Log in

View Full Version : Gaming on a Budget: A Review of Low Cost CPUs


Hooch Tan
03-03-2011, 01:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu-core-i3-2100-phenom-ii-x6-1075t,2859.html' target='_blank'>http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews...1075t,2859.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Indeed, game performance is what this article is all about. Up until now, AMD's Phenom II X4 and Athlon II X3/X4 processors have vigorously defended their status as value-packed engines in inexpensive gaming systems using sub-$200 price tags. Between June of last year and now, we've seen AMD add a couple hundred megahertz to each price point. Yes, we like more performance without a corresponding rate-hike. But the company is competing with architectural updates that make a far more profound impact on performance."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1299102325.usr20447.jpg" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>It looks like AMD might have some challenges ahead of itself.&nbsp; With the release of Sandy Bridge, Intel has some low cost CPUs that appear to compete fairly well against AMD's budget options.&nbsp; This just happens to coincide with AMD now being able to offer a comparable, if not better product to Intel's Atom line of CPUs.&nbsp; Fortunately, there is time and room for AMD to fashion a counter-attack and all the while, it serves to keep PC gaming alive for those with limited funds.</p>