Reaching 3.00 GHZ with AMD’s OverDrive Utility
For the first time ever, AMD is offering its own overclocking utility for overclocking the Phenom CPU
The utility is called “AMD OverDrive” and accesses the CPU directly, letting the user select the multiplier, bus frequency, memory timings and all voltages on-the-fly from within Windows. The tool can also read out the current frequencies, voltages and temperatures. Another specialty of the OverDrive utility is that the multipliers can be set individually for each of the four cores.
Unlike the Athlon 64, the multiplier on the Phenom is unlocked in both directions - at least on our engineering sample. With its overclocking utility, AMD is setting a new standard. This tool should work with every motherboard, regardless of the manufacturer, since it communicates directly with the processor. Finally, the days of dodgy tools downloaded from the Internet that only work on certain boards are coming to a close. In many cases, the use of such tools ended with a system crash. Thus, AMD’s OverDrive utility is great news for overclockers.
Intel incorporated a similar feature into its X38 chipset. However, no manufacturer has written an application that makes use of it to date. Besides, it remains doubtful that such a utility would remain useful after a motherboard upgrade.
At the press event, the OverDrive tool ran flawlessly on the engineering samples of the Phenom processors. We were able to overclock the Phenom 9700, which runs at a stock frequency of 2.40 GHz, to 3.0GHz and run 3DMark 2006 on it without a crash.
Our engineering sample was very promising indeed. We were able to overclock the CPU by 25%, resulting in a 15% performance increase in 3DMark. Since we weren’t able to install our standard benchmark suite on the test systems in Warsaw, these 3DMark results were all we had to go on. We were very surprised by the overclocking potential these processors offered, especially considering that the systems only used air cooling solutions.
"Intel, since the chip giant has already announced that its current high-end platform X38 will be incompatible to the next generation of high-end CPUs at the beginning of next year."
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.
Not so sure about forthcoming compatibility.
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).
why do the companies have to be so selfish with this incompatable SSE thingy....
P21, that table isn't really taking the quad core part into account... because look, in things like supreme commander its quite a bit faster... (which is important to me...)
LOL at the .1% extra value for money compared to the q6600, AMD clearly did that to annoy intel...
Well seen as though thats a brand new chipset as well wouldn't it be a little foolish to expect full performance straight out of the box ?
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.
Intels @4Ghz OC on air... AMD is on @3Ghz OC on air... Oh dear...
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
Bob if AMD was having 4mb+ L3 cache, high K transistor process and 45nm it will be twice expensive as the intel's solutions.
.. I'm currently on a AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+.. and it's a bit overclocked(from 2.6 GHz to 3.01 Ghz) ..I'm on water although. Wish AMD be back on top!
P.S. But it will be better
I think for server setups this HT 3.0 is gonna shine. More so if you want to build a super-computer system. The bandwidth gains are enormous. But the actual core performance..sorry AMD, but this is just a little disappointing. Intel's current stock is already ahead of you. Perhaps 45nm products will address this (and allow for more L3 cache).
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.
One of the CPU-Z pics shows a higher Vcore? Come on lads..who'se been naughty!
p.s. I would.