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Worth upgrading the CPU?

Zetro

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 2, 2005
Messages
296
Hey everyone :) I have a Frankenstein of a machine that I use as a loaner when working on others computers, my video encoding rig, and secondary Hyper-V lab environment that I boot into Server 2012 R2 when I need more resources than my primary lab can muster

Here are the current specs:

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T (2.8GHz, 95W TDP)
Coolermaster Hyper T2 Cooler
Gigabyte 970A-D3P Rev. 2.0 latest BIOS
32GB Kingston Hyper-X 1600MHz DDR3 (Running at 1333 due to IMC limitations in the CPU)
Gigabyte 750Ti 2GB OC
Corsair RM650 Modular PSU
120GB Samsung Evo 840
250GB Samsung Evo 840
1TB Seagate Desktop Drive SATA3

Case: A 13 year old white ATX case with a front/rear 92mm fan. I found the case brand new in box last year and as it was the first case I ever built a rig in many moons ago I had to build a more modern thing in it. Video card length is an issue as is cooling which is why I am keeping CPU's below 100W TDP.

Is it worth going up to an FX-8320E? It is around $180CAD (I am in Canada) and is the last upgrade that I can do to this. As I noted my goal is to keep the TDP below 100 watts as the case environment is a bit tight.
 
I've read reviews, comments, and threads (I have some old AMD computers..) so this is not an expert opinion.
The 83xx with a couple software exceptions need overclocking to shine. 8320E (in reviews anyway overclocks to about 4.8). But, You do not want the heat.
I say without overclocking you do not want to do benefit(s) are doubtful.

Checking on line web 1055T single thread performance is better. FX-8320E is about 13-32% better in applications that "like" it. Newer software, better memory controller.
Is it worth $180? If you want to play, yes. Mr Spock does not find it logical.
 
I wouldn't, based on the fact that you mentioned the case is tight. The FX-series chips are two things over most of all hot and poor performing per clock. To get a significant performance boost over your Phenom you'd need to push 200W. If you're interested in a real upgrade you should probably put it off a bit and do a rebuild later with a new motherboard and CPU at least. Alternately you could get a 4-series i5 like the 4690K and Z97 board and still reuse your RAM and other components.
 
I wouldn't bother upgrading that giving your circumstances.
 
That is kind of what I figured - thank you :) I will just run this setup until it becomes useless - it may take longer to encode a video or is lacking for games but it rocks as a Hyper-V lab box with those 6 cores.

Overall I find it pretty cool that a processor that I bought 5 years ago is in a new board with SATA3 and USB3 and being a 6 core thing still feels pretty snappy.
 
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