Intel Core i3-2120 vs AMD Phenom II X4 965

[skippy72294]

Originally Posted by cannondale06

my opinion is based on FACTs. look at the review I just linked too. toms came to the same conclusion I did about the i3 over the Phenom X4 based on FACTs. to recommend a slower more power hungry cpu on a platform that is not as favorable for an upgrade defies logic.

You know what they say about opinions. They're like ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥s. Everyone has one and they all stink.

Also, an "opinion" cannot be based on facts. My opinion is that while yes, Intel does have "better" (and I use that loosely) CPU's, AMD's cheaper ones are great for people who can't afford what Intel wants/don't like intel for whatever reason. Quit being so closed minded.

OP, depends what you're doing more of. If you're encoding a ton of videos, get the 965. If you're doing more gaming, well... Honestly, who cares. My buddy had a x4 955 and it rocked.

[masta121]

Originally Posted by cannondale06

something different as in slower and more power hungry? yeah that makes sense.

its laughable, the amount of ignorance that is needed to justify buying an inferior product.

tom's review pretty much summed it up but perhaps you should email them and let them know that you will still prefer AMD.

I like how you keep ignoring performance in programs outside of these few particular game titles that prove your point. And, as I've said before, you've taken the power consumption out of perspective. You can't compare 1:1 as if the chips are 100% equal, because they aren't. One was designed in 2008 and before, the other was designed in 2011. They're built on different fab processes and one only has two cores.

So no, it's not an "inferior" product in the sense that it attempted to compete with the 2120 and could not, as it's been on the market for far, far longer. The two have different strengths. The potential upgrade path is a good reason to go with it for sure, but it's up to the OP to decide.

Tl;dr - Phenom better at highly multithreaded apps and tasks like the ones the OP specified he would be doing, i3 is better in games on average (but the caveat is the Phenom can easily get playable framerates in any title, i.e. over 60). And if you really care about power consumption, the i3 "wins" there as well.

[cannondale06]

Originally Posted by skippy72294

You know what they say about opinions. They're like ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥s. Everyone has one and they all stink.

Also, an "opinion" cannot be based on facts. My opinion is that while yes, Intel does have "better" (and I use that loosely) CPU's, AMD's cheaper ones are great for people who can't afford what Intel wants/don't like intel for whatever reason. Quit being so closed minded.

OP, depends what you're doing more of. If you're encoding a ton of videos, get the 965. If you're doing more gaming, well... Honestly, who cares. My buddy had a x4 955 and it rocked.

"Also, an "opinion" cannot be based on facts"

so if I look at how something performs, which is a fact, then I can not form the opinion that it is the better cpu to purchase? how about this then...according to reviews its a FACT that the i3 is the better overall cpu for gaming.

for some other tasks I will concede that the AMD will be just as good if not better but yes I am mainly looking at gaming. but if your buddy had an X4 and "it rocked" then by all means the OP should get that.

[caveman26]

I would look for a second hand 955/965 and have done with it, both the I3 and 955/965 should see you through

You might be able to get a secondhand Amd for $40 ish

[skippy72294]

Originally Posted by cannondale06

"Also, an "opinion" cannot be based on facts"

so if I look at how something performs, which is a fact, then I can not form the opinion that it is the better cpu to purchase? how about this then...according to reviews its a FACT that the i3 is the better overall cpu for gaming.

for some other tasks I will concede that the AMD will be just as good if not better but yes I am mainly looking at gaming. but if your buddy had an X4 and "it rocked" then by all means the OP should get that.

But OP said he won't be doing only gaming. Your argument is irrelevant. 4 "real" cores will always beat 2 "real" cores + 2 "hyperthreaded" cores unless the CPU you're looking at is absolute garbage versus the cream of the crop.

[Mr SmokesAlot]

I'd never in a million years choose an i3 over a processor that has 4 real cores, especially when doing editing and 3D rendering. Like a virtual core is going to outperform an actual physical core. You guys are crazy lol.

[seseorang]

FACT: The Phenom II 965BE will never use 125w full power 100% of the time.
FACT: My board is rated at 140w MAX processors.
FACT: 125w + 100w = 225w
FACT: 225w = MORE than 140w

The Phenom II 965 is the better choice. Unless a budget is given (if one exists) in which case at least the i5 2500(K) would be better.

If no budget exists, then an i7 would be ideal, especially with Hyper-Threading Technology (HTT)

[Protokiller]

Originally Posted by cannondale06

something different as in slower and more power hungry? yeah that makes sense.

its laughable, the amount of ignorance that is needed to justify buying an inferior product.

tom's review pretty much summed it up but perhaps you should email them and let them know that you will still prefer AMD.

I am a Phenom II user and I have no problem with Intel and agree with you that there is no reason to buy a new amd at this point in time.

This reminds me of the Pentium 4. When Intel had a slower and hotter chip that cost more and it still outsold the A64 and tons of people still built gaming rigs off of them. EDIT: sorry didn't see the date on this thing.

[sfade]

Never fails, put AMD and Intel into the title of your thread and it turns into a bunch of fanatical maniacs seeing who can foam at the mouth more.

Go with whatever fits your budget, existing hardware (if any) and gives you the best price vs performance for the tasks you regularly perform and the games you play. This will obviously involve some researching, but there is no substitute for good first-hand research when purchasing technology (or anything for that matter).