Help. Worth Upgrading?

[rjm6542]

I've read that many people have had success unlocking the 4th core and overclocking with the X3 455 which is the main reason behind choosing it.

 

[PP Mguire]

Im an enthusiast who likes such things as those but i never do a purchase with the intent of unlock. Up to you really.

 

[rjm6542]

If I get a bad one that the 4th core isn't stable on aren't the 2 fairly similar anyway? 3rd core would be beneficial with everything else other than gaming. Not to mention I'll get an aftermarket cooler and overclock it some. I appreciate all the comments/advice Mguire.

 

[PP Mguire]

The Athlon 2s lack L3 cache. If unlock able i think it unlocks that l3 too, but a 555 is also unlock possible as well. So, chances of Phenom 2 X4 or Athlon 2 X4.

 

[rjm6542]

And this is why I ask! Phenom is roughly $15 more, not much but in a budget rig a few $15 here and there add up, sooo the question is, gaming on a 19" @ 1440x900 will I notice a difference between the two? Future proof no thanks, I'll rebuild in a year or so when I get my new job.

 

[PP Mguire]

Toss up considering at that res your going more CPU bound than GPU. I cant honestly speak on how well the Athlon 2 overclocks but my friend just unlocked a 555 to quad (it can do tri too depending on what is bad and what isnt) and he clocked it to 3.8 on air fully stable.

 

[rjm6542]

Is the previously mentioned AMD processors a large improvement over the E7300 2.66Ghz I have now?

 

[PP Mguire]

If your running good DDR3 on the AM3 platform and OC then yes its a big difference.