Dan Castellaneta's guide to CPUs

[PlayStation 2]

Yippie! I've been wanting to do this for a while. 

 

So let's start with what will fit your needs.

Let's start with the easier to talk about company; AMD.

 

AMD A4-1250/A6-1450/Sempron 2650/3850 (Jaguar APUs)

What could these be used for?

NAS servers and lightweight storage servers. Have fun attempting to watch 1080p Blu-Rays on these.

 

AMD A4-5000/A6-5200/Athlon 5150/5350 (Jaguar)

These can be used for either HTPCs or even lightweight casual "gaming" rigs.

 

AMD A4 (FM2/FM2+)

I don't understand these. They're the middle of the road between the AM1 A6/Athlons and the A6 FM2 platform.

 

AMD A6 (FM2/FM2+)

These can be used for casual gaming (Minecraft/FNaF/Roblox) rigs or general browsing rigs.

 

AMD A8

Before Kaveri, these were best used in lower budget rigs, where you wanted to shoot for the A10. With Kaveri, they normally sit 1-7fps slower than the A10 APUs in most games, and (with the 7650K/7670K) can be overclocked to reach A10 levels.

 

AMD A8-7600

Non overclockable APU with selectable 45 and 65 watt TDPs. Get if you're not overclocking, unlike the 7850K.

 

AMD A8-7650K/7670K/A10-7700K

Merging these three as they're pretty much the same damn CPU. All three do not come with the upgraded stock cooler, even the 7670K, which is odd, since it's a Godaveri CPU. 

 

AMD A10

This is mostly dependent on what you want it for. The A10-5800K/6790K/6800K, I woulda told you to get that instead of the A8. But with Kaveri... eh...

 

a10-7850K/7870K

Merging as the only real difference from these two are clockspeed and the cooler they come with. Non-adjustable TDP but comes with 8 ROPs (or whatever it was) instead of 6 ROPs as with the A8 and A10-7700K, making it more useful for cheap ass CAD machines.

 

AMD Athlon (APU based)

These are most useful in budget ($500 or less) gaming rigs or video editing machines. They can be decently overclocked, too.

 

AMD FX

Welp... this is very dependent on WHAT FX processor you're gonna get.

 

FX-4300

save the money and get an Athlon.

 

FX-6300

get an i3. Or they're useful for AAA games that are coming out.

 

FX-8320/8350/8370/9350/9370/9590 unless you do video editing or 3D rendering, get an i5 (8320/8350) or an i7 (9590). High end boards need apply for the FX-8xxx and FX-9xxx processors.

 

FX-8320E/8370E

Same processors as above, with lower TDPs and slightly lower clockspeeds, giving them an advantage as they can be safely ran in lower end AM3+ motherboards.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Yippie, Intel!

 

Atom

Servers. Just... NAS servers.

 

Celeron/Pentium (BGA)

HTPCs? I dunno... maybe basic browsing machines.

 

Celeron (LGA)

No. Just... no. Pentiums are like $5 more.

 

Pentium (LGA)

These have the biggest usage in CSGO/LoL/MMO rigs or more basic Minecraft rigs. These really aren't meant for the same purpose as the APU-based Athlons. Any motherboard is usable with this but H97/H170 motherboards with overclocking capabilities are highly recommended for this. Note that this only applies to the G3258 and any possible future overclockable Pentiums.

 

Core i3

Use them where you'd get an FX-6300.

 

Core i5

These are meant for gaming rigs... and not much else, oddly. They have great single-core performance and nice multithreaded performance. Get them if you don't exactly have the dough for a Xeon or want to overclock. Get an H81 board if you're not using a 4690K, Z97 if you are.

 

Xeon (LGA 115x)

These are tricky. If it isn't hyperthreaded, I wouldn't get it. If it IS, then I would. Hyperthreaded Xeons make for a good and cheap i7 replacement as long as you don't feel the need to overclock. Make sure you check if the motherboard supports the Xeon. Most unofficially do, but it is unknown what boards do NOT support it.

 

Core i7 (LGA 115x)

Yes. Just... yes. Z97 boards need apply for an overclockable one. Get a Xeon with hyperthreading if you're not overclocking.

