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yuriylsh
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AMD CPU Upgrade

Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:21 pm

Hi everyone,

I currently have my home server running really old hardware and it needs to be upgraded sooner than later. Right now it runs mostly as a file server + small databases SQL server + remote access gateway to other home computers. I'm having an issue with the motherboard on it that do not allow me to add additional hard drives to it and I'll be running out of free space very soon, plus I'm planning to host some personal web sites on it and several bigger databases. Long story short, I would rather upgrade it sooner than later.

Turned out that I have all the components for the upgrade except a processor. I have AMD 790 motherboard and4x2GB DDR2 memory that I'll use for the upgrade, so any AM2+ processor can be used for the upgrade (the motherboard even has the bios update to support PII x6 processors). At the same time you can see in my signature what components I'm using for my desktop - basically it's AM3 platform.

So now I see several ways to make the upgrade. First, to buy some cheep Athlon II X3/X4 and put it into the new server (I would prefer more than 2 cores because of SQL server and ASP.NET sites that are going to run on it). On the other hand buy adding some more money I can buy PII x6 processor for my desktop and use it's current PII X3 720 for the server. I like this idea more because by doing this would upgrade both server and desktop at the same time. There is one thing that bothers me though when I thinking about this upgrade path - upcoming Bulldozer processors and their most likely incompatibility with AM3 boards. There is where I have to make some decisions.
If Bulldozzer processors will have substantial performance lead over current Phenoms, it sounds like it makes sense to wait untill they become available to upgrade the desktop. But in this case there are some disadvantages:
1) buy a CPU for the server now and then when I upgrade the desktop I would have 3 CPUs and 2 computers (Bulldozer CPU, current PII X3 720 from desktop and whatever I buy for the server), so basically I would throw away money spent on the new server CPU.
2) Total cost of the upgrade will be: CPU for the server that I buy now + Bulldozer-compatible mobo + Bulldozer CPU.

If I upgrade the desktop processor now (and I'm looking at x6 1075t or 1090t) than the price of the processor is the only price I have to pay. If the performance of Bulldozer over let's say 1090t is going to be like 15-20 % than I'll probably will not regret about not waiting for it. If it closer to 50% than I'll probably will :lol: I know you guys do not have numbers, it more me describing my thoughts than asking for numbers :) What I would like to ask is your opinion on whether there will be price cuts on current Phenoms when AMD introduces Bulldozer or not? I understand that you cannot know for sure, but maybe you can make your guess based on previous CPU generations shifts?

What would you do in my situation? Any subjective opinion is welcome. Without numbers the one can only guess...
Last edited by yuriylsh on Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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DancinJack
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Re: AMD CPU Update

Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:39 pm

Sounds like you have convinced yourself. I'd probably get a fairly cheap AM3 CPU for the time being and put the X3 in your server. I wouldn't expect a 50% performance gain over a 1090T. At least only in very few, controlled cases might that happen. Maybe grab a Athlon II x4 for the time being and just plan on upgrading the desktop in 2011?
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yuriylsh
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Re: AMD CPU Update

Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:59 pm

DancinJack wrote:
Sounds like you have convinced yourself.


Honestly - no, not yet.

DancinJack wrote:
I'd probably get a fairly cheap AM3 CPU for the time being and put the X3 in your server. I wouldn't expect a 50% performance gain over a 1090T. At least only in very few, controlled cases might that happen. Maybe grab a Athlon II x4 for the time being and just plan on upgrading the desktop in 2011?


So on one hand we have less than 50% performance advantage (of course it is just an assumption but what can you do without numbers...) at price of cheap AM3 CPU now + price of Bulldozer mobo + price of Bulldozer CPU. On the other hand 1075t/1090t for "just" $200/$230... You know, DansingJack, I would like to be convinced, but I seems like I'm not :)
BTW, do you think AMD will lower the prices on current Phenoms with the introduction of Sandy Bridge/Bulldozer?
Thank you for the reply!
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anotherengineer
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Re: AMD CPU Upgrade

Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:27 pm

Did you look into the Ph2 955BE, I seen it here in Canada for 140 on sale, if you are in the states you could probly pick it up a few bucks cheaper?

They undervolt quite well also, mine is at 1.200V
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JustAnEngineer
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Re: AMD CPU Upgrade

Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:28 pm

I believe that you've convinced all of us that you should put a new processor in your desktop. Everything gets faster. It's a win all the way around, and you've spent less than $250.
$229 AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition six-core 3.2 GHz
$145 AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition quad-core 3.2 GHz

If you decide to instead just get a processor for the server, you don't have to spend much to get a quad core.
$100 AMD Athlon II X4 640 quad-core 3.0 GHz
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yuriylsh
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Re: AMD CPU Upgrade

Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:47 pm

Based on your responses and my internal debates I'm currently leaning towards x6 1090t upgrade path. Do you think it makes sense to wait several weeks till Christmas sales (if any) or even January's SB appearance in expectation of deals for 1090t? Or you think it is not likely that 1090t's price will be shelved down to ~$200?
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JustAnEngineer
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Re: AMD CPU Upgrade

Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:13 pm

If you want or need it now, get it now. The price difference isn't going to matter much. We'll all be craving the new Sandy Bridge hotness in January anyway.
According to the chart, the Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition is currently the cheapest that it has ever been.
http://www.nextag.com/AMD-Phenom-II-X6- ... D8BE4E22CB
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yuriylsh
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Re: AMD CPU Upgrade

Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:03 am

Thank you all for the suggestions! Finally decided to go with Phenom II X6 1090T.
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JustAnEngineer
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Re: AMD CPU Upgrade

Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:51 pm

Today must be your lucky day!
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/20092
 
yuriylsh
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Re: AMD CPU Upgrade

Wed Dec 08, 2010 3:20 pm

JustAnEngineer wrote:
Today must be your lucky day!
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/20092

Now waiting on TR's review. So far (based on the reviews from other sites) I do not really see a point to step up to 1100T. Also, unfortunately, I do not see any price reduction on 1090T so far, still the same $230. So basically AMD's price cuts just aligned the MSRP to the current prices. Don't know if I should wait maybe couple weeks in anticipation of retailers cutting prices further or just buy it now... But first of all, TR's review.
Thank you for heads up!
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yuriylsh
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Re: AMD CPU Upgrade

Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:35 pm

Hmm, newegg just added $10 promotional gift card with purchase of 1090T... Hope other retailers will follow :)
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