Phenom II X4 continued
Phenom II X4 continued ...
Of course there is also level 1 cache which is 128KB x4 (64KB Instruction + 64KB data cache for each core).
- L1 Cache (Instruction + Data): 128KB x4 (64KB + 64KB for each core)
- L2 Cache: 512KB x4 (quad-core); 512x3 (triple-core)
- L3 Cache: 6MB Shared L3
- 45-nanometer SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology
- One 16-bit/16-bit link @ up to 3600MT/s full duplex; or up to 14.4GB/s
- I/O Bandwidth
- Integrated DDR2 memory controllerup to 17.1GB/sec dual channel memory bandwidth PC2 8500 (DDR2-1066) ; PC2 6400 (DDR2-800); PC2 5300 (DDR2-667); PC2 4200 (DDR2-533); PC2 3200 (DDR2-400) DDR2 unbuffered
- 45nm = 258mm2
- 45nm = 758million
- Socket AM2+ - 940-pin organic micro Pin Grid Array (micro-PGA)
We are now at a stage where we can say, this really wasn't a tick-tock update was it? As you can see, there are numerous differences in the architecture of the chip and transistor count will back me up on that. See the previous flagship processor had roughly 450 million transistors whereas this Phenom II now accounts for 758 million transistors. And that's pretty significant for a processor. AMD did something bold, they moved a generation ahead of schedule.
Today's processors released:.
- AMD Phenom II X4 920 2.8 GHz (14x200)
- AMD Phenom II X4 940 3.0 GHz (15x200)
So we'll definitely get some better performance out of what is looking to be an impressive processor series. There are more technology advancements and changes though. Let's run through some primary Phenom II advantages.
- Much higher clock frequencies. 3.0 GHz plus a lot of tweaking headroom (we reached 3.8 GHz stable).
- Significant cache changes - 8 MB total for L2 + L3.
- DDR2 and DDR3 compatibility. Though we are testing on a DDR2 platform. Expect 790 chipset based motherboards soon that will allow DDR3 memory. Which again can boost performance from 5 to 10%.
- Clock Multiplier Control on AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Processors. Processors with Clock Multiplier Control unlock system clock multipliers on motherboards supporting this feature. Tune performance with clock multiplier control on motherboards that support customized processor settings.
Though a couple of processors listed in the following list have gone End Of Life (EOL), let's have a look at the now big the AMD line-up really is and offers:
| Processor | Core Clock | HT Speed | TDP |
| Phenom X3 8250e | 1.9 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 65W |
| Phenom X3 8400 OEM | 2.1 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X3 8600 OEM | 2.3 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X3 8450 | 2.1 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X3 8450e | 2.1 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 65W |
| Phenom X3 8650 | 2.3 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X3 8750 | 2.4 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X3 8750 BE | 2.4 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X4 9100e OEM | 1.8 GHz | 1.6 GHz | 65W |
| Phenom 9500 | 2.2 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X4 9550 | 2.2 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom 9600 | 2.3 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom 9600 BE | 2.3 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X4 9650 OEM | 2.3 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X4 9750 OEM | 2.4 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 95W |
| Phenom X4 9750 | 2.4 GHz | 1.8 GHz | 125W |
| Phenom X4 9850 BE | 2.5 GHz | 2.0 GHz | 125W |
| Phenom X4 9950 | 2.6 GHz | 2.0 GHz | 140W |
| Phenom II X4 920 | 2.8 GHz | 2.0 GHz | 125W |
| Phenom II X4 940 | 3.0 GHz | 2.0 GHz | 125W |
So that's a better overview of the assorted Phenom X4/X3 and Phenom II models, showing their clock/HT speeds, TDP, and pricing. Expect a lot of changes in this list this year as AMD will surely move over to 45nm products as fast as they can.
New processors .. does that mean I have to purchase a new motherboard? No, next page please.
