AMD today launched three new Phenom II under reference X3 710 X3 720 Black Edition (BE) and X4 810.
The first major difference of these models compared with the 900 series launched last month is that they are compatible with the AM3 socket and are therefore more scalable.
Socket AM3: Interesting news ...
For what we know, the AM3 provides support for DDR-3 to 1333 MHz in addition to the DDR-2, a digital thermal probe finally breasts reliable processors and the availability of a signal PSI in order to inform the floor of food that can turn off certain stages since the CPU is idle.
It is a shame indeed qu'AMD not be able to provide the press a complete and accurate documentation on the new AM3. During our interviews, representatives of the smelter remained fairly vague on the subject.
Anyway, AMD, which recently swore that model compatible with the AM3 socket before April could not seem to have changed his mind.
Of course, they are also compatible with AM2 motherboards and AM2 + if they have a BIOS to manage them.
... but a platform not yet fully ready
We also advise users to be limited to these models for the time since the BIOS AM3 motherboards are not yet finalized.
There are some bugs encountered with the AM2 + models (only one core detected in some cases, for example) and the memory controller is not yet capable of handling 4 GB 1333 MHz, which should be corrected in a future BIOS.
Then, the TDP is lowered since it is more than 95 watts against 125 watts for the 900 series. This is explained by a voltage applied to the processor a little lower, it is 1325 by default against V 1.35 V for their big brothers.
A voltage revised downwards for a TDP of 95 watts
Moreover, in practice this tension can never rises beyond 1.34 V, while the X4 BE 920 and 940 could reach 1376 V.
The HT link is running at 2 GHz while for some unknown reason that of their elder brothers was limited to 1.8 GHz.
The 700 series is without a full heart. Thus, if the L3 cache is still 6 MB L2 cache is its more than 1.5 MB (3x 512 KB).
Performance rather attractive ...
Thus, a 720 BE X3 is able to harm a Core 2 Duo E8400 in 3D rendering and video compression for a lesser price. He remains behind against in games and it is a bit of energy, what it was easily forgiven.
The series 800, it loads good 4 full hearts, but its L3 cache is limited to 4 Mo. According to our tests, this bridle is almost no effect in all applications, even in games.
... a rate which should be interesting
It is therefore with X4 810 which should be reflected in the price of a Q8200 or Q6600 Intel but offers performance and consumption level of a Q9400, which is rather interesting.
AMD comes on the market with attractive new models, which we will publish the test when we have the final rates since a few hours of launch, AMD France still did not give anything other than the rates for 1000 units are sold $ 125, $ 145 and $ 175 for the X3 710 (2.6 GHz), X3 720 BE (2.8 GHz) and X4 810 (2.6 GHz).
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