Need help deciding on processor upgrade (from this list only)

[DeLuSioNal29]

Hi all,

I've decided to max out my motherboard CPU option.  MAME runs great but I'd like my system to be a bit faster for other Steam games, etc.  They run OK, but JUST IN CASE I'd like to upgrade to the Max speed my MB can handle.

My question is, which is the best CPU on this list below?  My motherboard can only take these CPU upgrades listed - I want to stick to the same motherboard so that I won't need to re-install the OS.  I realize there are better motherboards out there, but again, I'd like to stay with the same one.

Here's a list of processors that my motherboard can handle:
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=393#cpu

Other notes:  I'm currently running the AMD Athlon 64 7850 Dual Core (2.80gHz).

Thanks for the advice!

DeLuSioNaL29

[BadMouth]

I'd refer to the processor charts on Tom's Hardware.
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/

[DeLuSioNal29]

I was hoping someone could just take a peek at my list and know off of the top of their head.

[keilmillerjr]

I picked the highest CPU rating off your list, googled it, and this article says the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ is...

the fastest dual-core processor for socket AM2. This processor is the best socket AM2 upgrade for people who mostly play games.

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Athlon%2064%20X2%206400+%20-%20ADX6400IAA6CZ%20(ADX6400CZBOX%20-%20ADX6400CZWOF).html

I'm not a professional computer builder. I'd double check everything.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Yes, was leaning toward the 6400+ (3.2gHz) processor.  (I have that in another one of my machines for everyday use and it's pretty darn fast).  However, wouldn't the AMD Phenom™ II X4 x945 Quad core (3.00gHz) be faster for Windows games?

D

[JDFan]

I've got an PII X3 720 CPU (unlocked the 4th core and running stable at 3.2GHz. for over 3 years now) in my system with a 5770 GPU and it runs things pretty well -- only thing is they are pretty hard to find. I'd go with the best you can find cheaply on the list and go from there -- It seems it supports pretty much any AM2 socket chip.

@keilmillerjr -- the quote you posted is from 2008 and was before the newer Athlon II and PhenomII chips were released so is a bit out of date !

[DeLuSioNal29]

So a Phenom II is recommended over an Athlon X2?

I did some more homework and came up with this:
http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/491/AMD_Athlon_64_X2_6400+_vs_AMD_Phenom_II_X4_945_%28125W%29.html

DeLuSioNaL29

[JDFan]

So a Phenom II is recommended over an Athlon X2?

Phenom II has the l3 cache so will out perform the Athlon II of the same rating by about 5-6% overall with some benchmarks getting as much as a 20% boost -- so if the price point is similar go with the Phenom II ! 

EDIT : Sorry thought you said Athlon II x2 -- the Athlon X2 is much older so are even slower in comparison !

[Fursphere]

Numbers don't lie.  Others have already done the work for you. 

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/