Which CPU is better?

[For Which It Stands]

Currently I am running on an old dual core Athlon because the Opteron I was using screwed up a lot of things. The Athlon is running at around 2.5GHz. I do, however have some Phenom that is 1.8GHz quad core. Which one is better? Also, the mobo I have is AM2 and the Phenom is AM2+. Would the phenom work with the AM2 mobo?

[The Official Czex]

Currently I am running on an old dual core Athlon because the Opteron I was using screwed up a lot of things. The Athlon is running at around 2.5GHz. I do, however have some Phenom that is 1.8GHz quad core. Which one is better? Also, the mobo I have is AM2 and the Phenom is AM2+. Would the phenom work with the AM2 mobo?

 

1.8 x 4 = 7.2

 

2.5 x 2 = 5 

 

Higher total clock speed wins.

 

It should work.

[Benjio]

I would make sure you have the latest BIOS version before you put in the Phenom. 

[dragoon20005]

AM2+ chips will not work on AM2 boards

 

 

only AM2 chip work on AM2+ boards

 

 

1.8 x 4 = 7.2

 

2.5 x 2 = 5 

 

Higher total clock speed wins.

 

It should work.

that not how you calculate CPU power

[The Official Czex]

AM2+ chips will not work on AM2 boards

 

 

only AM2 chip work on AM2+ boards

 

 

that not how you calculate CPU power

 

Depends on application.

 

Higher total clock speed (cores x individual core clock) is better for gaming applications, especially for four cores vs two.

 

Higher individual core clock speed is better for graphic or audio work (PS, AE, etc...).

[Glenwing]

AM2+ chips will not work on AM2 boards

 

 

only AM2 chip work on AM2+ boards

 

 

that not how you calculate CPU power

It does actually kinda work like that if a program is fully multi-threaded.

[dragoon20005]

It does actually kinda work like that if a program is fully multi-threaded.

i used to think cpu power is calculated by adding each cores max speed

 

but many proved me wrong about that

 

and 80% of the applications don't use all the cores

 

 

but imagine the 4.7GHz x 8 of the FX9590 will be the fastest CPU

 

but IPC and multi treading is the way to go nowadays