AMD Phenom

AMD Phenom™ II Processors 

Unbeatable multi-core value with AMD Phenom™ II processors. They deliver The Ultimate Visual Experience™ for high definition entertainment, advanced multitasking performance, and power-saving innovations for smaller, cooler machines that are energy efficient.

 Features & Benefits

• Smoother faster experience, even when running complex software application with native Multi-Core Technology
• Scaled performance to conserve PC power with HyperTransport® 3.0 Technology
• Hear your music, not your PC with AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
• Prevent the spread of certain viruses and strengthen your network integrity with Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP)* 

 

AMD Phenom™ II Processors Product Brief 

Visual Experience

Live your life in HD. AMD Phenom™ II is for high definition entertainment, gaming, creativity, and beyond. With AMD Phenom™ II processors as the foundation, you'll enjoy a new level of responsiveness and visual intensity. AMD puts high definition computing within everyone’s reach.

Superior technologies for HD video. Enjoy a superior high definition experience for HD videos on you PC. AMD Phenom™ II processor are the powerful engine behind your fidelity, high definition video entertainment experience. Only AMD puts the Ultimate Visual Experience™ for HD video within your reach.

Enjoy entertainment beyond your media library. Get HD content online, offline, wherever you want it, however you want it. Your system can handle whatever you dish out - and serve it up on screen in full, high definition glory.*

Perfect chemistry. Combine AMD Phenom™ II processors and ATI Radeon™ HD graphics to really see the difference. Enjoy smooth video, brilliant videos and immersive games. AMD unleashes visual clarity and responsiveness for what you want to do.

Performance

Do it all. AMD Phenom™ II processors have the power to do it all. Featuring next-generation quad-core design, they crush even the most demanding tasks. So design it, render it, play it, create it, stream it, HD it.* With AMD Phenom™ II processors, if you can imagine it, you can do it.

Energy Efficient

Make a choice you can feel good about. AMD Phenom™ II processors were designed with energy efficiency in mind. Capitalizing on AMD's leadership in energy efficiency, they incorporate all of the latest technology that gives you performance when you need it and save power when you don’t.

Look for ENERGY STAR® with AMD. Thanks to AMD's power-saving innovations, you can count on machines based on AMD Phenom™ II processors for the energy efficiency you want and the performance you need.

AMD Phenom™ II Key Architectural Features 

AMD Phenom™ II X6 Six-Core Processors

The backbone of the VISION Black technology platform, the new AMD Phenom™ II X6 six-core processors are the fastest CPUs AMD has ever created. The AMD Phenom™ II X6 six-core processors are also the world's only six-core processors for under $200*. At the heart of a VISION Black Technology platform, the AMD Phenom II X6 processor is the most advanced AMD desktop processor and features innovative AMD Turbo CORE technology to adjust to the dynamic needs of performance users.

New AMD Turbo CORE Technology

Both the AMD Phenom™ II X6 1055T and 1090T come equipped with AMD's new Turbo CORE technology. AMD Turbo CORE technology is a performance boosting technology that automatically switches from six cores to three turbocharged core for applications that just need raw speed over multiple cores. While in Turbo CORE mode, the AMD Phenom™ II X6 1090T shifts frequency speed from 3.2GHz on six cores, to 3.6GHz on three cores, making it the fastest processor AMD has ever created.

AMD Phenom™ II Triple and Quad-Core Processors

• True quad-core and triple-core designed from the ground up for better communication between cores.
  • Benefit: Cores can communicate on die rather than on package for better performance

AMD64 with Direct Connect Architecture

• Helps improve system performance and efficiency by directly connecting the processors, the memory controller, and the I/O to the CPU.
• Designed to enable simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing
• Integrated Memory Controller
  • Benefits: Increases application performance by dramatically reducing memory latency
  • Scales memory bandwidth and performance to match compute needs
  • HyperTransport™ Technology provides up to 16.0GB/s peak bandwidth per processor—reducing I/O bottlenecks
  • Up to 37GB/s total delivered processor-to-system bandwidth (HyperTransport bus + memory bus)

AMD Balanced Smart Cache

• Shared L3 cache (either 6MB or 4MB)
• 512K L2 cache per core
  • Benefit: Shortened access times to the highly accessed data for better performance.

