New AMD Phenom X3 Vs. Phenom X4

Four core processors followed hot on the heels of the dual core, and now there are even three core models. For the uninitiated, this begs the question, how are the CPU units placed physically. The explanation: In principle, it is a Barcelona core with just three cores activated. The AMD 780G chip set is very popular for use in cheaper PCs, multimedia computers or HTPCs (Home Theater PC) because it is lower in price than the Intel CPUs, as well as being lower on power consumption and functions. This platform now finally has a cheaper Phenom processor with more performance as well as the Athlon 64 X2.

Many users wishing to put together a lower cost PC or to upgrade used the Athlon 64 X2 in the past. Extremely low prices for the fastest 6400+ model gave the Athlon 64 X2 an unbeatable cost/performance advantage over Intel’s CPUs. Anyone not satisfied with performance, was able to use a quad core processor, but the added costs of these were too high for many users.

Now AMD has introduced the first three core desktops CPUs, the Phenom X3 8750, 8650 and 8450. With the X3s, the company has undercut the price for quad core models significantly. And the costs compared to the dual core models are attractively low.

Only very few applications are able to really make good use of the performance capabilities of a quad core processor which means that, generally speaking, the performance benefits are definitely not doubled up. The vast majority of programs only support two processors cores and, when this is the case, the computer is simply overworked by the application. If additional performance is required by the operating system, for the numerous applications running in the background such as Messenger, audio chat, video output on a second monitor or SHH encrypted downloads, the dual core application (for example, a 3D game) loses performance and runs at a slower rate. The third core is ideal for handling these additional tasks. It reduces the load on the other two cores and allows the dual core application to continue operating without disruption.

The Phenom X3 with the three processor cores makes the system capable of multi-tasking, but is considerably cheaper than a quad core CPU from AMD or Intel. AMD, in conjunction with the Phenom X3, is now in a position to offer a considerably cheaper PC system with more functions than Intel.