2 - Specifications, Technology

The Phenom X3 8750
Okay, before we start. As a gamer and Guru3D.com reader you should understand one thing extremely well. Currently, AMD offers the X3 8400, 8600, and 8700 already, focused at the OEM market. These are so-called "B2" versions of the processor that contain an extremely rare "TLB" bug. Some batches of OEM processors always end up in a gray (r)e-tail channel.

AMD is updating this series with a B3 version that fixes the bug in silicon, the new revision is tagged under product code Phenom xx50-series of processors. Only the xx50 (thus the processor code with 50 in it) sport the updated B3 core revision of the Phenom architecture. Why is this so important ? Because this version no longer include the infamous TLB bug, I'm just making sure you buy the B3 revision and nothing else okay ?

With that out of the way, AMD today announced three X3 CPU models, they are keeping it threefold for sure.

The new processors:

• AMD Phenom X3 8750 processor - $195
• AMD Phenom X3 8650 processor - $165
• AMD Phenom X3 8450 processor - $145

The is the new X3 Phenom processor family on B3 stepping and was developed under codename Toliman, the Phenom X3 is part of the Cartwheel AMD platform. Very simply put you might state that AMD Tri-core + 780G = Cartwheel.

The Cartwheel platform equals mainstream performance, immersive HD and upgradeability. Now let me bring you back to reality .. the Cartwheel platform is in fact already available since the launch of 780 chipset series. It uses mainboards based on these chipsets, processors and optional R6XX graphics cards. Actually, a key element of the Cartwheel platform is in fact AMD LIVE! Technology support offering media-centric computing experience that connects and extends the digital world by means of special software. Anyway, back to the processor. The leading triple-core processor will be the Phenom X3 8750 and runs at a 2.4 GHz clock frequency at a full 1.8 GHz HT 3.0 speed at a 1.05-1.25 voltage and 95W TDP.

Today's tested Phenom X3 8750 is clocked at 2.4 GHz frequency. Runs with HyperTransport 3.0 and features a 512KBx3 L2 cache, and 2MB L3 cache which is used to exchange data in-between the cores. So that gives the three cores a total of 3.5 MB of cache (excluding a 64KB L1 cache). The die size of the CPU is 285 mm² and for whatever reason we always like to know .. the CPU has 450 million transistors. The processors are manufactured in AMD's Dresden plant and make use of AMD's 65 nm SOI-fabrication. Next to the new architecture we also notice a few new enhancements and instruction sets that we see in the Quad Core Phenoms as well. 128-bit SSE per clock cycle, a new instruction set under SSE4A. The chips also come with an integrated dual-channel/128-bit DDR2 memory controller and support speeds up to the DDR2-1066 specification. The processor package remains unchanged, and features the 940-pin AM2+ design, which is fully backward-compatible with the AM2 socket.