 

Core i7 (LGA 2011-Vx)

Don't even think about getting a 4820K. The 5820K is the sweet spot between price and performance (the only big difference between this and the 5930K is the gimped PCI-Express lanes; 28 vs 40 on the 5930K). The 5960X is in a very odd spot. It's overpriced but it can make a difference depending on HOW you use it. As most LGA-2011v3 boards are X99, there's not work needed here!

 

Xeon (LGA 2011-Vx)

Four core ones are worthless, six core ones are varying levels of worthless, only get the 8+ core ones. Even then, they should only be used for render machines.

 

Updated.

Edited September 23, 2015 by Dan Castellaneta

[Aytex]

i7 for gaming+ editing rigs

[minibois]

kewl. now tell a little about the motherboards that should be paired with the CPU's

[PlayStation 2]

i7 for gaming+ editing rigs

That was KINDA what I was going for but I got a bit confused for some reason there

[DarkBlade2117]

What about FM1 APUs? A8-3870k? ( there's an a6 variant ) ect. Or did I miss something?

[CharlieR1]

Under LGA 2011 you said 4930k, think you meant 5930k

[Prysin]

i7 for gaming+ editing rigs

of FX 8350 if you're cheap as fuck

[Zayzo]

That was KINDA what I was going for but I got a bit confused for some reason there

Your profile pic is broked. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE DAN.

[PlayStation 2]

Under LGA 2011 you said 4930k, think you meant 5930k

No, I meant whatever the 49xxK it was. I mentioned the 5930K. Never mind, it was the 4820K.

 

Your profile pic is broked. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE DAN.

I'm not feeling the ONE WITH DAN spirit right now

[Bim Job]

You can over-clock on an H81: 

[-rascal-]

What about FM1 APUs? A8-3870k? ( there's an a6 variant ) ect. Or did I miss something?

 

I agree, FM1 APUs are still capable.

The A6 variant is the A6-3670K -- I still have one sitting here with me.

 

 

 

Intel Atom?  Word processing, and web browsing. They are more than capable of that.

One of my schools deployed a bunch of these on the library computers, bolted to the back of the monitors.

 

How is the A4 APU's on the FM2/FM2+ "gross"? If the bottom-of-the-barrel socket AM1 chips can work for HTPC, I don't see how the A4 won't cut it.

 

Decent little guide/outline so far, but could use some refining  .

[harrynowl]

I like it but it's a bit brief IMHO.

[DarkBlade2117]

I agree, FM1 APUs are still capable.

The A6 variant is the A6-3670K -- I still have one sitting here with me.

Intel Atom? Word processing, and web browsing. They are more than capable of that.

One of my schools deployed a bunch of these on the library computers, bolted to the back of the monitors.

How is the A4 APU's on the FM2/FM2+ "gross"? If the bottom-of-the-barrel socket AM1 chips can work for HTPC, I don't see how the A4 won't cut it.

Decent little guide/outline so far, but could use some refining .

Yeah that's the one. Been looking at the A8 on eBay w/ mobo for $65

[Curufinwe_wins]

I would note that any sort of multitasking with an I5 or I3 while gaming is a terrible idea.

(Massive fps drop even if you just say have a chrome tab or a mmo dps meter or voip program up).

People seem to forget that little tidbit.

[PlayStation 2]

Updated with a slightly revised A4 description and a new Xeon LGA-2011 description

[NeatSquidYT]

Non hyperthreaded Xeons don't exist, do they? Lowest end Xeons do, and the only other big feature of Xeons is the virtualisation technology.

[PlayStation 2]

Non hyperthreaded Xeons don't exist, do they? Lowest end Xeons do, and the only other big feature of Xeons is the virtualisation technology.

Yeah, non-hyperthreaded ones exist. I already have it on there.

[aneil1998]

The ultimate guide to choosing a CPU. Good Job.

[Nena Trinity]

The guide is not very good sorry...

[PlayStation 2]

The guide is not very good sorry...

Well, I tried :^(

[Nena Trinity]

Well, I tried :^(

Well il help! :3

 

FX-6300 is better for AAA games, while i3 is better for F2P games!

 

FX-8320, 8350 & 8370 is better for cheaper work machines!

[App4that]

You made my day twice Sir, if I ever see you on the red team I think my weapon might just jam on me.