AMD Wide Floating Point Accelerator

• 128-bit floating point unit (FPU)
• High performance (128bit internal data path) floating point unit per core.
  • Benefit: Larger data paths and quicker floating point calculations for better performance.

HyperTransport™ Technology

• One 16-bit link at up to 4000MT/s
• Up to 8.0GB/s HyperTransport™ I/O bandwidth; Up to 16GB/s in HyperTransport Generation 3.0 mode
• Up to 37GB/s total delivered processor-to-system bandwidth (HyperTransport bus + memory bus)
  • Benefit: Quick access times to system I/O for better performance.

Integrated DRAM Controller with AMD Memory Optimizer Technology

• A high-bandwidth, low-latency integrated memory controller
• Supports PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066); PC2-6400 (DDR2-800), PC2-5300 (DDR2-667), PC2-4200 (DDR2-533) or PC2-3200 (DDR2-400) SDRAM unbuffered DIMMs – AM2+
• Support for unregistered DIMMs up to PC2 8500(DDR2-1066MHz) and PC3 10600 (DDR3-1333MHz) – AM3
• Up to 17.1GB/s memory bandwidth for DDR2 and up to 21GB/s memory bandwidth for DDR3
  • Benefit: Quick access to system memory for better performance.

AMD Virtualization™ (AMD-V™) Technology With Rapid Virtualization Indexing

• Silicon feature-set enhancements designed to improve the performance, reliability, and security of existing and future virtualization environments by allowing virtualized applications with direct and rapid access to their allocated memory.
  • Benefit: Helps virtualization software to run more securely and efficiently enabling a better experience when dealing with virtual systems

AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)

• Enhanced power management features which automatically and instantaneously adjusts performance states and features based on processor performance requirements
• For quieter operation and reduced power requirements
  • Benefit: Enables cooler and quieter platform designs by providing extremely efficient performance and energy usage.

AMD CoolCore™ Technology

• Reduces processor energy consumption by turning off unused parts of the processor. For example, the memory controller can turn off the write logic when reading from memory, helping reduce system power.
• Works automatically without the need for drivers or BIOS enablement.
• Power can be switched on or off within a single clock cycle, saving energy with no impact to performance.
  • Benefit: Helps users get more efficient performance by dynamically activating or turning off parts of the processor.

Dual Dynamic Power Management™

• Enables more granular power management capabilities to reduce processor energy consumption.
• Separate power planes for cores and memory controller, for optimum power consumption and performance, creating more opportunities for power savings within the cores and memory controller.
  • Benefit: Helps improve platform efficiency by providing on demand memory performance while still allowing for decreased system power consumption

 

Intel® Core™ i7 Processor Extreme Edition

Gear up for extreme processing power

   Hardcore multitaskers rejoice. Fly through everything you do on your PC - from playing intense 3D games to creating and editing digital video, music, and photos. With the high performance platform capabilities of Intel® X58 Express Chipset-based motherboards, along with faster, intelligent multi-core technology that applies processing power dynamically when its needed most, PCs based on the Intel® Core™ i7-980X processor Extreme Edition deliver incredible performance with a rich feature set.

Wield the ultimate gaming weapon for greater performance in 3D gaming applications. Experience smoother and more realistic gaming made possible by distributing AI, physics, and rendering across six cores and 12 threads, bringing 3D to life for the ultimate gaming experience. And take digital content creation to a whole new level for photo retouching and photo editing. Unlock your full potential with Intel's top-of-the-line desktop processor and experience total creative freedom that's limited only by your imagination.

Product information

Intel® Core™ i7-980X processor Extreme Edition

• 3.33 GHz core speed
• Up to 3.6 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
• 6 cores and 12 processing threads with Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
• 12 MB Intel® Smart Cache
• 3 Channels DDR3 1066 MHz memory
• 32nm manufacturing process technology

Intel® Core™ i7-975 processor Extreme Edition

• 3.33 GHz core speed
• Up to 3.6 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
• 4 cores and 8 processing threads with Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
• 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache
• 3 Channels DDR3 1066 MHz memory
• 45nm manufacturing process technology

 

Processor Number	Cache	Clock Speed	Bus Speed	Number of Cores	Intel® Virtualization Technology◊	Intel® 64◊	Intel® Trusted Execution Technology◊	Execute Disable Bit◊
32 nm
i7-980X	12 MB SmartCache	3.33 GHz	6.4 GT/s QPI	6
45 nm
i7-975	8 MB SmartCache	3.33 GHz	6.4 GT/s QPI	4
i7-965	8 MB SmartCache	3.2 GHz	6.4 GT/s QPI	4

