be pretty safe stock voltage around 4ghz though...

Battlefield 3 is one of the few games were AMD FX chips are very competitive. If you plan on playing anything else then intel is clear choice.
 
get i5 3570k for $190, and I think they are selling a Biostar z77 MB for $39.99 if you buy the 3570K. At microcenter that is...
 
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Long time AMD fanboy but if you're near a Microcenter and are building from scratch, you gotta go with the 2500K cause its only $20 more than the 8120 so yeah, the i5 is the way to go.
 
They both perform about the same. the bulldozer just is a much newer architect and isn't being utilized 100% yet. But if all your doing is playing battlefield i would go with the i5.
 
blaze15301 said:
They both perform about the same. the bulldozer just is a much newer architect and isn't being utilized 100% yet. But if all your doing is playing battlefield i would go with the i5.
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:rolleyes: sigh
With MicroCenter you're by far better off going z77 + i5 3570k combo.
This for example is $264.98 out the door 3570k + GA-Z77-DS3H .

If you go 8120 bundle you almost certainly need a 990FX motherboard to overclock well. The 8120 HAS to be overclocked to even be able to keep up marginally with a stock 2500k/3570k.
The cheapest I'd go for the AMD bundle is the 8120 + GA-990FXA-UD3 which puts you at $245 after rebates.
 
^ What K1tty said

Even on a more extreme budget you can get the 2500k bundled and save another $20.

2500k+Biostar TZ77A = $220+tax
2500k+Gigabyte M-D3H or DS3H= $230+tax

with the above two options available there is no way I am walking out the door with a $210 AMD combo
 
Have you ever just considered getting one of the quadcore 1156 chips and just sticking it in you gateway like the i5 750 or something... might be able to pick one of these or like an i7 860 for way cheaper and then you would be saving the cost of the mobo... the ivy bridge is like 10% ish faster than the sandybridge and is like 12% faster than the clarksdale. Give or take a bench...

Not that I'm supposed to put ebay links but you could get the i5 750 (socket 1156) for around $130 shipped....
 
runs2far said:
Those MicroCenter deals really changes the pricing landscape O_O
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Yes they do! The only advantage the 8120 really has is the price and when you're looking at Newegg, the FX has a $50 discount which is very attractive. But when its only $20 less, well not so much.
 
I've decided (after spending all yesterday to think about it) to get the 8120.. and yes, MicroCenter really does do great with the pricing. Sort of shocked. I'll probably ask them there if there's any current deals on the 2500k, and if it'll be around the budget range I'm looking at. There are in-store deals that websites don't show.

Not to mention too, it'll be the first time I'm upgrading from an mATX mobo to an ATX. Which means I have to upgrade to a mid/full tower case as well. So need to be cheap on what I need to get.

Anything right now, however, will be better than this Clarkdale i3 530 I have. So both the i5 2500k and the FX 8120 are viable options.
 
If they have them in stock, the 2500K should be $170 and the 3570K should be $190 as compared to the $150 for the 8120. But they may not have the 2500's. Last I looked, the 2 closest to me in Atlanta are OOS on them though.

Still, nothing wrong with the 8120. Still am excellent processor. Not being as good as Intel doesn't mean its sucks.
 
MacLeod said:
But when its only $20 less, well not so much.
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Exactly this. Spending the extra $20 for significantly more performance and longevity is worth it. If you do go 8120 be sure to get an appropriate motherboard or else you'll really be gimped not being able to overclock well.
Honestly you might be better off with PHENOM II X6 1045 + mobo bundle than one of the 8120 bundles.
 
Shouldn't most of the motherboards get him to 3.9 - 4.0? That's the performance delta for the stock cooler. After that he's going to need aftermarket cooling solutions and he's sticking to a tight budget. I only have experience with my Asus 990FX motherboard so I don't want to steer him wrong as far as picking a cheaper motherboard. Not all motherboards overclock as well as others but this is a budget build anyways so I'm sure he's not trying for 4.8.

Oh and the 8120 performs great on the stock cooler at those speeds. After that with aftermarket cooling it's easy to get to 4.4 or so. After 4.4 you're going to have to start understanding the relationship of ram speeds to cpu speeds and more.

Regardless if you come back with a 8120 or a 2500K (I'd go for the 2500K personally if it fit the budget) you're going to have a nice PC. Congrats!

And what Kitty said is true. The old 6 cores work well in the older cheaper motherboards and give nearly the same performance.
 
Everyone probably knows of these links, but here they are anyway:

AMD bundles: http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html
Note that the ad right now says you get $40 off any board not on that page if you want something else.
As usual, stock will vary from store to store

If you go the 8120 path you might want to look at the M5A97. Get that with an 8120 and it's under $200 before tax. Not the best board but will get the job done cheap.


The regular Microcenter ad is on this page: http://www.microcenter.com/specials/catalogs/index.html


The 1045t is a great deal. If you get that with a M5A97 the total is under $150 before tax. They typically overclock to around 3.6 from what I have seen. You can't get a 2500k alone for that.
 
There are plenty of solid motherboards available. You don't have to buy a $250 board to OC well. There are boards like the Asus M5A99X Evo for $140 or the ASRock Extreme3 for $130.
 
