Fer the computer nerds and pencil necks (cpu marketing)

May 27, 2025, 1:20 AM

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My Journey Into CPUs: A Personal and Technical Perspective

Had some downtime from my jobbers so, I set out on a personal quest to factually compare how different CPUs stack up against one another. I've been building and modifying PCs since the days of DOS, using commands like copy *.* xxxx and stivking 2KB–4KB RAM chips into any slot I could find. Back then, I was obsessed with shaving seconds off boot times—getting it from around two minutes down to 1 minute and 33 seconds—and I always wanted more.

I knew how to repair computers, copy files, create and delete directories, and even write my own basic games (one of which was a football simulator using xs, os, and <> for the ball). That passion evolved into a deeper curiosity about how modern processors really perform—and how marketing often misleads us.

The Biased World of CPU Reviews
The current CPU landscape is heavily influenced by AMD and Intel-sponsored content. Many popular reviews are pay-to-play, focusing on "FPS" benchmarks across a handful of games—often just 3 or 4 titles. Reviewers are frequently under NDAs and forced to use hardware configurations tailored to showcase a particular chip in the best possible light. These cherry-picked setups often create misleading performance impressions, especially when games are optimized for specific GPU and CPU combos.

AMD, in particular, gains an advantage by producing both CPUs and GPUs. With the right game supporting AMD’s FreeSync, plus specific monitor and OS configurations, benchmarks can be skewed in AMD’s favor. However, these tests don’t always reflect real-world, everyday performance—especially for power users or professionals relying on multitasking or heavier computational workloads. Even for the average user I am seeing pre built pcs that have a great cpu but the ram is jack crap. Or nice gpu and ram but still sporting dvi. All pre-builts have a give and take. Mostly take.

My Experience: The Phenom Experiment
In 2009, I fell for the hype and purchased what was then considered the world's fastest single-core CPU: the AMD Phenom 9950 Black Edition (quad-core, 4 threads at a stock 6GHz). I paired it with two AMD Sapphire HD 4890 4GB GDDR4 GPUs in CrossFire and 16GB of DDR2-1066 RAM on an AM2+ motherboard.

On paper, it was a beast. In reality, it was a chore. Despite stellar components, performance was inconsistent. Whether it was thermal throttling, bottlenecks, or just poor driver optimization, I couldn’t pinpoint the issue. Eventually, I swapped the 4890s for a GTX 900 series GPU and finally unlocked the CPU's potential. That setup performed beautifully.

Later, I upgraded to an Intel Xeon "Cambridge Core" CPU—one of the first 9th-gen server chips with new motherboard. I ended up selling that rig in 2010 for $6,000. The buyer didn’t even ask to see it powered on.

The pictures are screenshots from my system. A Real Benchmarking Platform
Today, I'm using a Western Digital Gen 4 1TB SSD running Windows 11 Pro (build 2422H) and the Intel Ultra 9 285K CPU. For testing, I am using Cpuid aka CPUz, a free and objective benchmarking tool that simulates single- and multi-threaded performance across a variety of workloads—from gaming and editing to studio production.

CPU-Z fully utilizes L1, L2, L3, and 3D cache to simulate real-world tasks. I’ve attached screenshots comparing CPUs from 8-core/8-thread chips up to 32-core/32-thread monsters. You’ll see how different processors stack up under identical conditions. Interestingly, the AMD 9950X and 7950X hold their own surprisingly well.

– I’ve Done the Homework So You Don’t Have To
A picture is worth a thousand words—and I’ve probably written 100,000 by now. If you're considering a new desktop or laptop, reach out to me first.
Bottom Line: Hit Me Up Before You Drop Cash
Look, if you’re thinking about buying a new rig—desktop, laptop, whatever—do yourself a favor and holler at me first. Don’t let Best Buy, Walmart, or that weird dude at the local shop sell you a fancy-looking turd sandwich wrapped in shiny stickers only to find out you have 1 awesome part mixed with a part 20 generation old. I enjoy what I do, it's my hobby and I'm a learned enthusiast. I drink tea with my pinky up while building. Facts

It is posting pics sideways. I've changed the orientation but still happening. To lazy and to tired to go back to pc. Enjoy.
Message was edited by: TigerFurLife®

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Re: Fer the computer nerds and pencil necks (cpu marketing)

Just built a PC with AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D***

Hey, uh, you could just look here

The links show cpus by what is most used. I.e., low costing models. Why I wrote

Hey, uh, you could just look here

So the userbechmark says they are no biased and they don't get paid for this and that but the whole website is an ad.
Those cpus in that list are just a list of cpus ranking on how many units are in pcs currently. Not everyone can get a gaming cpu so the list (albeit all the cpus will run an operating systen) is mainly very low tier processors.
There is a vs part of user benchmark and if you go thru enough vs v vs then you will see the same dictation for just about every cpu. Even across platforms. Maybe they are lazy.

Tom's Hardware is worse than Best Buy. They are gonna shove whatever the highest bid for anhnoroduct down someone's throat.

Vs.com is a little better but then you run into alot of tweaking (not the good kind) that skews numbers.

Pc bullds.com. forget about it. Might as well give the local pc store 8 grand and say call me when ur done. It's amazing the fallacies they spout.

I know I'm over the top and long winded but that's me. For someone wanting to build or just discuss then I make an honest effort to dial my enthusiasm back.
I am on the spectrum a bit so I get carried away.
Cpuid or cpuz is just a simple snapshot and shows snapshots of similar peripherals. I tried tj show pictures with 8 core vs 12 core vs 16 core vs 24 core and forgot to put 32 core Pic up but will if anyjuan wanna see it. Gpuz is another snapshot that will give good direction for gpus but I could write 50k words in 3 minutes on those things. In fact I'm gonna stop rn so I get more than an hr of sleep before work!
Ty to whoever reads this. Just mho. Hope it might be helpful to someone that is thinking of really wanting enthusiast gaming quality, studio editing/movie/music, even can get into higher ai machines and super computers if anywun wants too.

Fer the computer nerds and pencil necks (cpu marketing)

TL:DR.NextLevelGayShit.Greenr.gif***

Re: Fer the computer nerds and pencil necks (cpu marketing)

Re: Fer the computer nerds and pencil necks (cpu marketing)

Just built a PC with AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D***

I saw ur build! Very stout!

I'm just messing around Tig! The 9800x3d

Hey, uh, you could just look here

Ur right, u can look there but it's all intelligent and organized!??

The links show cpus by what is most used. I.e., low costing models. Why I wrote

I noticed something else on the user link

TigerBoard POTD