A Slew Of New CPUs
In concert with the platform launch, AMD is releasing six AM3 processors—five will be available in the channel and a sixth will only go out to OEMs.
| New Socket AM3 Processors | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Frequency | L3 Cache | Voltage | Model #’s | Socket |
| Phenom II X4 910 | 2.6 GHz | 6 MB | 0.875-1.425V | Tray: HDX910WFK4DGI | AM3, AM2+, AM2 |
| Phenom II X4 810 | 2.6 GHz | 4 MB | 0.875-1.425V | Tray: HDX810WFK4FGI; PIB: HDX810WFGIBOX | AM3, AM2+, AM2 |
| Phenom II X4 805 | 2.5 GHz | 4 MB | 0.875-1.425V | Tray: HDX805WFK4FGI | AM3, AM2+, AM2 |
| Phenom II X3 720 BE | 2.8 GHz | 6 MB | 0.850-1.425V | Tray: HDZ720WFK3DGI; PIB: HDZ720WFGIBOX | AM3, AM2+, AM2 |
| Phenom II X3 710 | 2.6 GHz | 6 MB | 0.875-1.425V | Tray: HDX710WFK3DGI; PIB: HDX710WFGIBOX | AM3, AM2+, AM2 |
| Phenom II X4 940 BE | 3.0 GHz | 6 MB | 0.875-1.5V | Tray: HDZ940XCJ4DGI; PIB: HDZ940XCGIBOX | AM2+, AM2 |
| Phenom II X4 920 | 2.8 GHz | 6 MB | 0.875-1.5V | Tray: HDX920XCJ4DGI; PIB: HDX920XCGIBOX | AM2+, AM2 |
Hopefully you’re good about keeping names straight, because AMD is making it even more difficult to decipher its model numbers with yet another variable factored in--L3 cache size. Let’s break down the name of its Phenom II X3 720 BE as an example.
Phenom II: this one is easy enough. We’re hoping you know the difference between Athlon 64, Phenom, and Phenom II already. If not, check out Bert’s launch piece, AMD Phenom II X4: 45 nm Benchmarked.
X3: The number after the X denotes how many cores are active. The X3s employ the same die as the quad-core X4 processors, but only three cores are usable.
720: Here’s where things get more complicated. The first digit is a general class designator. AMD’s 900-series chips are full-fledged Phenom IIs, with four cores active and 6 MB of L3 cache. The 800-series chips also sport quad-core configurations, but they come with less L3 cache—4 MB instead of 6 MB. The 700s start with the highest-end X3s, also with 6 MB of cache. We presume this leaves room for a 600-series at some point wielding three cores and 4 MB of L3, but that’s just conjecture at this point.
The second two digits are indicative of clock speed. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a formula to predict where a given number will land you. The 940 runs at 3 GHz. The 920 and 720 both cruise at 2.8 GHz. But the 910, 810, and 710 all run at 2.6 GHz. There goes the idea that each increment of 10 corresponds to 100 MHz. The 805 chugs along at 2.5 GHz. You get the general concept.
Finally, there’s the Black Edition modifier, affixed to the X4 940 and X3 720, which tell you that the processor’s multiplier is unlocked, enabling more flexible overclocking.
We see this naming convention, which is somewhat universal across the new Phenom II lineup, as likely to leave room for error on the buyer’s part. There’s no variable distinguishing the AM2/AM2+-only Phenom II X4 940/920 from the new AM3 components. Further, it’s interesting that an enthusiast looking to step-up to AM3 with DDR3 would need to buy a CPU in the middle of AMD’s Phenom II lineup, since the flagship is limited to an older socket interface.
We discussed the omission of a higher-end AM3 part with AMD, and the consensus was that AMD isn't expecting many enthusiasts to buy AM3 motherboards and processors just yet. Rather, it's eying the upgrade market, full of folks looking to drop these new chips in existing AM2/AM2+ boards. Hence the more value-oriented offerings at launch. Purportedly, a higher-end AM3 part will follow shortly.
Pricing
We don’t have prices on the entire line of AM3-ready processors, but AMD has indicated that the Phenom II X4 810 will bear a $175 price tag and the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition will cost $145.
Conversations with motherboard vendors indicate that AM3 boards will be priced similarly to AM2/AM2+ predecessors. Asus’ M4A79 Deluxe—a Socket AM2+ board based on AMD’s 790GX/SB750 combination—currently sells for right around $200. The M4A79T Deluxe—the Socket AM3 replacement centering on the same platform—will also sell for $200, according to Asus.
Also worth noting is that AMD’s Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition and 920 processors have already dropped in price since the launch in early January. The 3 GHz 940 is now set at $225, while the 2.8 GHz 920 costs $195 in quantities of 1,000. The implications there are significant given the initially very-close comparison between AMD’s fastest Phenom II and Intel’s entry-level Core i7.
Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition looks like it could be great value!
I'm glad you got the "What would happen if we chopped two pins off?" idea out of the way. Should save some tears.
