Source: Tom's Hardware UK – Keywords: Phenom_9700, Spider_Platform, 790FX
Categories: Hardware
Power Dissipation - No Reliable Data
In order to measure their power consumption, we put the three Phenom models under a high load by using the multi-threaded version of Prime95, which stresses all cores of a CPU. We measured the power consumption on boards made by Asus, MSI and Gigabyte based on AMD’s 790FX chipset. Our measurements fluctuated between 43.9 Watts and 23.3 Watts when idle. Since our Phenom processor is still an engineering sample and the BIOS versions of the motherboards we used were still BETA versions, we assume that Cool’n’Quiet 2.0 is not fully supported yet. This is supported by the fact that we received different results on the Gigabyte board using the BIOS versions F2e,F2h, and F2i. Under these circumstances, our results, especially the idle measurements, can thus not be considered reliableyet, since the boards still lack full support for the power saving functionality.
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I'd rather have a slower processor but not have to rebuy the 3 of the most expensive components (CPU, mobo, and RAM) every time I want to upgrade something. That's why I've stuck with AMD for the last few years. Can't wait to drop a couple of Phenom FXs in to my 4x4 platform and have 8 processing cores.
What is going to happen when AMD shortly moves to 45nm processors with DDR3 memory controllers?
unless AMD are going to put both DDR2 and DDR3 memory controllers on their 45nm processors or make them in both DDR2 and DDR3 versions then you will have to change you're ram, motherboard and processor to go 45nm.(that didn't happen with intel)
Unless motherboard makers put both DDR2 and DDR3 slots on current boards although the latter wouldn't be supported until 45nm come in.(can't see that happening though).
I think these chips have more to come, thats an engineering sample and the mainboards got a chipset with undeveloped drivers.
I say give it a month for the nvidia chipset....... and retest.
I can see why they need 4x Crossfire boards given the lack luster performance of the new ATI cards... ATI seem to be struggling since their Cope-de-grace with the X19xx series...
AMD clearly has a good design (architecture) but the process technology is their achilles heal. They need 4Mb+ L3 cache, high K transistor process, and 45nm like yesterday!!
As a bit of an AMD fanboy (I'm on a dual Opteron rig just now) I hate to see whats happening to them now!!
Bob
P.S. But it will be better
Overall, I like the way AMD has gone for compatibility and performance. The price is phenomenal and the ease of implementation will ensure downtime during upgrades is kept to a minimum. It's easy to under-estimate just how hard that is to pull off.