I've been looking at the ASRock Extreme 3 for the motherboard. Looks like a good board.
 
pgaster said:
Everyone probably knows of these links, but here they are anyway:

AMD bundles: http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html
Note that the ad right now says you get $40 off any board not on that page if you want something else.
As usual, stock will vary from store to store

If you go the 8120 path you might want to look at the M5A97. Get that with an 8120 and it's under $200 before tax. Not the best board but will get the job done cheap.


The regular Microcenter ad is on this page: http://www.microcenter.com/specials/catalogs/index.html


The 1045t is a great deal. If you get that with a M5A97 the total is under $150 before tax. They typically overclock to around 3.6 from what I have seen. You can't get a 2500k alone for that.
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I got that 1045T with the M5A78 board initially, but the M5A97 is a much better board (I wish I would have gotten that one initially). I've used that and the EVO version and realistically, they aren't all that much different other than the features on board. I had to use my eSATA card instead of having one onboard. 3.6Ghz is all my 1045T will do though. I played around with a 8120, but decided just to keep the 1045T as the 8120 is worth a little bit more money.
 
QUOTE=kirbyrj;1038782036] I've used that and the EVO version and realistically, they aren't all that much different other than the features on board. [/QUOTE]
EVO have 6+2 Digi VRM while the M5A97 only has 4+2 non digital. For a power hungry chip like the FX 8 core the VRM quality is very important. I think too many people have forgotten this factor when buying motherboards because of the much lower power demands of SB and IB chips now dominating the marketplace.

To prevent an unnecessarily long discussion of VRM qualities, channels, heat, droop etc; yes, I realize 4+2 vs 8+2 count is not on its face a deciding issue since the quality of the units and channel configuration used greatly affects usage beyond just the phase count.

You are limiting the performance of your CPU and potentially creating a fire hazard in your case if you overclock by not selecting the proper motherboard. (bit of hyperbole since modern motherboards should be properly throttled to prevent serious damage)

edit: No I am not saying the basic Asus 970 is a bad mobo or that it might explode like an MSI 970 (Asus wont since it has proper VRM throttling), just trying to raise the awareness of 8120 buyers to the real needs of their CPU.

Vrm problems shouldn't come as a surprise to long time AMD overclockers but some new buyers clearly need the information.

blast from the past:
Please post here if your motherboard died with a Phenom II X6 many of these same motherboards are still bring sold today in one form or another:
 
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Prav said:
EVO have 6+2 Digi VRM while the M5A97 only has 4+2 non digital. For a power hungry chip like the FX 8 core the VRM quality is very important. I think too many people have forgotten this factor when buying motherboards because of the much lower power demands of SB and IB chips now dominating the marketplace.

To prevent an unnecessarily long discussion of VRM qualities, channels, heat, droop etc; yes, I realize 4+2 vs 8+2 count is not on its face a deciding issue since the quality of the units and channel configuration used greatly affects usage beyond just the phase count.

You are limiting the performance of your CPU and potentially creating a fire hazard in your case if you overclock by not selecting the proper motherboard. (bit of hyperbole since modern motherboards should be properly throttled to prevent serious damage)

edit: No I am not saying the basic Asus 970 is a bad mobo or that it might explode like an MSI 970 (Asus wont since it has proper VRM throttling), just trying to raise the awareness of 8120 buyers to the real needs of their CPU.
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Fair enough. I'm using it with a 95W X6, and not a 125W FX.
 
blaze15301 said:
They both perform about the same. the bulldozer just is a much newer architect and isn't being utilized 100% yet. But if all your doing is playing battlefield i would go with the i5.
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This isn't true. The i5 2500K is the better overall processor especially for gaming or if you intend to run two GPU's. This is even more true for the Ivy Bridge variant i5 3570K which can be had for just a little more. It's a no brainer to go Intel in OP's shoes.
 
slh28 said:
Of course the FX-8120 will be faster than your current i3 530. But considering the i5 2500K only costs slightly more I'd go for that instead.
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This. Go with a 2500k build.
 
Guess you should just feel lucky that you are in the US.

I am in EU land, with very high sales tax, and the price difference between a 8120+M5A97 EVO and a I5-3570+P8Z77-V LX here is approximately 70 Euro, and the EVO is better than the LX motherboard.
 
i5-750 Quad Core off Ebay + New 670GTX.

I had a 260GTX and even going with 3-4 cores over a dual core will not get that 260GTX to play BF3 at a good speed.


What's killing you is your Dual Core CPU (2005 when Dual Core became popular) and DX9 GPU from (2007) I think. Playing the most demanding on-line game in 2012 with that old tech.

It's 2012, so a Quad with 670 GTX makes the most sense financially speaking for you. Under 500 if you do it right. Sell your old stuff under 4.
 
You know, that i3 should be able to do BF3 just fine, if u have a decent board and can OC the CPU.
I have a i3 550 @ 4.4ghz(stock 3.2) , it performs stellar in BF3 multiplayer.
If you can oc ur i3 at all, then just upgrade the video card. It will play BF3 just fine =)
 
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