However, I'm sure some will try it still and be a top question on tech forums for the next few months.
Why folks just cant do a simple google search before asking such questions is beyond me. Misplaced laziness I guess?
I wasnt going to wait and get a high clocked am3 phenom to replace my current phenom and then upgrade to ddr3 later. But now iv read this i mite aswell just get the 940 and keep with a ddr2 setup.
lol at all the peeps who hurried out and gobbled up an i7 setup for gaming purposes "the i7 needs to be ocd to function as a game machine" says it all when a stock 910 shows it up.
why rush and buy an am3 board and cpu yet its just a waste of time and money! teething problems galore and until amd release a quad core BE im not even gonna bother changing my 9850BE cos it will be pointless.
i upgrade when my computer does run the software i want to use not when someone releases somink with an extra digit in the name of it!!!
Nice article. Would have been nice to see some C2Q scores or at least the power figures for the 720 though. Wonder if we'll see another bench featuring fully air-OCd i7-920 vs 720 vs 810 sometime?
Interesting. C2D still rules the roost for dual-thread apps and AMD's slightly less flaky 3+cores implemetation on 45nm parts makes the cheaper quads very competitive, and the 720 a potential sleeper hit for gamers especially once more and more games start to be inherently massively multithreaded. And all those who tried to turn an enterprise platform into gaming rigs *cough*Bloomfield*cough* because "Intel said so" are still wiping bits of egg from their beards. Guess the hype was just that.
That said, the mainstream Nehalems coming out later this year might still prove solid competition if the stability improvements expected from AMDs next 45nm stepping fail to impress (or they again reserve stability enhancements for just the €200+ motherboards!). I'm not seeing any 4GHz Phenom2s on air yet...
Well I don't know about value coz the prices in my country differ considerably, but I can't help but saying investing in an AMD CPU is a great loss of performance.
I bet many intel core 2 quads could have beaten the "new" AMDs if they were added to the mix. It's unfortunate they were not included.
And the advantage of intel CPUs becomes much greater when it comes to overclocking..In fact I can't imagine what made AMD lag behind intel by such a big gap..How did it come to this?!!! Come on AMD! As an end-user I like to see neck to neck competitors in the field!
the x3 720 looks like a superb chip for the money and all the phenoms look pretty good in gaming , surprised to see the i7 920 doing so badly in gaming
Clock for clock an Intel quad core inc the "old" Q6600 CAN still beat the "new" Phenoms IIs even in AM3 mode.
My motherboard can take DDR2 or DDR3 ram if i added DDR3 + Q6600 it would beat the Phenoms IIs even ones made for the AM3.
x3 720 is good but it take 3 cores to try and beat an Intel 2 core......
Now which is better AMD or Intel........ Intel of course.
if you can find a better intel chip for 100 pounds sterling or 145 dollars than the 720 x3 , well then intel is better , but seen as Intels i7 lags behind whilst costing 3 times as much .. well .. you get my drift
if you can find a better intel chip for 100 pounds sterling or 145 dollars than the 720 x3 , well then intel is better , but seen as Intels i7 lags behind whilst costing 3 times as much .. well .. you get my drift
Obviously this is why AMD has reduced their CPU prices. Being unable to produce high end performance beasts foeced the company to cut their profits so they can at least compete in the entry and lower mid-range markets.
As we all know, and THW's system building marathons every month prove, a worthy gaming rig (that can play all the games with decent visual quality @ decent frame rates) cannot be assembled for less than $1200. At that price range AMD just can't present anyhting which can run in parallel with the GPU and ram's performance.
Again I hope AMD will soon close the gap. Even then, to be quite honest, I would go for Intel chips in my buils (since applications are and has always been optimized more for them and they experienced far much less issues), but the competition would then force Intel to drop prices, and both Intel and AMD's fanboys will be happy!
fair enough but personally I don't spend more than a couple of undred pounds when I upgrade (Istill run a skt 939 ) and decent gaming to me is ..well .. command and conquer red alert 3 at 1056 x whatever ,but I think I represent the majority of folks , and yes you are right about amd targeting the budget market , but that's what they have to do
In my country (Malaysia) A reasonable (say for decent gaming with a 9800GTX+) motherboard + CPU, Intel way is US $222. AMD way is half of that, just about US $100 for a simple reasonable Gigabyte Board and a AMD X2 5000+
I mean an AMD X2 5000+ DDR2 RAM and playing Crysis, the bottleneck say at 1440x900 is definitely still the GPU. Anything Nvidia GTX260 and above, of course, Intel. Anything Nvidia 9800 or less, AMD is more than good enough.
I'm talking gaming here, I don't intend to encode and I do all my "productivity" on a Mac.
My AMD X2 5200 is still going strong xD Luckily i rarely have to defragment, scan for viruses, burn a dvd and play a game at the same time
During normal day to day activity , the systems don’t outperform each other. It depends on the person and uses. I suggest for an average office and home user go with AMD because of cost. High end user will decide what to but according to performance.