 

Intel E5200 Processor

While browsing an e-tailer a few weeks ago, I stumbled on Intel's Pentium E5200, a dual-core offering that I had forgotten all about. It was launched this past August to virtually no fanfare, and thanks to a few things that were going on at the time (IDF, NVISION), I never thought about it since. I did want to get one in though, because although it carries a few caveats, it's still a Wolfdale chip, and at under $100, I figured it might very-well be a steal.

Intel currently offers two Pentium models based on the 45nm process, the E5300 and E5200. The differences between them are a mere $2 (per 1,000) and 100MHz. We chose to bring the E5200 in for the simple fact that it's the least expensive model out there from Intel, at least of which uses their latest technologies, such as 45nm.

The Pentium Dual-Core chips do have two primary drawbacks, though, which include 2MB of L2 Cache and absolutely no part of Intel's SSE4.x instruction set. What that means is that more expensive chips (even the E7200), will have the ability to recode video that utilizes these instructions much, much faster. For those who don't encode video all-too-often, the loss won't be noticed.

Another drawback could be the low Front-Side Bus speed of 800MHz. That equates to a raw value of 200MHz, which means the maximum memory speed supported at stock is DDR3-800. Considering that no memory manufacturer produces kits with only that speed supported, it goes to show just how lacking that is. As we'll see later, overclocking is a super-quick fix to this issue.

Budget Processor

   Oftentimes budget is equated with "slow" in the computer world. However, this trend couldn't be further from the truth. Budget processors can very well provide enough computing power for a very decent budget gaming computer. Budget processors also make ideal home theater PCs and home servers given their price and relative horsepower for what they are intended to do. Therefore, budget processors are great for those who either are on a tight budget or require a processor that is "good enough" but also carries some weight in its processing power for its price. A good price for a budget processor lies around $100 and this list is populated with such processors.

 View Specification

   Intel's new Core i3 lineup of processors further develops upon Intel's attempts to "simplify" the PC platform. Much like the Core i5 eliminated the need for a Northbridge, the Core i3 acts as a “system on a chip”, eliminating the need for integrated video on the motherboard and allowing for a much smaller and compact profile. This makes the i3 ideal for those looking to build HTPCs or small office computers with a bit of multithreaded processing power. The Core i3 530 is a dual core 32nm processor with HyperThreading for four logical cores and quite powerful given its $120 price range. Its TDP is also low at 73W, making it quite efficient in a MHz-per-watt standpoint for those that wish to build a power sipping computer. However, the Core i3 necessitates the use of socket LGA 1156, and motherboards with this socket tend to be pricier than equivalent AM3 or LGA 775 motherboards that have been out in the marketplace for many months. Despite this, the Core i3 represents high performance and good value, especially with coupled with a value-priced motherboard and the option to use the chip’s video processor rather than a dedicated or onboard video card.

Intel Processor for Performance

View Specification

  When it comes to system and gaming performance, Intel has a solid lead over AMD. The new Nehalem (Core-i7) processors are currently the fastest desktop performers on the market. They’re also reasonably priced for their level of performance, though you’ll need to invest in DDR3 memory and a motherboard that supports the new CPU socket, which can add a lot to the overall cost. If you’re looking for the most performance out of your desktop computer, these are the best CPUs money can buy.

  The i7 975 and the 950 are essentially improved designs of the “Nehalem” processors, which have a great design to begin with. Focused on the extreme performance market segment, the Core i7 975 Extreme processor is stock clocked at 3.33GHz with an unlocked multiplier; but let's face it, who's going to get this processor and run it at stock speeds? The 975 just begs to be overclocked with high-quality air or water cooling. Speeds north of 4GHz on air are not unheard of with its unlocked processor. The i7 975 Extreme is, at the current time, the absolute fastest consumer processor money can buy, and that kind of quality doesn’t come cheap – it has an MSRP of $999. One can almost buy five Core i7 920s for the same price of one i7 975! However, if money isn't an issue and you're looking for the absolute pinnacle of consumer computing technology, the Core i7 975 is hands-down the top dog in the CPU market.